Mask Opacities in Illustrator...

[NStocks]

Hi,

So I want to cread a water effect to surround part of a country as it looks rather flat and the water will make it 'pop'.

From what I gather, the technique to do this involved mask opacities...I've had a go but when I place the gradient over my map I can only mask the left or right hand side (because of the gradient). A radial gradient doesn't work at all for me either. If I try and copy the layer and alter the gradient so it covers the other side, it ends up disturbing/deleting the other side...

I've attached something that I want to achieve but cannot.

Thank You

 

[NStocks]

Anyone? I can't figure how to essentially create 2 gradient in AI without them crossing over each other...

 

[lordshaker]

I'd put the map into PS as a smart object, and do the gradient/masking work in there. You get a lot more control over the mask and it's opacity, and if you're outputting this as a print job, the quality will be higher.

Illy grads tend to print kind of pixelated, as the gradient is actually comprised of individual vector objects bunched next to each other. AS I UNDERSTAND IT!

(make a shape with a gradient in Illustrator, then Object -> Expand -> Fill and you'll see what I mean there).

Hope that helps....

 

[NStocks]

I'd put the map into PS as a smart object, and do the gradient/masking work in there. You get a lot more control over the mask and it's opacity, and if you're outputting this as a print job, the quality will be higher.

Illy grads tend to print kind of pixelated, as the gradient is actually comprised of individual vector objects bunched next to each other. AS I UNDERSTAND IT!

(make a shape with a gradient in Illustrator, then Object -> Expand -> Fill and you'll see what I mean there).

Hope that helps....

Yep, worked perfect! I did manage to sort it out in AI but I get better results on PS.

Thank You

 

[UTclassof89]

You could also simply apply a Glow effect on the shape (In Illustrator)