Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 6/28/2011

Question
QUESTION: I have a jpg and a png file that I want to clip together...one is an empty photo frame (png) and the other is a photo. I understand that you need to create an outline of the photo frame, but I cannot seem to be able to do it.

Thank you for your time.
Dawn

ANSWER: Hi Dawn,

First, you should be doing this in Photoshop but if you need to do this in Illustrator here's how. First you create a shape the exact size of the inside and outside of the frame, making sure the inside shape is on top. Then select the two new shapes and go to Object>Compound Path>Make. This will make a "frame" out of the objects. Then align this new shape with your frame image. Select both items and go to Object>Clipping Mask>Make. This will create your frame with a hollow center.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Kevin, thank you so much for taking the time to help me. I thought there was a quick way to make an outline of an object, other than, tracing it...maybe live trace? If I should be doing this in photoshop, then that is where I shall go and I will search how to do that.

Thank you again.
Dawn

Answer
HI Dawn,

You can try Live Trace, but if you want to keep this looking photo-realistic, I would stay away from it. The Photo settings will make this a very large Illustrator file and the results will be less than true photo quality. If you want to try it however, you may get what I call a "Happy accident" where it stylizes your image into something unique.

Be sure to click the "Expand" button in the options bar once completed.

Thanks


Kevin