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What is trapping in Illustrator?

Last updated on September 24, 2022 @ 6:29 pm

Illustrator is a vector graphic editor that allows users to create and edit graphics using a variety of drawing tools. One of the most common drawing tools in Illustrator is the trap.

A trap is a type of object that you can use to temporarily hold a piece of text or other object in place. In Illustrator, traps are used to capture the paths of objects as they are moved around the drawing.

There are a number of different types of traps that can be used in Illustrator. The most common traps are the Path and the Cling trap.

PRO TIP: Trapping is a printing term that refers to the overlapping of one color against another on the page. In order to avoid registration issues, colors must be properly trapped before printing. Otherwise, the colors may appear to be misaligned on the page.

The Path trap is used to capture the path of an object as it is moved around the drawing. The Cling trap is used to capture the path of an object as it is dragged off of the drawing.

Another common use for traps in Illustrator is to create clipping paths. A clipping path is a type of path that is used to cut off the parts of an object that are outside of the path.

clipping paths can be used to create smooth corners or to create overlapping lines.

Kathy McFarland

Kathy McFarland

Devops woman in trade, tech explorer and problem navigator.