Interior Text Spaces and Compound Paths

[Dusty Pony Design]

Howdy everyone,

Here's a question many of you have probably dealt with - I couldn't find any reference to it in previous posts however.

If you turn multiple letter forms into outlines, make them a compound path, then use that as a clipping mask over a photo or texture usually the negative spaces within the letters (the center of an 'O" for example) are filled with the same photo or texture, too. When this happens I have been going back with the direct select tool and hand selecting all the letter interiors to bring them back to the background color. Any easy way to get around having to do this?

Thanks,

~Anne-Marie

[AdobeAce]

Hi Anne-Marie,

You're working too hard! :D

The easiest way to use type as a mask is to select the Live Type with your Selection tool (V). (Don't outline it.) Position it in front of the "photo or texture." Select both the Type and whatever you wish to Mask, and go to Object>Clipping Mask>Make.

You're done! No muss, no fuss, and a lot less steps.

Ace

PS: If you need to convert your Live Type to Outline (Type>Create Outline), do it after making the Live Type into a Mask.

[kazbear]

Or...

Make a pattern from your photo (Drag it to your Swatches Panel) and use it as a fill for your live text.

[alcbevtesting@alltel.net]

The one issue with Pattern swatches is that unless you scale the picture after placing it can look like - as the name suggests - a (repeated) pattern. However, you can attain some nice effects by applying a picture also to a thickened stroke and adding new strokes and offsets etc.

At least give it a try!

Gary.