formatting via Markdown
to format your text, add images and links - you can now use the lovely Markdown syntax. The small editor icons will do half the work for you - but if you wish to explore other options ~ see this reference from Daring Fireball (John Gruber)Logo design/cutting out object
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Newbie designer here. I have created a logo using Adobe Illustrator. Part of the logo contains a box with the number "40" in it. I need to cut out the "40" so it's transparent (so the logo can be placed over any background). I tried pulling it into Photoshop to do this, which worked well EXCEPT when I save it and then place it in ID or IL, it no longer looks high-res (it has jagged edges, etc.). Is there a better way to do this? I suspect doing the whole thing in IL would be a better way to go. If yes, I would be delighted to have further instruction in this department (pen tool? magic wand tool?)...my Illustrator knowledge is very limited. Many thanks in advance!!
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Hi Anna :)
if you are working on a logo - you're right to stick with Illustrator :)
If you need to cut out the "40" from you square - you will need to create a 'compound path', ie a hole into the box in the form of your 40.
a quick step-by-step:
1. copy your graphic elements - just to make sure to keep a copy of your original shapes, ie the box and the "40"
2. in order to use the "40" as stencil to cut out the hole - the numbers will need to be a vector shape, no longer editable type/font:
=> select the numbers >> top menu: type >> Create Outlines
(you will see the anchor points now surrounding the numbers)
3. place the outlined version of your numbers on top of the box
4. select both : box + numbers
5. create a compound path - which you can do in one of two ways:
a) top menu: type >> Compound Path >> Make
//OR//
b) Pathfinder (which you can open via: top menu: window >> Pathfinder)
>> click 'exclude'
you should now have your number shaped hole in your box ;)
Hope this solved it ~ let me know how you got on :) -
Prisca: Thank you so much--this was very helpful!! One remaining question: my numbers intersect the box (i.e., part of the 4 hangs outside of the box). After creating the compound path, I can still see the part of the 4 that extends past the box (it becomes the same color as the box), but I essentially want the number to NOT be visible past each side of the box. Does that make sense? I tried creating a clipping mask, but it seems difficult to line up the box just right (so a thin line doesn't show through on the overlapping number).
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Anna :)
glad that helped and worked as intended :)
about the extra part of your "4" — well, you have several options:
- use the pen tool to delete the overlapping shape, anchor point by anchor point
(this might result in even more problems as the path remains in its compound shape)
- release the compound shape (top menu: type >> Compound Path >> Release) and use a different pathfinder: 'divide' (again, you will need to select both shapes beforehand)
This is likely the best option for you: it will basically create a puzzle of the shapes for you - cutting it into separate parts, grouped by default.
Once you have done this - you can then use the 'group selection' tool (the white arrow with the + plus) to select and delete any parts you do not need. You will need to delete all the in transparent parts inside the box again, and then you can also delete the overlap.
As last step - you might want to select your final bits, all the parts which form the box, and apply the 'add to shape area' pathfinder. This will then turn what it can back into a solid shape.
Hope this makes sense?
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