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Adjusting the appearance of compound paths


    You can specify whether a compound path is a non-zero winding path or an even-odd path. Both the non-zero winding fill rule and the even-odd fill rule use mathematical equations to determine if a point is outside or inside a shape. The even-odd rule is more predictable: every other region within an even-odd compound path is a hole, regardless of path direction. Illustrator uses the non-zero winding rule as the default rule. Photoshop and Macromedia Freehand both use the even-odd rule by default, so compound paths imported from either of these applications will use the even-odd rule.

    When you create a non-zero winding compound path, you can specify whether overlapping paths appear with holes or filled by clicking a Reverse Path Direction button in the Attributes palette.

    Illustration of fill rules with these callouts: A. Non-zero winding compound path B. Non-zero winding compound path with Reverse Path Direction on C. Even-odd compound path
    Fill rules A. Non-zero winding compound path B. Non-zero winding compound path with Reverse Path Direction on C. Even-odd compound path

    Self-intersecting paths are paths that intersect themselves. You can choose to make these paths either non-zero winding or even-odd, depending on how you want them to look.

    Illustration of self-intersecting path with these callouts: A. With Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule applied B. With Use Even-Odd Fill Rule applied
    Self-intersecting path A. With Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule applied B. With Use Even-Odd Fill Rule applied

To specify a non-zero winding or even-odd compound path:

  1. With the selection tool, select the compound path.
  2. Choose Window > Attributes.
  3. Click the Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule button  the Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule button or the Use Even-Odd Fill Rule button  the Use Even-Odd Fill Rule button .

To change which areas are filled or become holes in a non-zero winding compound path:

  1. With the direct-selection tool  the direct-selection tool , select the part of the compound path to reverse. Do not select the entire compound path.
  2. Choose Window > Attributes.
  3. Click the Reverse Path Direction Off button  the Reverse Path Direction Off button or the Reverse Path Direction On button  the Reverse Path Direction On button .