Illustrator Outline Help!

[ballparkgraphics]

I need help....I have a decal design where I have a background that is in the shape of a steer skull. In front of that I have text going across, some of which sticks out past the edge of the skull. I want to contour cut around the OUTSIDE of the design. How do I do this???

 

[ericmitchell29]

Drag your Layer that has all of your content down to copy layer button right next to the trash can on the Layers tab.

2.) Turn off your top layer
3.) click on the bottom layer (this will select everything.
4.) Go to the pathfinder tab and click on the first box with the two squares called add to shape area.
5.) Click Expand (Note: if expand is grayed out, you need to convert your text to outlines and make sure they are not grouped).

Its late I hope I didn't leave anything out. Oh yeah, turn your top layer back on.

 

[ericmitchell29]

Forgot to mention the cut line,

The layer you expanded, you can then either make an outline with your CutContour Swatch or, Do an Object, path, offset path and do your outline cutcontour there.

 

[ericmitchell29]

that will give you a bit more freedom in case your cutter moves a bit from the graphic.

 

[ballparkgraphics]

Thanks a lot!!

 

[ballparkgraphics]

ok...can't seem to get it right

 

[ballparkgraphics]

I think that I have it but when I get it into VersaWorks it doesn't have a cut line. I flattened it before saving, that make difference?

 

[ballparkgraphics]

anyone??

 

[Idea Design]

Forgot to mention the cut line,

The layer you expanded, you can then either make an outline with your CutContour Swatch or, Do an Object, path, offset path and do your outline cutcontour there.

First you have to understand what eric says here.

After everything has been 'welded' or 'add to shape'd, you take the total outline which includes everything you want to cut around, the do Object>Path>Offset Path to a desired distance.

In order for Versaworks (I'm assuming it's the same as Flexi, as that's all I have) to recognize the contour on which to cut, you must set it up correctly in Illy first. You must make a new swatch in Illy called "CutContour" I use spot color, cmyk, and you can use any values you want. I use 47,0,0,0.

Stroke your newly offsetted graphic with the CutContour color swatch.

Save. Open. Viola.

 

[ballparkgraphics]

I understand how to do that; I use the CutContour all the time. I also have offset the path. I think something is wrong in the layers and it is 'blocking' out the cutcontour stroke.

 

[Idea Design]

Okay, I'll tell you how I do it. Some people disagree with my method, but it works for me every time.

ctrl-a for select all. In windows, hold alt and drag-copy with shift above or below the graphic. Distance doesn't matter, because the distance you use will stay in the dialogue box later on. Make every element in the design the same color with no stroke.

I use the 'merge' command on the pathfinder toolbar, commonly known as 'weld'. When you've got one graphic that contains all the elements of the design, offset it however far you choose.

Once your satisfied with the results hereto, I use ctrl-shift-m to move. If you haven't moved anything since copying your stuff, the exact distance you moved it all before will still be in the box. Apply the opposite sign to move it the other way, and it'll fall right on top of the original.

Apply the CutContour.

As I said before, some don't like this way, but it works. (for me)

 

[trik]

Ballpark, I think we had something similar, if I remember right we moved the contour layer to the top/front. I know it sounds funny, but it worked. i usually make sure it is always there, and have not had the issue since.

 

[ericmitchell29]

Hey you may just have something in your design that has an opacity less than 100%. Versaworks will not read a cut line if you send the file to it with that.

You know what I mean?

 

[ballparkgraphics]

Yeah, I will try both of these trik & eric. I'll update you on how it works. Thanks.