Illustrator clipping mask help

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/6254/81567782os1.png

the black is a mouth, the semi transparent white is teeth. I'm trying to make a clipping mask so that the white shows only in the black (i.e. like a photoshop clipping mask would do), but when I do it, it just combines the two paths basically and shows only the teeth like so

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/4712/39173352hi0.png

help :(

Select the black layer and press CTRL + A, then press CTRL + SHIFT + I (should be inverse selection) then hit DEL to delete it.

That should work if not i don't have a clue. Don't really use illustrator.

I'm not really sure why you want to use clipping mask instead of just the path... but whatever. When you make one shape the clipping mask for another; that clip mask object "disappears" because it becomes the clipping mask and no longer an object. So you either need to copy the mouth or use the transform window, which i can't explain right now in such a short amount of time.

Yup, I agree with what Ben said. Thats how I would do it, It seems like the easiest way.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by unit_number_43

I'm not really sure why you want to use clipping mask instead of just the path... but whatever. When you make one shape the clipping mask for another; that clip mask object "disappears" because it becomes the clipping mask and no longer an object. So you either need to copy the mouth or use the transform window, which i can't explain right now in such a short amount of time.

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instead of just the path... meaning what? I was thinking of what the clipping mask in photoshop would do, I didn't know how Illustrator's worked.

I understand what you're saying about why the clipping mask does what it's doing. I'd appreciate if you could explain/point me to some links on how to get what I'm trying to get in whatever way makes the most sense. I'm in no rush. Thanks for the help.