Now we are going to subtract our text out of our rectangle shape. In your layers palette, put the rectangle below the text layers as shown.Ĭhange the color of your text layer to white so that your result looks like so.

We’ve put the rectangle over top of our text, so we need to readjust our layers palette. Your rectangle should look roughly something like this. Use the UP and DOWN arrows on your keyboard while you are drawing your rectangle to change the radius of the edges on the fly. Take the rounded rectangle tool (from the shapes flyout menu) and create a rounded rectangle similar to the one shown. Now we are going to create the shape that we “minus” our text out of. You should have something similar to this by the end of step 1. You can no longer edit the font after doing this.

In our example we’ve used the font Helvetica Neue Black Extended, with the character tracking set to -10.Ĭonvert the font to Curves / Outlines by selecting the text and selecting “Type > Create Outlines”. Open up a new Illustrator document, and create the text “metalworx”. Let’s first start by creating the shape(s) that we are eventually going to use in our clipping mask. The first will be creating a “compound path,” and then you will learn to use this compound path to create your “clipping mask” over a texture. In this quick tip, you will learn to use 2 different tools.

One of the most common tools that newer Illustrator users seem to struggle with is the clipping mask tool. This tool will be one of the basics you will learn to use in creating everything from Vehicle Wraps, to complex signage designs. As a signage designer, one of the most powerful tools you will learn to use in Illustrator is the clipping mask tool.

Illustrator subtract shape