Transforming and Distorting Objects > Combining paths > Creating composite paths by joining |
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Creating composite paths by joining
Joining two or more closed paths creates a composite path, which acts as a single path. A composite path assumes the stroke and fill attributes of the backmost path. Path direction also affects the appearance of composite paths.
You can specify whether open paths must be touching to be joined.
For information on blending composite paths, see Blending composite paths and groups.
To control whether nontouching open paths are joined:
1 |
Choose Edit > Preferences. Click Object. |
2 |
Do one of the following: |
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Select Join Non-touching Paths to connect the paths if the end points are within the Snap Distance set in the General Preferences dialog box. |
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Deselect Join Non-touching Paths to join the paths only if they touch. |
3 |
Click OK. |
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To create a composite path by joining:
1 |
Select two or more paths. |
If the two paths are open, their distance and preferences control whether they are joined. |
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2 |
Choose Modify > Join. |
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To adjust the transparent sections of a composite path:
1 |
Select a composite path. |
2 |
Choose Window > Inspectors > Object to display the Object inspector. |
3 |
Do one of the following: |
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Select Even/Odd Fill to make overlapping subpaths of a composite path alternate between filled and transparent.
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Deselect Even/Odd Fill to make overlapping subpaths filled or transparent based on their path direction. For more information on path direction, see Path and point characteristics. |
Overlapping paths running in the same direction are filled; overlapping paths running in opposite directions (counterclockwise and clockwise) are transparent. |
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4 |
If the composite path's overlapping fill does not appear as expected, select a subpath, and do one of the following: |
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Click the Correct Direction button in the Xtra Operations toolbar. |
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Choose Modify > Alter Path > Correct Direction. |
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Choose Modify > Alter Path > Reverse Direction.
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Original (left) and Correct Direction applied (right) |
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Note: If you're exporting composite paths to applications that don't support Even/Odd fills, apply the Correct Direction command, deselect Even/Odd Fill, and then export the path. Alternatively, apply the Remove Overlap command to the composite path with an Even/Odd fill to reconstruct the composite path as separate, nonoverlapping paths. |
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