How do i invert in Illustrator?

[prophet]

How can i make that line become white over the black boxes but stay black in the white? Without doing separate lines. Where do i go in illustrator to do that? Pretty much a negative?

[bluelou]

Hi

I think you have to outline stroke the line (object -> path -> outline stroke), and then select it with the squares and exclude them using pathfinder window.
This will make "holes" in the squares not color but you will be able do move the outline stroked line with the direct selection tool before you expand the exclude command.

If you want color instead of "holes" copy, paste behind and fill the squares before exclude.

Bye

[prophet]

nothing happens just becomes a thin line.

[Neupix]

see the screenshot below, and don't mind the hot pink - it's my new favourite colour LOL (Actually I am working on a school project that involves a book cover for a book based on breast cancer... hence the pink colour)

Anyways, I hope this helps!

[Blazen]

Hey,

Well put penguin . If you want to learn more about the pathfinder palette and how everything works you can use this tutorial. I found it to be useful .

Regards,

[bluelou]

First select only the line and convert it to a shape (outline stroke), than selected it with the squares and exclude.

I´m using illustrator 10, don't know if its diferent in CS

[prophet]

but why does the line become thin when i outline. :/

[Neupix]

Just change the width of the stroke after you make the cut. In your example, I wouldn'
t recommend using a thick line to create the inverted effect anyways. instead, use a rectangle that is in the same shape.

Lines in illustrator are not the greatest - they don't scale properly, and they can cause trouble. Always use a shape in place of a line when you can.

[prophet]

yeah i know i change the stroke but it becomes solid black again.

[pentool]

I know I'm late, but....

1. Place a white filled rectangle BEHIND ALL the shapes first.
2. Make the line white (if the "line" is actually a rectangle, fill it with white, if it's a line, assign a white stroke to it)
3. Finally, assign the "Exclusion" blending mode to the line (in the Transparecny palette)

Ta-Da!