Calling all compound path and clipping mask experts...

I am attempting to get all the white areas in the attached "globe" artwork to knockout to the background color. I have tried making the entire thing a compound path, tried clipping mask and different combinations in pathfinder with no success. The image on the right is what happens when I make it a compound path. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

The simplest way, I think, would be to set the white line work as an opacity mask on top of the tan circle. That is not a clipping mask, but does the same thing and it's much easier.
Otherwise, outline white strokes and "Unite" using pathfinder tool, then delete outside path (the circle), from the compound shape. That will leave the appropriate compound object to make the clipping mask:

Similar Messages

  • Use a compound path as clipping mask?

    Hello,
    I’m trying to use a complex compound path as a clipping mask, but it won’t work. I have narrowed down the problem a little in two smaller scripts described below.
    Using a single path as clipping mask works very well:
    var doc = app.documents.add();
    var clipGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
    var bgItem = clipGroup.pathItems.rectangle(200, 200, 200, 200);
    bgItem.position = Array(200, 500);
    bgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[8].color;
    var fgItem = clipGroup.pathItems.polygon(144, 288, 72.0, 7);
    fgItem.position = Array(220, 480);
    fgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[7].color;
    fgItem.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.BRINGTOFRONT);
    clipGroup.clipped = true;
    alert(clipGroup.clipped); // will alert true
    But when trying the simplest form of a compound path, it’s not working:
    var doc = app.documents.add();
    var clipGroup = doc.groupItems.add();
    var bgItem = clipGroup.pathItems.rectangle(200, 200, 200, 200);
    bgItem.position = Array(200, 500);
    bgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[8].color;
    var compoundItem = clipGroup.compoundPathItems.add();
    var fgItem = compoundItem.pathItems.polygon(144, 288, 72.0, 7);
    fgItem.position = Array(220, 480);
    fgItem.fillColor = doc.swatches[7].color;
    compoundItem.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.BRINGTOFRONT);
    clipGroup.clipped = true;
    alert(clipGroup.clipped); // will alert false
    Using compound paths as clipping masks is really simple in the Illustrator GUI. So what am I missing here?
    Help would be greatly appreciated.

    The simplest way, I think, would be to set the white line work as an opacity mask on top of the tan circle. That is not a clipping mask, but does the same thing and it's much easier.
    Otherwise, outline white strokes and "Unite" using pathfinder tool, then delete outside path (the circle), from the compound shape. That will leave the appropriate compound object to make the clipping mask:

  • Draw inside disabled, and clipping mask workaround loses information

    I want to use my compound paths, with styles, fills and strokes applied to "draw inside", but that command is greyed out when I select them.
    However, if I "cheat" and instead use the compound paths as clipping masks first, I accomplish something which looks exactly the same way in the layer palette as when I do manage to "draw inside" an object.
    The trouble is that all my styles, fills and strokes get killed using that workaround, and I have to reapply them.
    Am I missing a step somewhere, or doing this in the wrong order?
    Any advice will be appreciated.
    Also, any word on why "draw inside" is disabled for compound paths?
    PS. Another problem using my poor workaround is that when the compound path becomes invisible, I can't find a way to drag appearances to it or apply swatches, even when I select it in the layer palette. I have to redo all styles, gradients, etc. manually, which is not efficient, nor desirable, at all.

    Monika Gause wrote:
    eobet wrote:
    So, if I understand this correctly, two people replying here can draw inside compound paths, and two people can't. Is this a design premium feature, or why does there seem to be a difference?
    Has nothing to do with Design Premium.
    Maybe you'd like to show us your art. There might be other ways to achieve what you need to do.
    Well my problem is that I can't do either of these:
    Now, the stroke aligned to the outside, I apparently can never get around unless I choose to outline the path on that stroke, which means I loose flexibility (or add steps to my workflow).
    And drawing on the inside... I guess I could make a clipping mask manually, but then I loose that really nice gradient I spent a lot of time to position just right... (either way, more steps in my workflow).
    Actually, the whole point of my question is completely lost if I have to outline any path, because the reason I want to work with compound shapes and clipping masks at all, is that I want to easily be able to move one of the sub-shapes which creates the final outline, without having to redo neither the gradient fill or stroke.
    And yeah, thinking again, my workflow is completely wrecked either way, since compound paths don't allow aligned strokes.

