Meshes behind compound path masks.

I have a gradient mesh which is masked behind several squares I grouped together as a compound path. However I'm finding it aggravatingly difficult to select points of the mesh to edit.  For some reason I can only select the mesh in isolation mode. Furthermore when you try to select points in the mesh that are within the interior of the squares which making up the mask you end up selecting the squares instead of the mesh. Is there any easier way to edit the mesh when it is masked? Illustrator CS6

Alright, nevermind I think removing the fill solved it. Thank though.

Similar Messages

  • Use a compound path as clipping mask?

    Hello,
    I’m trying to use a complex compound path as a clipping mask, but it won’t work. I have narrowed down the problem a little in two smaller scripts described below.
    Using a single path as clipping mask works very well:
    var doc = app.documents.add();
    var clipGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
    var bgItem = clipGroup.pathItems.rectangle(200, 200, 200, 200);
    bgItem.position = Array(200, 500);
    bgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[8].color;
    var fgItem = clipGroup.pathItems.polygon(144, 288, 72.0, 7);
    fgItem.position = Array(220, 480);
    fgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[7].color;
    fgItem.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.BRINGTOFRONT);
    clipGroup.clipped = true;
    alert(clipGroup.clipped); // will alert true
    But when trying the simplest form of a compound path, it’s not working:
    var doc = app.documents.add();
    var clipGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
    var bgItem = clipGroup.pathItems.rectangle(200, 200, 200, 200);
    bgItem.position = Array(200, 500);
    bgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[8].color;
    var compoundItem = clipGroup.compoundPathItems.add();
    var fgItem = compoundItem.pathItems.polygon(144, 288, 72.0, 7);
    fgItem.position = Array(220, 480);
    fgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[7].color;
    compoundItem.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.BRINGTOFRONT);
    clipGroup.clipped = true;
    alert(clipGroup.clipped); // will alert false
    Using compound paths as clipping masks is really simple in the Illustrator GUI. So what am I missing here?
    Help would be greatly appreciated.

    The simplest way, I think, would be to set the white line work as an opacity mask on top of the tan circle. That is not a clipping mask, but does the same thing and it's much easier.
    Otherwise, outline white strokes and "Unite" using pathfinder tool, then delete outside path (the circle), from the compound shape. That will leave the appropriate compound object to make the clipping mask:

  • Calling all compound path and clipping mask experts...

    I am attempting to get all the white areas in the attached "globe" artwork to knockout to the background color. I have tried making the entire thing a compound path, tried clipping mask and different combinations in pathfinder with no success. The image on the right is what happens when I make it a compound path. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

    The simplest way, I think, would be to set the white line work as an opacity mask on top of the tan circle. That is not a clipping mask, but does the same thing and it's much easier.
    Otherwise, outline white strokes and "Unite" using pathfinder tool, then delete outside path (the circle), from the compound shape. That will leave the appropriate compound object to make the clipping mask:

  • Making a clipping group with a compound path

    So, as of today I'm new to scripting for Illustrator, I'm using the ExtendScript Toolkit. However I'm not new to scripting my own solutions and I do have some experience with JavaScript already.
    What I'm trying to do is this: For all selected Items->Duplicate selected item and make a simple clipping group with it
    What I end up with visually doesn't change the picture, but gives me a lot of clipped colored areas which I then can edit in the isolated mode, allowing me far faster and better shading. Doing that by hand takes hours on some pictures, it'd take a second with a script.
    The script itself already perfectly works for normal PathItems. As obvious in the title, as soon as I have to apply the same to CompundPathItems things stop working. My issue is somewhat similar to this old thread [Problem with compound path clipping], but I couldn't find a solution there because I get different behavior.
    When I run the very same script that perfectly works with the normal PathItems with CompoundPathItems I get this: Error 9046: The top item in the group must be a path item to create a mask
    Well that's a problem. In the GUI there is absolutely no difference between making a clipping mask with a simple path and a compound path. The reference guide has frankly not helped me with this issue at all, the only thing I learned from that is that the CompoundPathItem object doesn't have a clipping attribute, but those included PathItems do.
    Here's what I have so far:
    if ( selected[i].typename == "PathItem" ) {
    var newGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
    copy = selected[i].duplicate(newGroup,ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
    selected[i].moveToBeginning(newGroup);
    newGroup.clipped = true;
    As I said, this part perfectly does what it's supposed to do for normal Paths.
    For CompoundPaths I use this workaround.
    if ( selected[i].typename == "CompoundPathItem" ) {
    var newGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
    copy = selected[i].duplicate(newGroup,ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND);
    selected[i].moveToBeginning(newGroup);
    compoundItems = selected[i].pathItems;
    compoundIndex = compoundItems.length;
    for ( f = 0; f < compoundIndex; f++ ) {compoundItems[f].clipping=true;}
    var lineList = new Array(10);
    for ( l = 0; l < lineList.length; l++ ) {lineList[l] = new Array( i * 10 + 50, ((i - 5) ^ 2) * 5 +50);}
    newPath = app.activeDocument.pathItems.add();
    newPath.setEntirePath(lineList);
    newPath.moveToBeginning(newGroup);
    newGroup.clipped = true;
    newPath.remove();
    Mind you, this workaround does work in so far that it bypasses that annoying and wrong error, and the Compound Clipping Path also works, with the only problem being that the Compound Clipping Path created like this is still displayed in its original colors in the Layers section, and is still selectable. When I lock the Compound Clipping Path I can work with it but still...
    So the question is, what am I missing here? Surely there must be a proper way to do this.

