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Creating and adjusting compound shapes


    You create compound shapes using the Make Compound Shape command on selected objects. By default, each component is assigned the Add mode and the Make Compound Shape command combines them into a unified shape. You then design the shape and control the interaction between paths using the Shape Modes buttons in the Pathfinder palette on individual paths within the shape. You can apply the following shape modes one at a time:

    Add to Shape Area

    Adds the area of the component to the underlying geometry.

    Subtract from Shape Area

    Cuts out the area of the component from the underlying geometry.

    Intersect Shape Areas

    Uses the area of the component to clip the underlying geometry as a mask would.

    Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas

    Uses the area of the component to invert the underlying geometry, turning filled regions into holes and vice versa.

    Illustration of shape modes with these callouts: A. All components in Add mode B. Subtract mode applied to squares C. Intersect mode applied to squares D. Exclude mode applied to squares
    Shape modes A. All components in Add mode B. Subtract mode applied to squares C. Intersect mode applied to squares D. Exclude mode applied to squares

    When you create a compound shape, it takes on the paint and transparency attributes of the topmost component in Add, Intersect, or Exclude mode. Subsequently, you can change the paint, style, or transparency attributes of the compound shape. Illustrator facilitates this process by automatically targeting the whole compound shape when you select any part of it, unless you explicitly target a component in the Layers palette. Releasing the compound shape reveals each path's previous paint attributes. Expanding a compound shape creates a simple path or a compound path. (See Creating compound paths.)

To create a compound shape using the Make Compound Shape command:

  1. Choose Window > Pathfinder.
  2. Select all of the objects to include in the compound shape.
  3. Choose Make Compound Shape from the Pathfinder palette menu. The resulting shape appears in the Layers palette as a <Compound Shape>.
  4. Use the direct-selection tool  the direct-selection tool and select a component of the compound shape (except for the backmost component, because its mode is never relevant).
  5. In the Pathfinder palette, click a Shape Modes button. The shape changes accordingly.
  6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each component, except the backmost component, until you obtain the desired combination of shape areas.
  7. Note: To sustain maximum performance, create complex compound shapes by nesting other compound shapes (containing up to about 10 components each) instead of using many individual components.

To create a compound shape using only Shape Modes buttons:

  1. Choose Window > Pathfinder.
  2. Select all the objects you want to be part of the compound shape.
  3. In the Pathfinder palette, click a Shape Modes button.
  4. A compound shape is automatically created with the selected objects as its components. It appears in the Layers palette as a <Compound Shape>. Each component is assigned the shape mode that you selected. This method is useful when you want most of the components to use the same mode. However, at this point, you can still change the mode of any component, except the backmost component.

To modify a compound shape:

  1. Use the direct-selection tool to select an individual component of the compound shape.
  2. Look for the highlighted Shape Modes button in the Pathfinder palette to identify which mode is currently applied to a selected component.
  3. Note: If you've selected two or more components that use different modes, question marks appear on the Shape Modes buttons.

  4. In the Pathfinder palette, click a different Shape Modes button.

To undo a compound shape and release its components:

  1. With the selection tool, select the compound shape to release.
  2. Choose Release Compound Shape from the Pathfinder palette menu.

To flatten a compound shape into a path or compound path:

  1. With the selection tool, select the compound shape to expand.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Click Expand in the Pathfinder palette.
    • Choose Expand Compound Shape from the Pathfinder palette menu.