COMPOUND PATH TO A SINGLE PATH

HI,
I have created a compound path, which is a circle, with a smaller circle cut out within it, creating a ring.
Is there away of making that shape into a single path, so that it can not be relased?
Or is it beacuse it has two paths that it always has to stay as a compound path?
Thanks
Carl

(Takes you back to Illie88, don't it Jacob?)
Or even further, Steve (you may remember my being dutifully unmasked by Peter the other day).
Yep :-) but what was before Illie 88? (was there anything?)
Anyway I started off on Illie 88 as soon as we got computerized and was a long time trying to find out how to make holes in things. The cut doughnut method was the only way, and all by hand with Scissors and Join.
Then along came Illie3 which I seem to remember had compounds but still no Pathfinder.
And it wasn't until Illie5 that you could actually draw with the preview turned on. People here rushed out to buy it, it was a sort of WOW moment.
As for new versions (or not so new) I am very conservative in these matters. Better to use something that works than something that was busted by being mended.

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:

[Ai CS4] So I cannot convert compound path to regular paths?

I have some complicated shapes done with the pathfinder tools, and I need to use the gradient mesh on them. But I cannot, because they are compound paths. I cannot seem to find a way to convert them to regular paths. I am almost 100% sure that there must be a way, because Illustrator :hopefully: won't expect me to redraw those with a pen tool. Or hand-draw them, scan and trace.
Guidance please

Doh! I guess I found my answer, a minute after I post the question.
The problem was, I was punching holes using the "Minus Front" tool. Because there are no connection between two object's paths, Ai cannot make a single shape out of them.
Workaround:
Pick the line tool
start from the inside the hole
drag end point to outside of the shape
and make "Divide everything under"
Easy for the fill-only shapes, but will get a bit more complicated if I use strokes...
Other tips are also welcomed..

Simple Icon, Difficult Compound Path Issue

Hey everyone,
Need a little help here. Ive created this very simple icon:
The airplane is a single object as is the runway. The two objects are grouped. There are a total of 9 compound paths that I see. The landing struts have 8 plus the 1 stripe in the middle of the runway. The problem I'm having appears only when I reduce the image down to around an inch. (Image is enlarged for better viewing)
I'm assuming its the compound paths that make this happen but can't be 100% sure. Im completely baffled because Ive never experienced this with any other compound path and this is an extremely simple group of objects!
My work around was to export as a hires png and then place it back in illustrator and trace as a sillohette. It solved the problem but this doesn't make any sense since when it was traced it still made the same compound paths. Right?
Any input would be most appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

c,
John has it. Just to elaborate a bit:
You may select everything and then untick Align to Pixel Grid in the Transform palette, and also untick Align New Objects to Pixel Grid in the flyout options.
You may avoid document types with that as default (RGB for web and the like) or change the default for such documents.

Compound path w/varying line styles?

Hello! I'm generating an emf for ArcMap symbols. I need this symbol to be shaped like Nevada, but to have a rectangular "hole" in its center. I'm hoping I can convince Arc to then center a three digit route number in the "hole," as pictured. I created this using the compound path function. This forced the hole to take on the line weight of the outer perimeter, but I need the hole to be "invisible," with no line weight at all. How can I achieve this? Thanks!

A compound path can only have a single line weight and/or fill colour.
So what you should do is this:
Use your drawing (minus the digits) and colour it with (say) a red fill and no stroke. The hole will be transparent.
Now copy the outer shape only, paste it in front of the red compound and give it a black stroke (probably set to overprint).
Then select the red compound and change its colour to white.
The hole is still there but you can't see it unless you put something behind it.

Compound Path to Shape

I have a questions about creating a single shape from a compound path. I have a grid of lines I created using the pen tool, made the stroke 25pt, then went Object-Path- Outline Stroke to make them into shapes. From there I used the pathfinder-Unite to create a compound shape. What I'm trying to do is get all the area within the 25pt stroke outline as a single shape with nothing in between the grid lines I made. Is there a way to accomplish this?

So the layer panel shows this as a "compound shape" (not "compound path") and there are still crossing lines in outline view?
In the pathfinder panel you need to hit "Expand", which will then turn it into a compound path.
You don't need a compound shape to get a hole. A compound path can also create holes.

"Release Compound Path" grayed out

I converted a single letter into an outline using the selection tool and "Create Oultines" in the "Type" menu. Now I want to manipulate a point in that outline. When I tried to select "Release Compound Paths" from the "Object" "Paths" menu, it was grayed out. The same thing happens when I use the same process but select the type with the Type tool instead of the Selection tool. What am I doing wrong?

Do you have the text box selected rather than the just the outlined text itself (this is the only way that I could reproduce the problem you are describing):
The text box seems to stay around the outlined text and this happens when you convert the text to outline while highlighting it. You need to create the outlines by selecting the text box as a whole (not just the text it contains) with the selection tool and then convert to outlines.

