Quick Tip: How to Use the Opacity Mask to Make High Gloss Icons and Reflections
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Quick Tip: How to Use the Opacity Mask to Make High Gloss Icons and Reflections

Cheryl Graham on Jul 27th 2010 with 10 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Program: Illustrator CS4
  • Difficulty: Beginner
  • Length: 2:41 min

The Opacity Mask is a somewhat hidden feature in Adobe Illustrator. Mask work like Photoshop’s alpha channels to obscure parts of your artwork. In this Quick Tip, you’ll learn how to use Opacity Masks to make reflections and highlights on a vector icon.

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By Cheryl Graham

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Cheryl Graham trained as a traditional artist in drawing and painting. These days she spends more time in front of the computer than the easel. Her Illustrator work has been featured in the "The Adobe Illustrator WOW! Book" and "Real World Illustrator CS5." She wrote the now-defunct Illustrator blog at freetransform.net.  

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Discussion 10 Comments

  1. François says:
    July 27, 2010 at 10:12 am

    Thank you very much Cheryl! What a wonderfull tip!

    Reply
  2. serban says:
    July 27, 2010 at 10:30 am

    great tutorial and real easy to follow. keep them coming.

    Reply
  3. gherrin says:
    July 27, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    nice vid, thanks!

    Reply
  4. Dwight Hipp says:
    July 27, 2010 at 7:50 pm

    Vectortuts has a tutorial “Reflections Done Right – Creating a Money Roll Icon”

    http://vector.tutsplus.com/tutorials/illustration/reflections-done-right-creating-a-money-roll-icon/

    I refer to that often when doing an opacity mask and reflection.

    Reply
  5. Lars Eirik Aase says:
    July 29, 2010 at 5:53 am

    Why would such a feature be hidden so well. Thanks for the tip, will definitely be using this one.

    Reply
  6. Zephyr Ion says:
    July 29, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    I’ve been doing this differently, but your method is much easier. Thanks.

    Reply
  7. David J says:
    July 30, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Great tip, found it very useful. It WILL come in very handy! Hope to see more. Thank you.

    Reply
  8. Metrodesk Clipping Path service says:
    August 10, 2010 at 7:37 am

    Its really nice Technic! I love the way you are doing that.

    Reply
  9. David says:
    September 17, 2010 at 5:04 am

    Hi, i kindly request you add the steps not just the video..thanks

    Reply
  10. Ian says:
    May 12, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    Did not know that period shortcut. You just made my life so much simpler. +10 Internets for you.

    Reply

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