help on removing an outline or contour on a vinyl job

[Frog]

Probably not worded clearly or correctly, but what do I do when I need to knock out the outline or contour around the text so the cut line or wireframe gives me this?

btw, this is a general question, we're not going with this design. so offers to do it for me are appreciated but not needed.

I want to learn to fish (not be given a fish).

[cbjamel]

As a vector (Corel) design or bitmap/Jpeg?
Shane

[Frog]

As I warned, I probably wasn't being clear.
This is all vector already in CorelDRAW.
I did not want to post the CDR or even an eps or pdf because I wanted it to display.

[Command-Z]

You mean to give you a gap between the letters and the stars?

Offset the path of the type (in Draw I believe it's called Contour) and knock that out of the background elements.

[cbjamel]

Frog take the outline in corel make a obect then you can weld or something to cut it out.
Is that what you are thinking?
Shane

[Ryan]

break contour apart and then trim the contour and the stars to knock it out and then you can delete the contour so that all you have left is the words and stars. sometimes I have to use Simplify instead of trim for what ever reason, but one of them should work

[Frog]

You mean to give you a gap between the letters and the stars?

Offset the path of the type (in Draw I believe it's called Contour) and knock that out of the background elements.

Scott, that sounds like crazy Adobe talk!

Ryan and cbjamel, Neither Trimming the broken apart contour or Outline to object welding, deleting whatever, didn't knock out for me, but I finally figured the missing step.
I made a contour, broke it apart, and then did the Back minus Front action in Shaping, and Voila!

Vinyl really makes you think differently!

[Inkworks]

In Corel:

 Contour out the text to get the "outline", then break it apart form the original text, select the new contoured shape, hold shift and select the shapes behind the text and click "Trim", Delete the contoured outline and you should be done.

[Gilligan]

Yeah, in Illy you could off set path and then use that to knock out the stars and bolts with a minus back or break apart... then get rid of the object you created.

Also you could add a different color stroke to it and then expand appearance.  From there you can do some path finder moves (several will work) and ungroup and pull it apart.

[Frog]

In Corel:

 Contour out the text to get the "outline", then break it apart form the original text, select the new contoured shape, hold shift and select the shapes behind the text and click "Trim", Delete the contoured outline and you should be done.

I'll play with that method a bit, but the first couple of trys didn't do it.

As long as Back minus front does the trimming and welding in one fell swoop, so far, it seems like the best method (at least for me)
We know that CorelDRAW is notorious for often providing multiple cat skinning techniques 

[cbjamel]

You said it Vinyl make you think differently.
Shane

[screenxpress]

This is probably not what you're looking for, but................

I'll assume you have text and something you want the text on top of but with the gaps to make it stand out, just like your image posted.

Take the text and select Contours - Outside - try .1 in size and pick any color other than what the text already is - apply

Click Arrange - Break Contour Group Apart.  This is so you can color the contour separate from the starting text.

Select the outer (new) contour and make it white for fill and outline

Select both the text and the contour and Group (so u can move as a set)

Move on top of the background objects and it should end up like your picture

Did I miss the target?

[Frog]

This is probably not what you're looking for, but................

I'll assume you have text and something you want the text on top of but with the gaps to make it stand out, just like your image posted.

Take the text and select Contours - Outside - try .1 in size and pick any color other than what the text already is - apply

Click Arrange - Break Contour Group Apart.  This is so you can color the contour separate from the starting text.

Select the outer (new) contour and make it white for fill and outline

Select both the text and the contour and Group (so u can move as a set)

Move on top of the background objects and it should end up like your picture

Did I miss the target?

Couldn't say without seeing a wireframe of your image. That's the way the cutter sees it.
Like this cropped from the right end. (really crappy resolution from a print screen capture)

[screenxpress]

Ah, now I see what you want to do.

Ok, still create the contour as mentioned and still break them apart.  Select the background images and the new contour and select "back minus front" and your wireframe view should look like what you want.

[Frog]

C'mon Wayne!
You sir, have not read this thread, or you may have noticed that back in the seventh post, I specifically pointed out this very same method is what worked. I even used the correct spelling of Voila! (unlike at another certain forum) LOL!
My wireframe screen shot, in fact, came from the successful solution.


...but I finally figured the missing step.
I made a contour, broke it apart, and then did the Back minus Front action in Shaping, and Voila!


Mentioned it again in the tenth post.

But, at least the added benefit of threads like this is it inspires us to bone up on our own skills for techniques that we may not use often enough to remember, and of course, your effort is appreciated.

btw, for me, this was merely a learning exercise as the custy is having me go with a very different layout now.