    app.executeMenuCommand()? That one eluded me so far, might be just the right thing. I'll definitely take a look, now just to find a ref on that, as unfortunately the official ref documents I have don't mention that command. Any place with a list of possible commands?
    Ah, also of course I'm not only doing it for the isolation mode. If you care to hear the background, here is it:
    As I said it's for shading the pictures I'm working on. I've iterated and tried through a bunch of techniques. For example gradient meshes on my first few real works. Now those meshes don't do well with complex shapes, which previously I alleviated by using a simple square or rectangle gradient mesh and using the original colored shape as a clipping mask. That did work, but it was a huge lot of work.
    After a bunch of attempts at that I went over to using simple gradients as a background for the shape and then I'm doing the shading freehand with the blob brush tool, using a graphic style and filters to make it look right. That's better, but properly making all the clipping masks takes me much longer than anything else.
    Now the problem is that the shading is not supposed to go over the lines, which is impossible to do properly without either messing up the order, or using clipping masks, hence the script. Because you know, if you use a blob brush with a strong Gaussian blur close to the lines you'll end up with stuff on both sides. If you don't start close to the line the shading won't look right if the darkest part of the shade needs to be close to the line. And that's where clipping masks do magic.
    And finally here's an example how I work with the script and the result:
    After I have traced a sketch, adjusted the line widths and everything to look neat I turn the paths to outline strokes and then make them into a live paint group (which would mess up the line widths, unless you turn the paths into outline strokes first).
    With that live paint group it takes me just a few minutes to flat color my piece. Then I expand the live paint group, in case of doubt spend some more minutes to make compound paths from all areas I need to shade in one piece, then I select all the areas and use my script to turn them into neat clipping masks. Then I can click any area, enter the isolation mode and go up one level so I'm in the appropriate group, where I can shade freely without the problem of going over the lines.
    At the end that allows me to apply a complex and in-depth shading, without wasting any time to get there.
    PS: Well, I just found out that Draw Inside is pretty darn close to what I want to do, and oddly enough it produces the same visual discrepancy with compound paths that my script produces. I'll be taking a closer look at that, though my script does a little more than just the clipping mask stuff, so maybe I'll go for a hybrid solution. Whatever makes for a better workflow.

  • Compound path text & shape mode problem

    Hi there,
    I'm working with some text that I've outlined and converted to a compound path. Then I'm applying a subtractive shape mode onto, but I'm noticing that it's actually changing the weight of the type. Can someone tell me why this is happening & perhaps suggest how I can retain the weight after applying the subtraction please? Thanks!

    I could possibly use a opacity mask, you're right, but I'd still like to know what the reasoning is behind the change in weight is when I outline text -> convert to a compound path -> subtraction shape mode. Strange thing is, is that it's happened to one set of letters & not another set of the same font done in I think the same way
    Thanks rcraiqhead however for the suggestion.

  • Help needed to make a compound path of text in rectangle

    Hello, I hope some one will really solve my problem.
    Im trying to make a compound path (text inside a rectangle). I had done this previously with success but now the whole shape and text is showing same color. Although text should be transparent! And now due to the similarity in colors i cannot see any font.
    I don't know why this is happening?
    I made outlines of text, ungrouped it, released their compound paths, placed all fonts and rectangle in seperated layer and then made it a compound  path.
    Please let me know if im following all the steps.
    Also, please forgive my bad English as im not native.

    adobied,
    As you know now, Larry answered the Compound question while you were still typing.
    We do have quite a few cross postings in this busy forum, especially at this time of day with natives present both over there and over here.
    You can use Opacity Masks for a whole range of purposes, and they can act as (inverted) Clipping Masks, and also for partial/varying transparency.
    In this case, the suggested use corresponds to an inverted Clipping Mask.
    I quite understand your wish to have the Compound under control, and I believe that is sorted with the advice from Larry.

  • [AI CS4 Mac] How to create a Compound Path?

