Create compound shapes
You create compound shapes using the Pathfinder panel (Window > Object & Layout > Pathfinder). Compound shapes can be made up of simple or compound paths, text frames, text outlines, or other shapes. The appearance of the compound shape depends on which Pathfinder button you choose.
- A.
- Original objects
- B.
- Add
- C.
- Subtract
- D.
- Intersect
- E.
- Exclude Overlap
- F.
- Minus Back
- Add
- Traces the outline of all objects to create a single shape.
- Subtract
- Objects in the front “punch holes” in the backmost object.
- Intersect
- Creates a shape from overlapping areas.
- Exclude Overlap
- Creates a shape from areas that do not overlap.
- Minus Back
-
Objects in the back “punch holes” in the frontmost object.
In most cases, the resulting shape adopts the attributes (fill, stroke, transparency, layer, and so on) of the frontmost object. When you subtract shapes, however, objects in the front are deleted. The resulting shape takes on the attributes of the backmost object instead.
When you include a text frame in a compound shape, the shape of the text frame changes, but the text itself stays the same. To alter the text itself, create a compound path using text outlines.
Compound shape used as a text frame (left) compared to one created from a text outline (right)
Create a compound shape
You can work with a compound shape as a single unit or release its component paths to work with each separately. For example, you might apply a gradient fill to a part of the compound shape, but leave the rest of the shape unfilled.
- Choose Window > Object & Layout > Pathfinder to open the panel.
- Select the objects you want to combine in a compound shape.
- Click a button on the Pathfinder panel.
You can also choose a command from the Object > Pathfinder submenu.
Select the compound shape. Choose Object
> Paths > Release Compound Path. The compound shape
is separated into its component paths.
To regroup component paths without losing
changes you’ve applied to individual paths, choose Group in the
Object menu, rather than Compound Paths > Make.
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