I'm having trouble finishing up with Compound Paths

OK, I'm a novice here so here's my script. It works really well like it sits. It basically takes two objects in a large group and aligns them. I want to make each two objects combinded into a single compound path. I have tried multiple things and they all just kick out errors and what not. I can't seem to get my head around the vocabulary for the scripting but the darkness is starting to fade the more I do.
#target Illustrator
          var idoc = app.activeDocument;
          var pi =idoc.compoundPathItems;
          var numn = prompt ("How Many Names?", "Enter Number of Names");
          var dd = prompt ("How far below name is the number?", "Enter Drop Distance");
          var nH = prompt ("How tall are the names?", "Enter Name Height in Inches");
          dd = parseFloat (dd);
          numn = parseInt (numn);
          nH = parseFloat (nH);
for (j=0; j<numn; j++) {
                    var num = j + numn;
                    var numpath = pi[num];
                    var npath = pi[j];
                    var nName = 'name' + j;
                    var numName = 'number' + j;
                    var centWidth = pi[j].width / 72;
                    var centN = pi[num].width / 72;
                    var adjNum = (centWidth - centN) / 2;
                    var fhp = j*9.5*72;
                    var fvp = 0;
                    var nhp = (j*9.5*72) + (adjNum * 72);
                    var nvp = ((dd*72) + (nH * 72))*-1;
                    pi[j].name = nName;
                    pi[num].name = numName;
                    npath.position = [fhp,fvp];
                    numpath.position = [nhp,nvp];
// Would Like to combine the aligned items into a single compound item.

select few objects and try this to build up a new compound path.
#target illustrator
var doc = activeDocument;
var sel = doc.selection;
var newCompPath = doc.activeLayer.compoundPathItems.add()
if (sel.length > 0) {
   for (var i=0; i<sel.length; i++) {
        sel[i].evenodd = true;
        sel[i].move(newCompPath, ElementPlacement.INSIDE);

Script of recolor artwork for compound paths

Hi, there,
I tried to write some script to recolor my art work.
Basically I only have path and single colour compound path in my layer.
For path its easy:
if ( mypath.name == 'some name ') mypath.fillColor = myColor;
while for compound path it's not that easy. Throughout my search, I didn't find some methods that can do something like this:
myCompoundPath.fillColor = myColor;
then I tried to simulate the procedure of that in the ui : select the compoundPath -> click "recolor artwork" -> change the colour.
and there s still no such methods were found.
I m wondering is there any way to do this?
Thanks a lot.

check this thread for a sample of how to do it
Change color of compoundPathItems created by converting Text to Paths using createOutline()

Help needed to make a compound path of text in rectangle

Hello, I hope some one will really solve my problem.
Im trying to make a compound path (text inside a rectangle). I had done this previously with success but now the whole shape and text is showing same color. Although text should be transparent! And now due to the similarity in colors i cannot see any font.
I don't know why this is happening?
I made outlines of text, ungrouped it, released their compound paths, placed all fonts and rectangle in seperated layer and then made it a compound path.
Please let me know if im following all the steps.
Also, please forgive my bad English as im not native.

adobied,
As you know now, Larry answered the Compound question while you were still typing.
We do have quite a few cross postings in this busy forum, especially at this time of day with natives present both over there and over here.
You can use Opacity Masks for a whole range of purposes, and they can act as (inverted) Clipping Masks, and also for partial/varying transparency.
In this case, the suggested use corresponds to an inverted Clipping Mask.
I quite understand your wish to have the Compound under control, and I believe that is sorted with the advice from Larry.

Can't release compound path

I drew some simple paths in Photoshop with the pen tool, then exported the paths to Illustrator. All the paths came into illustrator as compound paths, though they look like simple paths in illustrator. Because they are compound paths, I can't join the ends of the paths to the ends of other paths.
Whe I select one of these paths:
Object>Compound Path>Release is greyed out and unavailable.
"Release Compound Shape" in the Pathfinde palette menu is also greyed out and unavailable.
Is there any way to make these paths back into simple paths without redrawing them?
I'm using CS6 versions of both Photoshop and Illustrator.

Okay, here's the screen shot.

How to release Compound Path in Adobe illustrator javascript

Hi,
How to release Comound path with java script

Thanks For answer
Actually i want to take .PNG image for compound path Items.
But when i release compound path Items then it is break in small small object.
When i save compound path items separately it saved as a blank image...
What am i do now.

[AI CS4 Mac] How to create a Compound Path?

