Question Compound Paths in v.9

[YtbN@adobeforums.com]

I appologize if this should be obvious to me, but Im having trouble compounding multiple paths and getting the desired knock-out results. Im specifically trying to knockout the centre's of letters like "O", "R", "B", etc (they are outlines, not text).
When I compound a whole sentence/paragraph at once the centre's do not get knocked out and Im left with just solid shapes.
All the shapes are the same colour fill, no stroke and the knock-out sections are all on the top layers. Nothings grouped.

Sorry to ramble, and thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Bri

[James_Talmage@adobeforums.com]

In my experience, AI has alot more trouble with correct path winding direction than other programs.

In the Attributes Palette are two pairs of icons: One is Reverse Path Direction; the other is Use Zero Winding/Non-Zero rule.

When the problem occurs, first try just clicking the Winding buttons. If that fails, DirectSelect the offending subpath and click the Reverse Direction buttons.

JET

[James_Talmage@adobeforums.com]

Also be sure to double-check your artwork. When working with path operations, I often inadvertenly end up duplicating a subpath. If two identical subpaths are right on top of each other in a compound path, they can sort of "cancel each other." The simple check is to directSelect the subpath which is not filling correctly and delete it. If it's not a duplicate, Undo the deletion.

JET

[YtbN@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for the quick response Jet,

I was aware of the attribute pallette, but it doesnt really save any time as opposed to compounding each letter individually. And I too often get caught with the duplicate subpath, just not this time!

This is a repeat problem for me, but I know it is avoidable because vector graphic packages we've purchased have very complex groups and subpaths which compound without any trouble. This leads me to believe it may be a problem with composition of the art?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated, since Ive got alot of compounding ahead of me!

Cheers,
Bri

[YtbN@adobeforums.com]

Hey, think I figured it out another way.
Rather than compounding, select 'exclude' from the pathfinder pallette. All overlapping fills are removed and each letter is compounded individually. Compound again to creat a single path of all the letters.
Make sense?

Thanks again JET.

Cheers

[James_Talmage@adobeforums.com]

Yes, but be careful with Pathfinders. Pathfinder ops which you expect to result in Compound paths will often result in non-compound Groups instead. Then when you try to apply another Pathfinder op, you encounter problems resulting from that. This occurs when the resulting "sub paths" do not overlap. So if you often use several sequential pathfinder ops, as I do, you'll find that you often need to Ungroup and Make Compound between steps. I find it quite annoying and cumbesome.

Pathfinder problems are further...uh...compounded...by the fact that most of them handle strokes poorly. Depending upon which Pathfinder you use, your strokes will change or even be deleted altogether. I personally believe AI is in sore need of some cleaning-up in this area.

JET