Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 10/14/2010

Question
I placed a .Tiff image into illustrator that I created in Photoshop and now I am trying to use the pathfinder tool to cut out a shape in the center of the photoshop image.  It does not let me.  Can this be done or do I need to change my file into a certain type of file to do this.  

Answer
Hi Kim,

Pathfinder only works on vector images. It will not work on any other image file that you import into Illustrator.

But you can create two vector shapes to make the cut out you are looking for by creating a compound path (edit>compound path). Then overlap this new shape on your image. Next, select both items and choose Edit>Clipping mask.

That should create the hole you are looking for.

Thanks

Kevin