    Hi Folks,
    I'm trying to create a compound path in AI CS4 for Mac, but I have not been successful. One would think this would be easy, so maybe I'm missing the obvious solution...
    What is best way to create a compound path using the SDK? I just need to make a compound path out of two non-overlapping rectangles so that I can create a clipping mask. Nothing tricky.
    The SDK is not clear about the best way to go about creating a compound path, but I figured that programmitically selecting the two rectanlges and then using the built in "adobe_makeCompound" action would work, but it doesn't.
    err = sAIActionManager->PlayActionEvent("adobe_makeCompound", kDialogNone, NULL);
    When the above code is called while I'm debugging, I get a dialog box that reads: The object "Make Compound Path" is not currently available.
    If I click the "Stop" button while debugging, the value of err is 1346458189 which is 'PARM'. So, maybe I need to set a parameter? The crazy thing is that there appears to be no parameters needed for the "adobe_makeCompound" action event. When I created the action manually, the resulting .aia file (see its contents below) has a parameterCount == 0. I've tried passing a parameter block without adding any parameters to it (instead of NULL), but still no joy.
    /version 2
    /name [ 5
              5365742031
    /isOpen 1
    /actionCount 1
    /action-1 {
              /name [ 12
                        436f6d706f756e6450617468
              /keyIndex 0
              /colorIndex 0
              /isOpen 0
              /eventCount 1
              /event-1 {
                        /internalName (adobe_makeCompound)
                        /localizedName [ 18
                                  4d616b6520436f6d706f756e642050617468
                        /isOpen 0
                        /isOn 1
                        /hasDialog 0
                        /parameterCount 0
    Any help or suggestions on how to create a compound path would be greatly appreciated!
    Thanks in advance!
    -- Jim

    Actually, here's a more useful variation
    // rectangle1 & rectangle2 are the AIArtHandles for your existing paths
    AIArtHandle compound = 0;
    sArt->NewArt(kCompoundPathArt, kPlaceAbove, rectangle1, &compound);
    sArt->sReorderArt(rectangle1, kPlaceInsideOnTop, compound);
    sArt->sReorderArt(rectangle2, kPlaceInsideOnTop, compound);
    // this will create the compound right next to wherever rectangle1 is, much simpler and more likely what you want

  • Compound Path - determine  winding rules

    I have a compound path, and i need to parse all points, for export to CANVAS HTML , for this I wrote this script:
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    Compound Path fill rules:  http://forums.adobe.com/message/4507598?tstart=0#4507598
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    http://help.adobe.com/en_US/illustrator/cs/using/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-6462a .html#WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-644ea
    http://www.fireworkszone.com/tuts/476/fill_rules.pdf
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    I just want all inner shape and overlapping shape areas to be considered the composite fill of the compound shape - so in my example above, the three red rectangles lacking a centerpoint I want to contribute to compound path's composite fill, instead of knocking it out.
    BTW, that example up there has a big outer stroke, no fill. Maybe confusing, but that's how I'm currently using the shape (to mask the outsides of 3 different designs).

  • Compound path envelope disort - urgent - please help!

    So, I really need to do a "car of the year" type of badge in illustrator.
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    Art brushes won't repeat.
    Look for the element that's not allowed, because brushes are an ideal way to do this.
    Look for gradients, pixel art or type.
    Try this art:
    http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/exchange/index.cfm?event=extensionDetail&extid=1045620

  • Live trace, gradients and compounding paths

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    "The problem with that, though, is a gradient will apply separately to each object..."
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  • How to create multiple gradients in a compound path?

    Hi, I am trying to color a compound path with multiple colors? Kinda similar to the effect here
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    namk,
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  • Help with linked files/ compound paths please

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  • [Ai CS4] So I cannot convert compound path to regular paths?

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    Doh! I guess I found my answer, a minute after I post the question.
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  • Help with creating compound/Clipping Mask

    Hello,
    This is going to be quite hard to explain so bear with me!
    I recently live traced a hand drawn pattern into illustrator pressing 'Ignore white', Underneath this I have a jpg with a texture I want to use. My aim is to cut out the shape of two letters into this pattern/texture.
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    Place the outline of the letters on top of the pattern. Select the pattern and the letters and choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make.

  • Compound Path Type Container

    I was able to get text to wrap around the center image.  But I also need the text to wrap around the square voids in this image, which here, it is of course not doing.  I combined the square shapes in the background with the silhouette pictured here as a compound path using the "minus front" pathfinder tool thinking that if it was one object I could then convert the whole shape into a type container, but I soon learned that the "area type tool" will not work on compound paths.  Any workaround on this?  PS: clipping mask was no good because it cuts the text where the no-fill parts are as opposed to having the text flow about the un-filled areas.  Any suggestions greatly appreciated.  Thanks!

    Very nice.  So I made the background a type container and the "cut-outs" into objects in order to use the text wrap functionality.  It worked!!!  Thank you very much...
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