Illustrator and clipping masks?

Question

This is specific to fashion design. I fill my Illustrator vector flat sketches using a clipping mask, but all the fabric goes in the same direction. How can I rotate the fabric direction for the sleeves, collar, etc, without creating a bunch of different clipping masks?

Thanks

Answer 1

While many designers are still using clipping masks to render their flat sketches with fabrics, it's just not the most efficient way anymore. In CS2, Adobe Illustrator introduced the Live Paint feature, which is by far the fastest, easiest, and most flexible way to render garment sketches with patterns.



Live Paint will create separate fills for the different sections of your sketch (such as sleeves, collar etc) and they can each be rotated, scaled, or moved independently, without all those invisible clipping lines getting in the way!! And the best part is there's no need to draw your sketch as a closed shape, or join your anchor points!



Here's where I learned how to use Live Paint to fill my sketches with color and patterns:



Adobe Illustrator for Fashion Design

http://www.designersnexus.com/store/adobe-illustrator-for-fashion/



It's such a lifesaver, I totally swear by it!!

Answer 2

You have to create separate clipping masks for each element you want to travel in a different direction, there are alternate methods but none simpler.



I assume that you have a pattern that you need to represent (because a flat colour would just be flat). However if it is a flat colour that you are trying to give a more realistic look, use the gradient mesh tool to add shadow and highlight.

Answer 3

Usually one groups the underlying image and the clipping path to make the mask and image move and work as one object. By ungrouping them, they are now two separate objects so that you can rotate or rescale the pattern below the mask.



After you have made the adjustments, you can always select them both and group them again, so that you can move them as one object.