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 are filled by clicking a Reverse Path Direction button in the Attributes palette.

    Illustration of Fill rules with these callouts: A. Four circular paths B. Circular paths selected, converted into compound path C. Reverse Path Direction applied to innermost path
    Fill rules A. Four circular paths B. Circular paths selected, converted into compound path C. Reverse Path Direction applied to innermost 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.

    Self-intersecting path with Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule (left) compared with Use Even-Odd Fill Rule (right)
    Self-intersecting path with Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule (left) compared with Use Even-Odd Fill Rule (right)

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

  1. With the Selection tool, select the compound path.
  2. In the Attributes palette, click the Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule button Use Non-Zero Winding Fill Rule button or the Use Even-Odd Fill Rule button 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, select the part of the compound path to reverse. Do not select the entire compound path.
  2. In the Attributes palette, click the Reverse Path Direction Off button Reverse Path Direction Off button or the Reverse Path Direction On button Reverse Path Direction On button .