Almost all objects in over daily life can be built with basic shapes. By drawing shapes using our basic shape tool, we can use compound path to combine or subtract shapes to create what we need.
What is Compound Path?
Compound path is made out of at least two objects. You can add, subtract and intersect shapes to form a compound path.
Compound Path Cheat Sheet
I have compiled a cheat sheet to show how it looks like using different functions of compound path. You can see the final effect after we applied the compound path to three colored circles.
Creating an Ancient Key Using Compound Path
In this tutorial, I will show you how to create an ancient key using compound paths rather than using Pen Tool in our previous tutorial.
Turning on the Grids
Go to View>Show Grid to turn on the grids, then go and turn on Snap to Grid. With the grid and snapping turned on, you can easily snap objects to the grid.
First draw a Circle using your Shape Tools, hold Alt/Option as you click and drag a new copy beside it.
Duplicate a new circle and place it on top.
Next, select the Rectangle Tool and continue building up your key shape.
Swap the Fill and Stroke for the object, this will show you all the objects we have.
Using the Selection Tool, select the whole shape and go to Window>Pathfinder to bring up the Pathfinder. Select Add to shape to combine the objects.
You can still make changes to the compound path at this stage. Try moving the top circle below to see how it works. To do this, double click with the Selection Tool to go into isolation mode to move the individual shapes.
Next we will swap it back to black fill again, draw a circle in the middle which we will punch a new hole there. Select both shapes and select Subtract from shape area.
Here is the final illustration.
Next Lesson: Working with Color and Strokes »
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July 23rd, 2008 at 10:35 pm
wow, i never knew you could still change the compound path after selecting ‘add to shape’… i’m always using the ‘merge’ tool!
July 28th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Mine didn’t work like that. Instead of removing the middle, it took the whole thing with it! What could be causing this?
July 28th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Hi Sean, Make sure the circle is on top of the key. Select both and click subtract from shape area.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:37 am
to show grid it’s not “window>show” grid
it’s “view>show grid”
August 5th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Thank you! It worked this time. On to the next lesson =D
August 5th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
I can’t seem to manipulate the individual circle after using Add to shape. The entire compound path is moving altogether. What did I miss?
August 6th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Hi Heidi, try to double click with the Selection Tool to go into isolation mode to move the individual shapes.
August 16th, 2008 at 6:49 am
Swap the Fill and Stroke … after I’ve found it, it only made some of my key black. Besides, why should I keep down Alt/Option to draw the second cirkle? Give up for now
Too many things I do not understand.
August 26th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Another good lesson, Jah rasta
August 30th, 2008 at 9:20 am
i think i got it! thanks!
September 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
[...] Week Day 8: Using Brushes Day 9: Creating Compound Paths Day 10: Working with Color and Strokes Day 11: Editing Objects, Layers & Groups Day 12: [...]
November 17th, 2008 at 4:14 am
That was a really good tutorial!! you make it so easy to learn!! thanks a lot!!