Weaving part of an image around text (Affinity Designer)

[ken.M]

Good evening,

I tried searching for the answer, but not sure exactly how to describe it. I have some text I created in Affinity Designer and then placed a PNG image. The image is of a lizard and I am trying to figure out how to weave the tail in and out around the text. I've tried the subtract, etc., but doesn't seem to work and not sure if it's because I am using an image vice a vector shape.

I'm sure this is not something new, but scratching my head to try and figure out how to do it.

If someone could point me in the right direction it would truly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help and Merry Christmas to all!

Ken

[v_kyr]

2 hours ago, ken.M said:

The image is of a lizard and I am trying to figure out how to weave the tail in and out around the text.

Something like that?

• doom.afdesign

[ken.M]

Yes, that’s basically what I’m trying to do.

[v_kyr]

Inspect the ADe file, the text parts there. All I did is convert the text to curves, so you get the text as letters of single curves and then duplicating one "O" and placing that on top of the layer stack (aka on top of the lizard which is a vector drawing one in my case). - Though you can make that better, so more like this then if all are vectors.

 

[ken.M]

Thank you!

[ken.M]

I’m actually making it work using clipping masks vice creating duplicate. However I need to find a way to apply the clipping mask to the letter. I am exporting to SVG to be able to import as vector image in Cricut software. Problem is that Cricut doesn’t recognize clipping masks. Is there a way to apply / flatten a clipping mask to the layer it is clipping?

Thanks.

Ken

[v_kyr]

1 hour ago, ken.M said:

I am exporting to SVG to be able to import as vector image in Cricut software. Problem is that Cricut doesn’t recognize clipping masks. ...

Hmm, for that Cricut software you might need full plain vectors (?) and applying a clipping mask may instead export then an SVG via ADe with certain masked areas rasterized (as bitmap image data) instead. - In order to keep all as plain vectors you can fake things like in the below applyied ADe file, so the final generated SVG file will contain at least only plain vectors.

• doom_lizard.afdesign
• doom_lizard.svg

 

[ken.M]

That’s going to be too much to try and “trick” the Cricut software with too much for it to cut. In order to have it cut properly, the vector image really needs to be “clean.” So is there not a way to apply a clipping mask to a curve so that it’s a new curve minus the clip?

Thanks!

[v_kyr]

57 minutes ago, ken.M said:

In order to have it cut properly, the vector image really needs to be “clean.” So is there not a way to apply a clipping mask to a curve so that it’s a new curve minus the clip?

I don't know that Cricut app in person, thus can't say much about it, aka how it expects SVG code to be in order to be able to import that etc. - But you can search through the forum here in order to find older articles related to that Cricut and masking theme etc.

• cricut clipping mask site:forum.affinity.serif.com  (a general Google based forum search about cricut & clipping mask)
• cricut site:forum.affinity.serif.com (a general Google based forum search about cricut)

 

... and so on, see the Google search results when performing above linked search queries ...

[lepr]

12 hours ago, ken.M said:

is there not a way to apply a clipping mask to a curve so that it’s a new curve minus the clip?

If I understand the situation correctly, un-nest the mask from the other object so the mask is stacked over the other object, select both and then do Geometry Intersect.

[lepr]

Using v_kyr's example in AD2, I would use the Shape Builder Tool as in the video below:

 

 

[ken.M]

1 hour ago, lepr said:

If I understand the situation correctly, un-nest the mask from the other object so the mask is stacked over the other object, select both and then do Geometry Intersect.

That worked, but had to use Divide and then delete the extra curves created. The Subtract, Interesect, and XOR gave unexpected results for some reason - deleted the letter in the background - the S.

Thanks.

[ken.M]

1 hour ago, lepr said:

Using v_kyr's example in AD2, I would use the Shape Builder Tool as in the video below:

 

 

Well that looks like an awesome tool that I’ve never used nor knew how to  Thank you for making the video and showing how it works. I’ll definitely give that a shot!

 

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all!