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Mathias17
Mathias17
439 posts
Feb 20, 2012
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Compound Shapin'

Aug 26, 2012 7:40 PM

Tags: #compound

Wait a minute . . . is there not a way to have one path in a compound shape just knockout the others? I mean totally, not just where they overlap.

 

Photoshop can do this. But Illustrator cannot???

 

 

My situation is this

I'm just starting a new project and I'm creating a header container shape thingy for text to sit on. I want the ability to adjust the header shape as I work (I tend to tweak everything as I work; can't just finish one bit and go to the next, call it a downfall).

Rather than save a copy of the rectangle and elipse so I can "re-pathfind" them each time I want to make an adjustment I want to be able to simply enter the Compound Path object and mess with the circle. It should knock out the rectangle whereever I leave it.

 

compoundtoconfound.PNG

1166 Views   18 Replies   Latest reply: Mathias17, Aug 28, 2012 12:11 AM
 
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  • [scott w]
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    1. [scott w],
    Aug 26, 2012 7:57 PM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Opacity mask... not compound shape.

     

    Photoshop does it via masks, Illustrator does it via masks.

     

    Photoshop will not do it via compound shapes, neither will Illustrator.

     
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  • Mathias17
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    Feb 20, 2012
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    2. Mathias17,
    Aug 26, 2012 8:11 PM   in reply to [scott w]
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    Dwightpeersintoyou.jpg

     

    Photoshop can and has done it for years.

     

    dwightsworkspace.png

     
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  • Silkrooster
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    3. Silkrooster,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:08 PM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Yep Illustrator can do so as well.

    1)Create your rectangle

    2)Create your circle (making sure it is on top of the rectangle)

    3)Open the pathfinder panel window>Pathfinder or shift-ctrl-F9

    4)Select both objects

    5)In the pathfinder panel click on the Minus front shape mode (second icon from the left).

     
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  • Mathias17
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    Feb 20, 2012
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    4. Mathias17,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:15 PM   in reply to Silkrooster
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    Thanks, silkrooster. But I'm seeking a way to create a "live" effect that I edit at will by moving the multiple shapes involved, not a permanent pathfinder operation.

     
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  • Silkrooster
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    5. Silkrooster,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:21 PM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Then Opacity mask is it I guess... You can still move the circle using that method. So the circle is really a path even though, it is used as a mask.

     
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  • CarlosCanto
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    6. CarlosCanto,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:27 PM   in reply to Mathias17
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    - circle in back, square in front

    - group them

    - Effect->Pathfinder->Minus Back

     
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  • Mathias17
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    Feb 20, 2012
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    7. Mathias17,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:33 PM   in reply to CarlosCanto
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    Whoa!!!! Now we're talkin'!

     

    WHATTTTTTTTT.PNG

     

    What's up, Carlos!

     
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  • CarlosCanto
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    8. CarlosCanto,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:39 PM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Hi Mathias, what did you do? how come yours say "compound path"? mine is still a group.

    minusBackEffect.PNG

     
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  • Mathias17
    439 posts
    Feb 20, 2012
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    9. Mathias17,
    Aug 26, 2012 9:51 PM   in reply to CarlosCanto
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    Hah I didn't even follow your directions right . . .

     

    Uhmm let's see . . .

     

     

    *does it again . . . *

     

     

    Well, looks like I put the circle in front, then Alt+clicked Minus-Front. (notice the tool-tips upon rollover of the Shape Mode buttons)

     

    pathy.PNG

     

     

    I can't seem to end up with a Group like you do, using Minus-Back

     

    This is all new to me. Never messed with the finer points of what the Pathfinder can do. Looks like I'm paying for my ignorance now. I should've known all this already! Thanks for helping cause me to find the Alt+click thing.

     

    . . .

     

    Oh! You actually applied the Minus-Back Pathfinder effect via Appearance Panel. Yeesh . . . ok, it's starting to make sense . . .

     
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  • CarlosCanto
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    10. CarlosCanto,
    Aug 26, 2012 10:02 PM   in reply to Mathias17
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    I sould have put,

     

    - read directions

    - circle in back, square in front

    - group them

    - Effect->Pathfinder->Minus Back

     

    ...just kidding

     

    but yeah, I didn't use the Pathfinder Palette, I used an effect. I actually used the Menu Effect but it works the same using the Fx button in the Appearance Panel.

     
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  • Mathias17
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    Feb 20, 2012
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    11. Mathias17,
    Aug 26, 2012 10:10 PM   in reply to CarlosCanto
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    Ah ok. Well we perhaps both just learned something then.

     

     

    My only question is this:

    If Alt+clicking Shape Mode buttons applies special attributes to paths in a Compound Path, then is there not a way to manually create (CTRL+8) a Compound Path with it's "sub-paths" configured as desired without having to use the Pathfinder Shape Mode buttons? In Photoshop you can apply your desired shape modifying attribute to each path, why not Illy?

     

     

    Meh whatever, though. I'm happy with tonight's discovery. Thanks again.

     
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  • tromboniator
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    12. tromboniator,
    Aug 27, 2012 12:22 AM   in reply to CarlosCanto
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    Hi, Carlos,

     

    Mathias's Appearance panel says "Compound Shape," not "Compound Path." Not quite the same animal.

     

    Peter

     
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  • Monika Gause
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    13. Monika Gause,
    Aug 27, 2012 1:58 AM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Why don't you just take a look into the manual? Of course does Illustrator have compound shapes. Just like Photoshop.

     

    http://help.adobe.com/en_US/illustrator/cs/using/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e0 7d0100196cbc5f-6462a.html

     
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  • emil emil
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    14. emil emil,
    Aug 27, 2012 6:25 AM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Photoshop can't make compound paths, It makes only compound shapes. Illustrator does both but you have to hold Alt key when clicking on the Pathfinder buttons to makes compound shapes instead of paths. As Monika said its all in the manual.

     
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  • Mathias17
    439 posts
    Feb 20, 2012
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    15. Mathias17,
    Aug 27, 2012 6:32 AM   in reply to emil emil
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    Huh then my next step here is to determine the difference between a Compound Path and a Compound Shape. Didn't know the latter distinction even existed . . .

     
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  • emil emil
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    16. emil emil,
    Aug 27, 2012 6:50 AM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Just press one of the Pathfinder's buttons while holding Alt and see the difference in the Layer's panel. This will explain it all.

     

    edit: if you hold your mouse over a button in the Shape Mode row in the Pathfinder panel the tool tip will say you can hold Alt to make Compound Shape.

     
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  • Mathias17
    439 posts
    Feb 20, 2012
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    17. Mathias17,
    Aug 27, 2012 12:59 PM   in reply to Monika Gause
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    Oh! Don't you women realize guys don't read no stinkin' manuals! We don't need that stuff!

     

     

     

    ok yeah we do . . .

     
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  • Mathias17
    439 posts
    Feb 20, 2012
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    18. Mathias17,
    Aug 28, 2012 12:11 AM   in reply to Mathias17
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    Putting a bullet in this one.

    ThxGeeving.jpg

     

    Thanks for the continual education, people.

     
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