Skip to main content
J
janepell
Known Participant
July 21, 2020
Answered

No matter what I do, compound path won't work

  • July 21, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 2420 views

Hello,

This happens from time to time. I'm a frequent Illustrator user. I understand very well how to make a compound path. The holes in front, no strokes, no grouping. I have checked every single thing, from opacity to making sure the path is entirely closed, and yet it won't work on some of my graphics.

 

Not that this should matter but they started as image traced graphics that I expanded. This always seem to create two overlapping paths. I deleted the additional one and only have one path for each shape.

 

I also restarted Illustrator.

 

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Correct answer Jacob Bugge

Jane,

 

Pathfinder>Minus front is your friend.

 

3 replies

Jacob Bugge
Jacob BuggeCorrect answer
Community Expert
July 22, 2020

Jane,

 

Pathfinder>Minus front is your friend.

 

    J
    janepellAuthor
    Known Participant
    July 22, 2020

    That worked! Thank you. I use pathfinder all the time but rarely that option.

    Is there any structural difference from compound path? I noticed that now "release" is an option

    under compound path so I suppose not.

     

    The above suggestion to reverse path direction didn't work and I don't seen an even/odd rule option.

    Can't believe I struggled this long. Thank you.

    Doug A Roberts
    Doug A Roberts
    Community Expert
    July 22, 2020

    The Even/Odd Full Rule is here:

     

    It's just something else to check when compound paths are not behaving as you expect.

     

      Monika Gause
      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      July 21, 2020

      Can you please show a screenshot of your paths and the layers panel (with those paths visible in it)

      J
      janepellAuthor
      Known Participant
      July 22, 2020

      I swear to god nothing is grouped. No clipping mask. See attached image. The rhubarb stalk on the left worked but only after I pasted it into InDesign, then cut and pasted it back into Illustrator. However, the stalk on the right won't compound path correctly. In the layers palette, you'll see the compound path (the stalk on the left). And the other sublayers are the paths for the stalk on the right. The main (outer stalk) is sent to back.

       

      I know it must be frustrating to deal with people who haven't checked that the proverbial plug is actually plugged in, but I really have checked everything. I have even simplified path just to see if that's what was preventing compound path.

      Eugenio.NYC
      Eugenio.NYC
      Participating Frequently
      July 22, 2020

      Hi

      Go to object path and reverse path direction

      LMK

        J
        janepellAuthor
        Known Participant
        July 21, 2020

        Just for kicks, I copied and pasted the graphic into InDesign and pasted it back into Illustrator and was able to finally get compound path to work. But should I have to use that workaround?

        Eugenio.NYC
        Eugenio.NYC
        Participating Frequently
        July 22, 2020

        Hi, double check your layers and see what you have, maybe you have to go to object menu and 

        Ungroup many times until you dont see is part of a group

        expand appearance

        check is not a clipping mask

         

        LMK

        regards

        E

         

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices