Information Graphics

Information Graphics

Making a clipping mask

30/11/15

After creating my infographics and logo, I started putting things together onto my box template. However I thought it was extremely lacking in colour and didn't look professional what so ever.  I wanted to add some sort of pattern onto the design to make it more eye catching.

Creating a clipping mask

The pattern I intended to use would be simple and would have reduced opacity so that it didn't overpower the rest of the components of the design. It would also reflect the flavours of the tea through the colours used, which pulls together my research into colour association.

I wanted this design to fit into the box template, which required making a clipping mask.

My box template is simple.

To make the clipping mask, I first had to ungroup the box design so that I could pull the guidelines for the folds out of the way. Once I had done this I just moved the box guidelines to the side.

 By selecting the pattern design I wanted to use after creating it in illustrator, I could then change the colours to the ones I wanted to use. 

Because I had created the pattern in illustrator, I then needed to move it into photoshop so that I could then use it to make the clipping mask. 

Once I had saves it down, I could then open it into photoshop. It was a simple task of just opening it and re-saving it as a photoshop file.

Once I had saved it as a photoshop document, I could then re-open the photoshop file in Illustrator.

To make the clipping mask, you take the pattern or design you want the pattern to go into, as well as the pattern itself. 

The space you want the pattern to go into has to be in front of the pattern.

Once the space you want to put the pattern in is in front of the actual pattern, you can then rotate, re-size or move the pattern to line up with the template, or to where you want it to be. 

This is an example of putting the pattern into a small shape i had created to go into the box template, rather than the box itself, however to process is the same. 

Once the pattern and the template are lined up, you can then make the clipping mask. You have to select both the pattern and the template before hand.

If, one you have made the clipping mask, you are not happy with the placement or size, you can go on the direct select tool, go into the object menu and then down to the transform drop down list, which gives you numerous options to suit what you need to do. After clicking on the option you want, you then have to use the normal select tool to complete the action.

If you are happy with how the clipping mask turned out, you can then move it (if it is a small section as mine is) to where you want it to be, and you can then copy and paste it, reflect it and rotate it to fit the space you want it in.