  • CS4 Select all compound paths?

    Hi all,
    There was a fab plug in set by Rick Johnson/Graffix called Select Menu. It is not yet updated for CS4.
    The only function from the set I truly need is the ability to select all compound paths. Just wondering if it is possible to do this with a script? I recently found a javascript to close all open paths, so that got me thinking there may be a way to select the compound paths with a script as well...
    The nice thing about scripts is they still seem to work even after a program upgrade. All my little applescripts are still working fine but my plugins are DOA in CS4. So I am thinking it would be great to have functions I depend on every day in script form.
    I also wondered if there is a way to call the script with a speakable items command, which I guess would mean creating an action to run the script that I could then assign to a function key...?
    So far I have not found a way to call a script in Illustrator using a speakable item.
    I have near zero scripting experience so apologies if this is an annoying stupid newbie question. I have RSI issues and need to do most of my work via voice commands... it can be challenging to figure out how to do these things since my expertise is in graphics, not programming.
    Thanks for any swift kicks in the right direction!!

    Hi,Thanks!!
    This does work but on a complex document it is very slow as it seems to be redrawing all the compound paths? It worked fine on a simple file but when I tried it on the kind of complex file I would actually use it on it has Illustrator hung up with a spinning beach ball....
    The Graphix plug in to select all compound paths worked instantaneously. Is there a different way to write this that would not be as processor intensive?
    Ah, the beachball just stopped spinning and all the correct paths are indeed selected...

  • Compound path and live fill problem

    Hello experts
    I really hope you can help me out with this one. I'm all new to Illustrator and have tried to find the answer to my question but without luck, so you are my last way out
    I'm currently working on a logo of a football which I have drawn with the line segment tool. A football is made of pentagons and hexagons, and I want all the pentagons to have a color fill. For that I have used the live paint bucket. But if I apply an effect such as a gradient it is applied to each segment as many seperates. I then read that you could use compound path and that works with my lines but not with the live fill. Is there a work around for my problem or do you have any smart suggestions of what I could do ?
    Thanks for your help in advance
    Kind regards
    Christopher

    A few questions:
    What AI version?
    By "Live Fill" are you refering to "Live Paint"?
    CS 6 lets you fill a stroke with a gradient. That may be what you used here.
    Congratulations learning about "compound paths" on you own. That's a step in the right direction.
    You can control a gradient fill across multiple objects by using the "Gradient Annotator" (under "View" or "G"). This allows you to set a gradient start and end point by dragging across your selected artwork. You can also edit the gradient sliders directly on the annotator.
    If you ARE using "Live Paint", you can use the "Live Paint Selection Tool" (hidden under the Live Paint Bucket tool, or "Shift-L"), to select multiple Live Paint segments, then drag the annotator across all segments. The annotator is hidden when used with Live Paint (at least in AICS5).
    I hope these tips are helpful.
    Ray

  • Release all compound paths at the same time?

    Platform: PC/Windows XP SP2
    Adobe: Illustrator CS3 (13.0.2)
    Is it possible to release all compound paths in an illustration at the same time (and if so - how)?
    I receive drawings from engineering in either PDF or CGM format, which I edit in Illustrator and save as AI. I have to release compound paths in order to delete specific parts of the drawing.
    This isn't difficult, but it is very time-consuming because the CGM(or PDF)-to-Illustrator conversion results in quite a few compound paths.
    Thanks - I appreciate your help,
    Dan

    Are they all compound paths or are some of them compound shapes?
    Try release/expand compound shape?

