Transcript:
Today for Illustrator compound path functions that you need to know [Music]. For what is our people? Welcome back to Satori. Graphics, the Huma graphic design content right here on Youtube. Firstly, what is the compound path in Illustrator? Basically, we can group objects together. Using a debut illustrator, however, a compound path essentially groups objects together and allows an effect or a function to be shared. Among those objects. Things will make more sense as we go through today’s for useful and need-to-know functions of the compound path here. We have three circles with a gradient across each of them if we select all three circles and unite them in a Pathfinder window, They’re grouped together as one shape, but the gradient remains the same throughout the three circles, so lets. Take some steps back. I will show you just how cool the compound path function can be if we select all three circles and then head up to object and meet compound paths. You then notice that the gradient land spread over the circles like so, however, this isn’t the end of the story we can press a flip direct selection tool and carefully click the middle of the circle and drag it like so you will notice that the circle’s color matches the gradient as it moves like. I said these circles are linked together, but in a way that the effect has been shared across the three shapes, we can also head into the gradient window and adjust our gradient accordingly. However, we can also add another object into the mix so by pressing M for the rectangle tool, we can generate a square above like so select all four shapes and then make another compound path. We will still have three more useful functions of the illustrator compound path to look at in today’s video, so stay tuned to demonstrate the second compound path function. We have a blue square and two yellow circle here. If we select all of the shapes at once and then head into the Pathfinder window, we can use the minus front operation, which cuts the two top shapes into the bottom shape like so, but once this has been done, we cannot really edit the cut out sections too easily. This is where the compound function comes in to save the day. We can select the shapes again and then turn the selection into a compound path. The shortcut is command or control 8 on your keyboard. By the way we have the same effect, but the difference here is that we can now take the direct selection tool and edit a cut out section, but we can also move the circles around very easily. This is a form of non-destructive workflow and using a début illustrator, and on top of that we can even release the compound path at any time, like so, returning the shapes back to the original form apart from the colors. The third function of the compound path operation is a kind of extension on the last point in today’s video. We all know that the Pathfinder will cut a shape into another shape using the minus current operation [Music] but instead of turning them into a compound path the normal way we can just hold down the alt/option key and then select the minus one operation like before we can then remove the invisible shape around to using the direct selection tool, which you can locate by pressing a on your keyboard. The fourth and the final use of the compound path in Illustrator is one I’ve shown before in this channel, but it’s always good to be reminded of designers sometimes forget they need to turn a shave or, in this case, text into a compound path to do certain things and to add certain effects. So for example, like making a clipping mask, turn the text into a compound shape in the Pathfinder window. You then be able to place a text over your design and perform a clipping mask operation like so [Music]. Once you’ve done that you can then edit the text as you see, fit, changing the font style and even the font itself. So I hope you have a better understanding of the compound path after days video. And if you want to see more videos of this nature, let me know down in the comment section below. If you want to become a better designer and to raise your skill level in Adobe Illustrator, subscribe for weekly graphic design, content or right here at cetera graphics. I should be back tomorrow with more graphic design content, so like and share this video. If you do find it useful and you want help on my channel? Sharing my videos on social media really does help the channel’s growth, but anyway, guys, until next time design your future today. Peace [Music] you [Music]!