creating clipping masks in docs with lots of layers

[rachieb]

hi, i have a multi layered doc that i want to create a clipping mask in the shape of a round cornered rectangle. i.e. draw round cornered rectangle on top of a compex image and just be left with whats inside rectangle. i'm on illustrator cs3 and i've done a tutorial from classroom in a book and all works well but can't do it on my doc. mine has lots of layers, that might be the prob but i can't work out how to flatten image in illustrator. in fact i've tried lots of things but nothing works. any ideas out there?... rach

 

[eastbayrk]

Well, You can flatten specific aspects of your design if you go to the layers pallet and click Flatten artwork or merge selected from the arrow on the right.

Your clipping mask is only going to clip mask the layer selected so you might want to see if the right layer is selected.

 

[apepp]

...are you saying you can't find the clipping mask feature?

...it is under object menu > clipping mask > make...

...you need to ensure the mask to be is on top of all objects, the mask doesn't have to even be on the same layer as your target objects, and your target objects can also be on different layers...

...when a clipping mask is created you end up with a 'group' of objects inside one layer...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...do bear in mind that a clipping mask doesn't remove any parts of your artwork, all is left intact, leaving objects still editable...

...also the little circle in the layers palette is useful for target selecting certain parts of artwork, it is also an indicator to whether or not an object has effects applied to it (circle will be solid if this is the case)...

...bit off topic now...

...if you do have a solid circle (as opposed to the default hollow one) in the layers palette (right of the thumbnail image), you can then go to the appearance palette to see what effects have been applied...

...double click the effect in the appearance palette list and you can then edit that effect or see what settings have been applied...

...the appearance palette is pretty powerful, allowing you to layer effect upon effect, upon effect etc...

...for example adding more that one fill or stroke to an object...

...you can then drag your special effects objects (from the art board) to the graphic styles palette for use on other objects...

...if you edit the graphic style on the art board, you can then drag this new style over/on top of the existing one in the graphic style palette (whilst pressing the alt/option key), this will then update all other objects on the fly which had the old graphic style...

Andrew

 

[rachieb]

thanks so much for your replies but i still can't do it!
i can find the clipping mask command
and my rectangle i want to make a clipping mask with is in it's own layer above all the other layers.
and i've also tried putting everything into the same layer with clipping mask at the top of it.
i think the problem is all the layers...
i have flattened image and/or merged visible and then it shows all the hidden stuff as well, like layers i have already used a clipping mask on, all unclipped stuff shows up...
whenever i try and make clipping mask on top of any arrangement, any selection of layers or all layers or flattened, it says it "can't do it cos selection must contain more than one object".
i am really flummaxed now. any more ideas gratefully received. thanks, rachel

 

[jconingham]

Ok, hit Ctrl + A to select everything (lock any objects that you don't want to add to the mask) and then try that command again.
The problem is that you are probably only selecting what is to become the mask object and expect Illustrator to assume that everything else should be inside it, but that's not how it works. You ALWAYS have to select the paths that you want to include in the operation, there's no guess work from Illustrator's side.

 

[rachieb]

yep i'm doing that. selecting things or everything. not doing it. good to know it on keyboard though....

 

[rachieb]

oh my gosh i've just done it! a combination of that last advice and putting all the layers in one layer under mask. thankyou thankyou thankyou everyone. rach