  • Hello Creative Cloud Illustrator Community. Help Please! This is with regard to compound paths and transparencies. I have set some type on a circle and then created outlines. I then placed the outlined type on a black stroked ring which I then selected "o

    Hello Creative Cloud Illustrator Community:
    Help Please!
    This is with regard to creating a compound path:
    I have set some white type on a circle and then created outlines. I then placed the outlined type on a black stroked ring which I then selected "outlined stroke." I then put both "outlined" graphical elements on a separate solid bkg. (all 3 are on the same layer). Lastly, I then selected the top two elements and went to "make" a "compound path" (because I want the type to be the "holes" so I can see through to the background). However, the only effect I get is the white outlined type turning black (the same color as the black ring). What am i doing wrong? I can achieve the desired result with simple boxes but it won't work with a circular type path, a stroked ring and a solid bkg.
    Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!
    Thank You!

    Thanks for the response Jacob.
    Unfortunately, I tried your suggestion with no success. BTW, minus front is now Subtract. Apparently, by clicking option>subtract, it works in the same way as minus front. I tried this to no avail.
    Let me reiterate please.
    I have 3 graphic elements-all on the same layer:
    1. Background: Gold circle with a fill and no stroke.
    2. Middle: Black ring (Stroked) inside gold background circle.
    3. Top: White copy set on a circular type path and placed directly on top of middle black ring.
    Both the middle black ring and top type path HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO OUTLINES.
    LASTLY, I select the Middle and Top, go to Compound Paths and choose "Make" and my white copy turns to black. Wrong!
    WHAT I WANT TO HAPPEN: I want the white copy to become HOLES, so the GOLD background shows through.
    Any solutions would be very much appreciated!

  • Why are all paths in Clipping Masks and Compound Paths?

    When I open up previous versions of Illustrator files (i.e. CS5), why are all of my paths messed up. Every object is embedded in a Clipping Mask, paths are compounded and in most cases type on a path is expanded into multiple non-editable objects. This causes complete redesign. This is terrible.

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    Which versions were they created in?
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    I have a curvy vector image that I want text to appear in, then create a clipping mask. When I try this I get a message saying that the text object is extremely complex and might not print. The file is impossible to move around and sometimes crashes my machine.
    Here is a screen cap of what I'm doing:
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    I blocked all the text so there's just a ton of it.
    This is for a large graphic (22') that will be placed on glass.
    Is there a better way to do this? Or a way of making the file more manageable ?
    Any help is much appreciated.

    >I have a curvy vector image that I want text to appear in, then create a clipping mask.
    Inaccurate description. You are using the text as a clipping mask for the image. That's a lot of text, which means a very complex compound path with tens of thousands of points. No wonder this is slowing things down.
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    Hi,
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    I have went through and made sure every segment is attached, but to no avail.
    Any help please?
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    In CS5 you can select all you lines and then hit Command J and all but last two points will join you then select those two points and do Command J once again but if you wish to have  your original art intact then just make a copy lock it and make not visib le until you need it.
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  • Compound Path and peeking white lines

    I'd appreciate a fast response to this if its possible as I've got to send it to print very soon!
    I'm trying to create a compound path in order to mask off some bits and create letters, but there seems to be some kind of overlap and its leaving a white line where there shouldn't be one. Its all set up to snap-to and both shapes are perfectly in line, but its still leaving this white border.
    The top of each letter is basically just 2 semi circles, the diameter being where the white line is. Hopefully the lines are still visible on low-res monitors...
    Does anyone know how to get rid of this line or if it will even print?
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    Adam

    Cheers for that, I blew the shapes up as big as the entire workspace so that I could overlap them a little bit, and it turns out they weren't even aligned properly... however aligning them completely doesn't work either, I still get a white line.
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    Fleur

    Here you go. See the white version, I want the body to go back to being like that. To get to the selected shape I clicked the 'Unite...bla bla' button and it combined them all.
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