Skip navigation
ac iLiv
ac iLiv Calculating status...
Currently Being Moderated

How do I create a set of framed transparent windows?

Feb 19, 2013 8:44 AM

Tags: #mask

Hello All,

 

I want to create a set of framed windows that are transparent, so that I can place any image below the frame in the stacking order, and the image will show through the windows.

 

If it worked, the image below would show the trees though the five windows instead of the five white rounded rectangles, but the grey gradiant and the text would remain.

 

2013-02-19_1128.png

 

I thought masking could do it, but

  1. Masking crops the image to the window, but it also removes the grey gradiant frame, and
  2. I can't get masking to work with more than on window, even if I group the five windows.

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance with this little puzzle.

348 Views   7 Replies   Latest reply: Jacob Bugge, Feb 19, 2013 12:00 PM
 
Replies
  • Mike Gondek
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Mike Gondek,
    Feb 19, 2013 8:49 AM   in reply to ac iLiv
    Report
    1. Select the silver frame shape, and your white shapes
    2. Pathfinder >> minus front
     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Jacob Bugge
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. Jacob Bugge,
    Feb 19, 2013 8:52 AM   in reply to ac iLiv
    Report

    ac,

     

    As I (mis)understand it, you can just select the grey gradient rectangle and the white rounded rectangles, then Object>Compound Path>Make.

     

    Edit: Hi Mike.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • ac iLiv
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. ac iLiv,
    Feb 19, 2013 9:43 AM   in reply to ac iLiv
    Report

    Mike: That works!

     

    Jacob: That works too!

     

    In both case:

    • the text (it's faint, but there is some above each window) goes away
    • the rectangles loose their rounded corners appearance

     

    I'll work on these and report back.

     

    Thank you both!

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • ac iLiv
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. ac iLiv,
    Feb 19, 2013 10:53 AM   in reply to ac iLiv
    Report

    Here's how I solved the final cleanup:

    • the text disappearing was a stacking order problem -- when you make a compound path, it's stacks at the top of the layer -- simple matter to re-order
    • the rectangles with rounded corners appearance lost their roundedness no matter what I tried -- I redid them as rounded rectangle objects and that was fine

     

    Puzzle solved. Thank you Mike and Jacob.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Jacob Bugge
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. Jacob Bugge,
    Feb 19, 2013 11:46 AM   in reply to ac iLiv
    Report

    For my part you are welcome, ac.

     

    To get the round corners appearance to work, you can just select all the rectangles with the Rounded Corner effect and Object>Expand Appearance: that will change them to simple/regular rounded rectangles.

     

    when you make a compound path, it's stacks at the top of the layer

     

    Not quite: it is stacked where the topmost constituent path was, so at least one of the rectangles with the Rounded Rectangle effects must have been above the live Type.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • ac iLiv
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. ac iLiv,
    Feb 19, 2013 11:55 AM   in reply to Jacob Bugge
    Report

    You are right again: one of the rectangles was at the top of the stack.

     

    I did not know about Object>ExpandAppearance.

     

    Thank you again!

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Jacob Bugge
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. Jacob Bugge,
    Feb 19, 2013 12:00 PM   in reply to ac iLiv
    Report

    You are welcome, ac, and welcome to this friendly forum.

     
    |
    Mark as:
Actions

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Answers + Points = Status

  • 10 points awarded for Correct Answers
  • 5 points awarded for Helpful Answers
  • 10,000+ points
  • 1,001-10,000 points
  • 501-1,000 points
  • 5-500 points