Hi Folks,
I'm trying to create a compound path in AI CS4 for Mac, but I have not been successful. One would think this would be easy, so maybe I'm missing the obvious solution...
What is best way to create a compound path using the SDK? I just need to make a compound path out of two non-overlapping rectangles so that I can create a clipping mask. Nothing tricky.
The SDK is not clear about the best way to go about creating a compound path, but I figured that programmitically selecting the two rectanlges and then using the built in "adobe_makeCompound" action would work, but it doesn't.
err = sAIActionManager->PlayActionEvent("adobe_makeCompound", kDialogNone, NULL);
When the above code is called while I'm debugging, I get a dialog box that reads: The object "Make Compound Path" is not currently available.
If I click the "Stop" button while debugging, the value of err is 1346458189 which is 'PARM'. So, maybe I need to set a parameter? The crazy thing is that there appears to be no parameters needed for the "adobe_makeCompound" action event. When I created the action manually, the resulting .aia file (see its contents below) has a parameterCount == 0. I've tried passing a parameter block without adding any parameters to it (instead of NULL), but still no joy.
/version 2
/name [ 5
          5365742031
/isOpen 1
/actionCount 1
/action-1 {
          /name [ 12
                    436f6d706f756e6450617468
          /keyIndex 0
          /colorIndex 0
          /isOpen 0
          /eventCount 1
          /event-1 {
                    /internalName (adobe_makeCompound)
                    /localizedName [ 18
                              4d616b6520436f6d706f756e642050617468
                    /isOpen 0
                    /isOn 1
                    /hasDialog 0
                    /parameterCount 0
Any help or suggestions on how to create a compound path would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
-- Jim

Actually, here's a more useful variation
// rectangle1 & rectangle2 are the AIArtHandles for your existing paths
AIArtHandle compound = 0;
sArt->NewArt(kCompoundPathArt, kPlaceAbove, rectangle1, &compound);
sArt->sReorderArt(rectangle1, kPlaceInsideOnTop, compound);
sArt->sReorderArt(rectangle2, kPlaceInsideOnTop, compound);
// this will create the compound right next to wherever rectangle1 is, much simpler and more likely what you want

Compound path selection in Photoshop CC

Hi
I have a compound path (item silhouette together with inner hole). But for some reason am not able to make selection with the hole excluded from outer path selection any more as I was able to do in previous versions of Photoshop (photoshop selects outer path only). Please let me know if it's still possible to do.

Now it's OK. nvm

Compound Path - determine winding rules

I have a compound path, and i need to parse all points, for export to CANVAS HTML , for this I wrote this script:
But the problem is how to detect the holes. I find information, and i think that i need the fill rule or clockwise fill, but in the reference doesn't exist.
Somebody can help me. Thanks
Compound Path fill rules: http://forums.adobe.com/message/4507598?tstart=0#4507598
Nonzero winding fill rule
Uses mathematical equations to determine if a point is outside or inside a shape. Illustrator uses the nonzero winding rule as the default rule.
Even-odd fill rule
Uses mathematical equations to determine if a point is outside or inside a shape. This rule is the more predictable rule because every other region within an even‑odd compound path is a hole, regardless of path direction. Some applications, such as Adobe Photoshop, use the even‑odd rule by default, so compound paths imported from these applications will use the even‑odd rule.
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/illustrator/cs/using/WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-6462a .html#WS714a382cdf7d304e7e07d0100196cbc5f-644ea
http://www.fireworkszone.com/tuts/476/fill_rules.pdf
/*bool*/ Polygon.prototype.collideShapes = function(/*Polygon*/ _poly)
// Ret. TRUE if the shapes intersect
// slow method
try {
     this.intersectPath(_poly);
     app.activeDocument.undo();
     return(true);
catch(ex)
     return(false);
var selection = app.activeDocument.selection;
var a= selection[0]
var b= selection[1]
//alert( a.collideShapes(b))
function inArray(agulla, paller){
    var length = paller.length;
    for(var i = 0; i < length; i++) {
        if(paller[i] == agulla) return true;
    return false;
var item = app.activeDocument.selection;
var items = item[0].releaseCompoundPath();
var restantes = items;
var groups={}
var i = items.length;
//          while( i-- )
for (var i=0;i< items.length;i++)
                    a = items[i];
                    try{
                    $.writeln( items[i].LocalDisplaySetting          )
                    }catch(e){$.writeln( e)}
for (var s=0;s< restantes.length;s++){
var b = restantes[s]
if(a!=b){
if(inArray(b, restantes)== true){
try{
if(a.collideShapes(b)){
if(typeof groups[i]== "undefined"){
groups[i]=[]
groups[i].push(i)
groups[i].push(s)
restantes[i]= "void";
items[i]= "void";
restantes[s]= "void";
items[s]= "void";
catch(e){}
app.activeDocument.undo();
for (var t=0;t< restantes.length;t++){
if(restantes[t]!= "void")
$.writeln ( "_" + t +",");
for(var g in groups){
var group = groups[g]
$.writeln ("var compoundPath = new CompoundPath( _" + group.join(", _") +").fillColor = 'red';");

I just want all inner shape and overlapping shape areas to be considered the composite fill of the compound shape - so in my example above, the three red rectangles lacking a centerpoint I want to contribute to compound path's composite fill, instead of knocking it out.
BTW, that example up there has a big outer stroke, no fill. Maybe confusing, but that's how I'm currently using the shape (to mask the outsides of 3 different designs).

COMPOUND PATH TO A SINGLE PATH

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