Joining Paths or joining two shapes

[luke williams]

Hi,

I have drawn threeleaves with the pen tool (closed paths). I would like to join these leaves to make a flower into which I want to place an image. Can anyone tell me how to do this?

Thanks,

Luke

[Ellen_Pickels@adobeforums.com]

Try the Pathfinder palette.

[Gernot_Hoffmann@adobeforums.com]

Luke,

it´s described in the help menue, keyword "path".
My version is in German, therefore I´m not able to
explain it here accurately.
Mark all paths (Ctrl+mouseclick). Go to menue "object"
and find the item which combine the paths.

Now we have a problem: the result of this so-called
Boolean operation depends on the "winding" in Post-
Script nomenclature. Here for two paths:
If both paths were drawn in the same sense (both cw
or both ccw) then the whole area will be filled.
If one path was drawn cw and the other ccw then the
overlapping area is not filled.
Similarly for clipping.
If the paths are very complex, e.g. with loops and
overlapping, then the result is unpredictable.

Best regards --Gernot Hoffmann

[Steve_Werner@adobeforums.com]

But, if I understand you, you can select subpaths and choose Object > Reverse Direction to deal with "opening" up holes in a compound path.

[Gernot_Hoffmann@adobeforums.com]

Steve,

good advice. This will solve occasional problems.

Best regards --Gernot Hoffmann