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shannont99
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How do I create a transparent stroke above other shapes?

Aug 14, 2012 8:31 PM

Tags: #illustrator #problem #transparent #stroke

Hello

 

I have the following shape:

 

shape1.jpg

 

What I'm trying to do is give the blue box a transparent stroke that will "cut through" the red boxes and show the background underneath, whatever that may be ...white, another color, or a photo.

 

I can easily achieve this when I give it a white stroke. It'll look like this:

 

shape2.jpg

 

When I change to a background color other than white or even a photo however, I end up with this problem:

 

shape3.jpg

 

How do I make it so that I have a transparent border (not white) around the blue box? Which effectively cuts a "transparent stroke" (space) between the parts where the blue and red boxes intersect?

 

Thank you very much for any advice I've been trying to get this done for days without success, so you're my last hope!

1527 Views   6 Replies   Latest reply: Larry G. Schneider, Apr 19, 2013 8:45 AM
 
Replies
  • Silkrooster
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    1. Silkrooster,
    Aug 14, 2012 9:32 PM   in reply to shannont99
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    Window>Appearence or shift-F6. Once the appearence panel is open, Twirl down the icon next to the word Stroke, Click Opacity and adjust it to your hearts desire...

     
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  • tromboniator
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    2. tromboniator,
    Aug 15, 2012 12:10 AM   in reply to shannont99
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    1. Select the blue rectangle with the white stroke, then do as Silkrooster suggests to set the stroke's opacity to 0. The white stroke will disappear.

    2. Select all three rectangles and group them.

    3. With the group selected, the Appearance panel should show:

        Group

        Contents

        Opacity

    Click on Opacity. In the box that opens, click the box next to Knockout Group until the check/tick mark appears. If the dash appears, click again.

     
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  • shannont99
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    3. shannont99,
    Aug 15, 2012 4:11 AM   in reply to tromboniator
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    Thank you SO much you both, that worked perfectly

     
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  • tromboniator
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    4. tromboniator,
    Aug 15, 2012 2:04 PM   in reply to shannont99
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    You're welcome.

     
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  • tahlia russell
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    5. tahlia russell,
    Apr 18, 2013 8:16 PM   in reply to tromboniator
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    I have been trying to figure this out for so long! thank you Although I have one problem, when i import the file as an eps into my indesign document the whote lines appear again. Help! :/

     
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  • Larry G. Schneider
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    6. Larry G. Schneider,
    Apr 19, 2013 8:45 AM   in reply to tahlia russell
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    Don't use EPS. This file format doesn't support transparency. You will have to use AI (with PDF content enabled) or PDF to get the transparency into ID.

     
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