SKILLSET 5: Masks & Patterns - Creating clipping masks and pattern fills
*For more information, see tutorials on Illustrator CC site:
Learning:
Learn the following skills by observing Ms. Hammond’s demonstration, then practising and completing the activity below to produce 3 different versions of your name:
Application:
Create a new layer inside your “loginname_SkillsScavenger” Illustrator file. Rename this layer “Clipping Masks & Pattern Fills.”
Important Information:
Using Default Pattern Swatches
*Reminder: You can change the order of objects on your layer by selecting, then right-clicking on an object and choosing Arrange > Send to Back/Bring Forward
*For more information, see tutorials on Illustrator CC site:
- (5:00 minutes) Pattern Fills
- (3:30 minutes) Clipping Mask
Learning:
Learn the following skills by observing Ms. Hammond’s demonstration, then practising and completing the activity below to produce 3 different versions of your name:
- Creating a clipping mask
- Using pattern fills
- Creating custom pattern fills
Application:
Create a new layer inside your “loginname_SkillsScavenger” Illustrator file. Rename this layer “Clipping Masks & Pattern Fills.”
- First, fill some text with a Default Pattern Fill contained inside of Illustrator. Type the words “Default Pattern,” choose your font, and make your text size approximately 90. Then, choose one of Illustrator’s default Pattern Swatches to use as the Fill for your text.
- Second, create a custom pattern swatch, then fill some text with it. Type the words “Custom Pattern,” choose your font, and make your text size approximately 90. On your stage, create a custom doodle or small group of doodles using one of the drawing tools, use this doodle to create a Custom Pattern, then choose it and use it as the Fill for your text.
- Third, fill some text with a bitmap image to create a Clipping Mask. Type the words “Clipping Mask,” choose your font, and make your text size approximately 90. Then, find an image that says something about you (you may use a photo of you, or a copyright free photo you find on the internet). Combine these two objects together to create a Clipping Mask that will “fill” your text with the image.
Important Information:
Using Default Pattern Swatches
- In the Properties panel at the top of your window (note: you can also click on the Swatch icon in the right-hand panel), click on the Fill option, then click on the Library icon in the bottom left-hand corner (looks like a tiny stack of books) to bring up a bunch of Fill folders. Go to Patterns, then choose a folder that appeals to you. From this folder, choose a Pattern Fill you like and apply it to your text’s Fill (note: it may automatically be applied to your Stroke instead – to fix this, either go up to your Fill option and select the Pattern fill swatch the same way you would select a color OR with your text selected, go to the bottom of the Tools panel to find the Color Picker tool, then use the little bendy arrow to switch your Stroke and Fill colors). Make sure that your text has a Pattern Fill and a Solid-Color Stroke.
- On your stage, create a custom doodle or small group of doodles using one of the drawing tools, like you did when you made a Custom Brush. Pop open the Swatches panel (by clicking on a tiny icon that looks like a grid, just below the Brush icon in the right-hand properties panel). Just like you did when creating your custom brush, drag the bottom of the panel to extend it, giving you room to drag your pattern in. On your stage, select your doodle then drag it into the panel. A new Pattern Swatch is created in your Swatch panel. Select your “Custom Pattern” text, then apply your new pattern to its Fill. You can edit the way the pattern looks and functions by double-clicking on its Swatch, just like you did with your custom brush. Or you can leave it as it is!
- Type some text on the stage. This text will be your vector image, which must go on top of the other image you use to make your clipping mask. Then, find an image that says something about you (you may use a photo of you, or a copyright free photo you find on the internet). This will be the bitmap image that fills your name – this must go on the bottom (i.e. behind your text). Now that you’ve applied your Clipping Mask, double-click on the text to isolate it. Then give it a black Stroke color.
*Reminder: You can change the order of objects on your layer by selecting, then right-clicking on an object and choosing Arrange > Send to Back/Bring Forward