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- This chapter covers two great topics



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that work great together, object

blends and clipping masks.



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And despite the fact that Adobe introduced



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both features in 1988,



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the same year I wrote my

first book on Illustrator,



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object blends and clipping masks



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continue to rank among this

program's most powerful



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and flexible capabilities.



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An object blend is a

kind of connective tissue



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that Illustrator draws between

two or more path outlines.



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Illustrator what it calls steps to create



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sequential intervals that

blend both color and contour.



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The upshot is that you

can use object blends



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to create all together custom gradients,



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great for expressing reflective highlights



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as well as rough color transitions



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as we're seeing here

in this cartoon grass.



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You can also incrementally

morph one path into another,



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allowing you to create

transitional patterns



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and other dazzling visual effects.



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Clipping masks are conceptually simpler



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but no more powerful.



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A clipping mask lets you

take a bunch of objects,



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including one or more

object blends if you like



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and place them inside another path.



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In other words clipping

masks permits you to create



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paths inside paths which is essential



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for creating something as elaborate



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as our friend the frankly

absurd NecroWalrus.



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As with all of

Illustrator's best features,



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you can edit object

blends and clipping masks



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any time you like.



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Change the color or

shape of a blended path



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and the entire shape

sequence updates immediately.



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Edit the outline of a mask,

edit the stuff inside the mask,



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set one mask inside another,

really anything is possible.



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Truly it warms my heart to

see these 28 year old features



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hold up better than many half their age.



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Here's hoping I'm still

relevant when I turn 28.