Creating a text mask in Adobe Illustrator is pretty easy, let’s begin this tutorial.
Step 1:
Begin by designing a graphic that will be punched out – in my instance, a piece of a circle in the bottom left corner. Make a duplicate and lay it on top of the original. Next, choose the Text Tool (T), click on the shape’s outline at the top, and type your text.
Step 2 :
The wording is not quite there yet, but we can simply fix it with a few small changes.
Step 3:
Fill the text with solid black after selecting it. Now, whether you are working in RGB or CMYK colour space makes a difference in Illustrator.
Step 4:
This is where the magic begins. Cut your text object (Control + C) once you have selected it. Then, click the item underneath it to bring up the Transparency palette.
Step 5 :
When you modify your mask, you will see that all other items get locked. This is due to the fact that you are still in the Opacity Mask Mode. Bring up the Transparency palette and click the rectangle representing the masked item if you need to modify other components of the flyer.
Step 6:
You are nearly finished. However, if you still need to change the wording, there is nothing simpler. Bring up the Transparency panel again, this time in Opacity Mask Mode, and make your changes.
Step 7:
There is one more technique you may use with your writing. You may decide that you do not like the ‘full’ (100 percent transparency) punch out effect and want to decrease it to, say, 60% opacity. Simply pick the mask (in Opacity Mask Mode), click on the text field, and decrease its Opacity.
Make sure to check out the video to learn more.