Fit vector shape into another vector

[Ikikuru]

Hey guys,

 

I’ve attached 2 images. One is the outline of a cartoon explosion. The other is just a vector. I want to insert the vector into the outline of the explosion and not have the vector image viewable outside the outline. I created the outline using the pen tool on my iPad and exported it as selection only (not whole document) I thought that would be enough, but obviously not as when I insert the vector image, it looks at the whole rectangle, so goes outside the outline.

 

Am I doing something wrong or is this not possible? Using Affinity designer 2.04

people-design-pop-art-icon-retro-and-colorful-vector-9233243 2.svg Vec outline.svg

[Dan C]

Hi @Ikikuru,

I can confirm that the 'vec outline.svg' file you have provided is an Image layer within an SVG container and therefore not a Vector object - which is why you are having trouble attempted to clip the second file within this.

Therefore, I would recommend the following:

• Open 'vec outline.svg'
• Using the Pen Tool, trace around the image, creating a vector shape
• Hide/Delete the image layer that is no longer required
• Document > Place and select the people-design-pop-art... svg file
• Tap to place this in the document, then using the Move Tool you can scale this as required
• Finally, in the Layers Studio you can clip the placed SVG file within the object you've drawn.

I've attached a quick screen recording below showing these steps (less the pen tool trace step such that it is a reasonable length video) - 

 
I hope this helps!

[Ikikuru]

Awesome, thanks. Originally I did use the pen tool to trace the vec outline shape. I then copied it to a new document (outline I had drawn only) and exported as a svg file. Would you know why it then saved as an image layer within an SVG Container?

7 hours ago, Dan C said:

Hi @Ikikuru,

I can confirm that the 'vec outline.svg' file you have provided is an Image layer within an SVG container and therefore not a Vector object - which is why you are having trouble attempted to clip the second file within this.

Therefore, I would recommend the following:

• Open 'vec outline.svg'
• Using the Pen Tool, trace around the image, creating a vector shape
• Hide/Delete the image layer that is no longer required
• Document > Place and select the people-design-pop-art... svg file
• Tap to place this in the document, then using the Move Tool you can scale this as required
• Finally, in the Layers Studio you can clip the placed SVG file within the object you've drawn.

I've attached a quick screen recording below showing these steps (less the pen tool trace step such that it is a reasonable length video) - 

 
I hope this helps!

and saved it. Would you know why it did not then become a vector file that would achieve what I was looking for?

[Alfred]

On 3/6/2023 at 3:00 AM, Ikikuru said:

I created the outline using the pen tool on my iPad and exported it as selection only (not whole document)

Did you particularly need to export to SVG? If you’re only using the outline in the Affinity apps, you could simply save it as a native file and copy from there for pasting into other documents.

[Dan C]

15 hours ago, Ikikuru said:

Would you know why it then saved as an image layer within an SVG Container?

Without seeing a copy of the Affinity document before exporting and the SVG export settings you used, it's unfortunately hard for me to be certain. As Alfred has mentioned above you may want to save in the native Affinity file format to ensure your layers are preserved exactly as you created them - or equally you could try PDF/EPS for simple vector documents, if you need to transfer these to other apps