Punch command error message

Question

Using fireworks mx v 6.0
When trying to use the punch command
Select the path object that defines the area to be removed.
Choose Modify > Arrange > Bring to Front.
Hold down Shift and add to the selection the path object from
which the portions are to be removed.
Choose Modify > Combine Paths > Punch.
I get the following error message "Punch, Union, Intersect
and Crop require two or more paths"
I get this message if selecting 2, 3, 4 of 5 objects.
Also have the same problem when trying to do a union command.
This is driving me crazy,
Any ideas what the problem could be and how to fix it.
Thanks in advance for any help.
justlarry

Answer 1

I think I missed a little something. I would have thought
that the most
straightforward way to do this would be to punch the vector
and use it as a
mask or to do a paste inside. Why is the pattern superior? It
seems more
complicated to me . . . or am I missing what is going on
here?
Thanks,
Tony
"Linda Rathgeber **Adobe Community Expert**"
<[email protected]> wrote in
message news:eh08sl$9it$[email protected]..
> justlarry wrote:
>
>> If this is not correct for punching a hole in a jpg,
then what is?
>
> It is for punching holes in vectors. There's a
workaround, however. In
> order to punch a shape through a bitmap, you first have
to add the bitmap
> to a rectangle as a Pattern. Here's how:
>
> 1. Draw a rectangle the size of the bitmap.
> 2. Change the fill type of the rectangle to Pattern, and
scroll to the
> bottom of the Pattern menu until you find Other.
> 3. Click on Other to open the Locate File dialog box.
> 4. Browse to your image file and select it.
> 5. Click on Open to accept the changes and close the
dialog box.
> 6. Use the pattern adjustment bar to align your image
inside the
> rectangle.
> 7. Draw the shape you want to punch through the image
and move it on top
> of the rectangle you filled with the image pattern.
> 8. Shift & select both the shape and the rectangle
and choose Modify >
> Combine Paths > Punch.
>
> --
> Linda Rathgeber [PVII] *Adobe Community
Expert-Fireworks*
>
>
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