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sean.mateer
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Need help separating single object based on background objects

Aug 1, 2012 10:03 AM

I am working with a vector puzzle file that is going to have a design overlaid on top of it. This puzzle is eventually going to be CNC'd into large wooden pieces with the overlaid design engraved halfway into the wood.

 

Each puzzle piece in this vector image is a separate object and I eventually need to pull them all apart with the design that will be engraved on top of them in a different stroke color. In other words, in the attached example image, I would need to eventually be able to pull, say the top right piece away, leaving me with the single puzzle piece in a black stroke, and the small purple part intersecting the piece.

 

Is there any easy way to do this? I do not have that much experience with these type of things in illustrator. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

puzzle.PNG

658 Views   9 Replies   Latest reply: sean.mateer, Aug 2, 2012 11:48 AM
 
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  • sean.mateer
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    1. sean.mateer,
    Aug 1, 2012 10:21 AM   in reply to sean.mateer
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    Anyone? I have tried messing around with shapebuilder and pathfinder. There has got to be a way to do it.

     
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  • [Jongware]
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    2. [Jongware],
    Aug 1, 2012 10:42 AM   in reply to sean.mateer
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    Something like this? http://forums.adobe.com/thread/735457

     
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  • emil emil
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    3. emil emil,
    Aug 1, 2012 10:50 AM   in reply to sean.mateer
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    Select all without the circle in front and Copy (Ctrl + C).

    Make sure the puzzle pieces have fill color. From your image I can't tell if they have a white fill or none. If none, add a fill color.

    Select all and in the Pathfinder panel click the Crop button (4th in the bottom row)

    Ungroup (Shift + Ctrl + U)

    Paste Behind (Ctrl + B)

    If you like select each cut piece of the circle and the puzzle piece behind it and Group them (Ctrl + G)

     

    if using a mac use the corresponding keys.

     

    edit: Hi Jongware,

    looks like a cool script

     
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  • sean.mateer
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    4. sean.mateer,
    Aug 1, 2012 11:15 AM   in reply to [Jongware]
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    [Jongware] wrote:

     

    Something like this? http://forums.adobe.com/thread/735457

    Wow this is awesome. We will see if my computer explodes with the 25 by 20 foot 500 piece puzzle I need to make.

     
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  • [Jongware]
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    5. [Jongware],
    Aug 1, 2012 1:57 PM   in reply to sean.mateer
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    > We will see if my computer explodes with the 25 by 20 foot 500 piece puzzle I need to make.

     

    Ah ...

     

    Here's how it works -- you might need to know that. The bulk of the script creates the random puzzle pieces. It was a bit of fun trying to make each part just a bit different while still keeping a coherent single piece -- too much derivation of the default shape, and you might get a broken off corner. After the hard work is done, it copies *the entire artwork* into each of the pieces ... (they are used as clipping masks).

     

    That means that if your artwork consists of 10MB of vector artwork, dividing it up into "500" pieces, your document will actually contain 500 complete copies and thus swell to a formidbl.. fromibad ... grand total of 5GB!

     

    Your system might be able to deal with such a size, but if not: create the main jigsaw pieces using a blank rectangle, and then go over each of them with the pathfinder, so all excess objects are discarded. ... Times 500, that is.

     
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  • sean.mateer
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    6. sean.mateer,
    Aug 2, 2012 10:02 AM   in reply to [Jongware]
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    Thanks for all the help Jongware. Your script is definitely getting me a lot closer to where I need to be.

     

    The problem I am having now is all of those invisible copies that the script leaves behind. The design I am placing on top of the piece is eventually going to be engraved by a CNC machine which interprets all vectors lines (invisible or not) as something it should cut.

     

    Capture.PNG

     

    You can't see the design under there- but it basically consists of a bunch of overlapping trapazoids. I can't find a way to delete the transparent copies without also affecting the visible clipping masks. I have tried things such as locking all of the visible design with select>object>color and then deleting the invisible shapes, but will delete anything.

     

    Is there anything I could do to prevent the script from saving the rest of the empty clipping mask objects?

     
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  • [Jongware]
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    7. [Jongware],
    Aug 2, 2012 10:16 AM   in reply to sean.mateer
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    Try and see what the Pathfinder can produce? I know it has a "cut objects below" function hidden somehwere.

     
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  • OldBob1957
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    8. OldBob1957,
    Aug 2, 2012 10:41 AM   in reply to sean.mateer
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    Have you tried using the Direct Selection tool, then selecting one of the 'invisible' objects and Select > Same Fill and Stroke  and then deleting?

     

    Screen.jpg

     
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  • sean.mateer
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    9. sean.mateer,
    Aug 2, 2012 11:48 AM   in reply to OldBob1957
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    OldBob1957 wrote:

     

    Have you tried using the Direct Selection tool, then selecting one of the 'invisible' objects and Select > Same Fill and Stroke  and then deleting?

     

    Screen.jpg

    Yes, unfortunately this also cuts the mask. Is there any way I can take just save a path kind of like you would save a selection in photoshop and apply it to a different object or group? For example, if I had an outline of a star, is there a way I could essentially "stamp" that path into a filled rectangle and pull out the star? I realize that can easily be done with pathfinder, but it doesn't seem to work when done on a group of objects. Any way around that?

     
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