Create outlines from overlapping objects

[bobdylanbodyslam]

I'm trying to prepare an image for output on a vinyl cutter, so I'm using Alter
Path > Expand Stroke to create outlines from a bunch of objects. The problem is
I have a lot of overlapping objects and I'd like to keep portions of some
strokes obscured to preserve the layering effect. I can't figure out how to do
this easily without having to retrace a bunch of paths. Does anyone know a way?

Here's a crude visual aid, since you might be having a hard time visualizing
this.

Imagine a row of (sort of) circles:
( )( )( )( )( )( )( )
Now shift some of them to the left so they overlap (this is how I want the
final to look):
( ) ) ) ) ) ) )
This is how it ends up looking:
( () () () () () () )

Any ideas?

[JET@BB]

Familiarize yourself with the commands under Modify>Combine. There you will
find things like Union, Punch, Intersect, etc. Those are the functions you need
to use in order to prepare your artwork for vinyl cutting.

JET

[David Plank]

One thing to be aware of. There is a Preferences>Object that says
"path operations consume original paths". This is important when
you use the Combine functions. If you have this checked and you
punch a square hole out of a circle, after the operation the
square will be gone. If you want to keep an object after a
combine operation, you must clone it first. If you uncheck the
prefs box, both original objects will remain.

Also, the arrangement is important when you do the combine
operations. For instance, the top object will punch out of the
object underneath.

dp

JET@BB wrote:

> Familiarize yourself with the commands under Modify>Combine. There you will
> find things like Union, Punch, Intersect, etc. Those are the functions you need
> to use in order to prepare your artwork for vinyl cutting.
>
> JET
>

[James E. Talmage]

> If you want to keep an object after a combine operation, you must clone
it first.

You need only press Shift while selecting the path operation (Windows). As
I recall, it's Option on Mac OS.

JET