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artsy*gurl
artsy*gurl
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Need help making a vignette with the center transparent

Jul 18, 2012 10:45 AM

Tags: #illustrator #cs5 #gradient #vignette

I am wanting to use some scrapbook paper with a nice textured patter on it to make a cut out and glue it in a book cover.  I have a nice quote that I want printed on the paper so it will be going through my printer to accomplish this but I wanted to give the paper more personality around the edges. 

 

I pulled a oldstyle shape off a photo and live traced it in illustrator to create a vector.

Now what I want is to make a nice light vignette that conforms to the shape edge and fades to transparent in the center so the nice pattern on my paper and the quote will be seen.

 

Any ideas on how to accomplish this???

 

Thank you

700 Views   3 Replies   Latest reply: mjarrott, Jul 18, 2012 1:03 PM
 
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  • Monika Gause
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    1. Monika Gause,
    Jul 18, 2012 11:28 AM   in reply to artsy*gurl
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    use an opacity mask.

     
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  • mjarrott
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    2. mjarrott,
    Jul 18, 2012 12:38 PM   in reply to artsy*gurl
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    This may be a helpful tutorial to follow for working in Illustrator.

     

    Michael

     
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  • mjarrott
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    3. mjarrott,
    Jul 18, 2012 1:03 PM   in reply to artsy*gurl
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    Here is a quick method for you:

     

    1. Place your image in Illustrator.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.46.16 PM.png

     

    2. Make a rectangle the same size as your image, and give it a radial gradient fill. (Adjusting the size of the gradient and the color values will ultimately affect how your vignette will look) Put this gradient-filled rectangle directly over your image.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.46.23 PM.png

     

    3. Go to Select > All to select both your image and the rectangle above it. In the Transparency panel, select Make Mask.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.46.33 PM.png

     

    4. Your image should look something like this. The opacity mask works to fade the edges of your image based on the gradient you placed above it.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.46.46 PM.png

     

    5. Now, to make dark corners, simply create another rectangle the exact same size as the image with a solid black fill. Put this black rectangle on a New Layer, below the current layer and align it with your image.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.47.11 PM.png

     

    It should look similar to this.

     

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.47.23 PM.png

     

    6. Again, if you need to adjust how this vignette looks, just select your image, then click Release in the Transparency Panel and adjust the settings for the radial gradient you made.

    Screen Shot 2012-07-18 at 12.57.35 PM.png

    Hope this helps!

    Michael.

     
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