Adobe illustrator 10 Manuale Utente

PostScript-compliant applications. You cannot view individual components of 
compound paths in the Layers palette, or give the components their own appearance 
attributes (such as distortion or effects). 

Simple paths are the most basic building block shape in Illustrator. They consist of one 

open or closed path, which may be self-intersecting.

Types of paths and shapes 
A. Three simple paths B. Compound path C. Compound shape

You can use any of the following methods to combine paths and create new paths or 
shapes: Make Compound Shape command in the Pathfinder palette, Shape Modes 
buttons in the Pathfinder palette, Compound Path command, Pathfinder effects, 
and Pathfinder filters in the Pathfinder palette.

A compound shape is editable art consisting of two or more objects, each assigned a shape 
mode. Compound shapes make it easy to create complex shapes because you can 
precisely manipulate the shape mode, stacking order, shape, and location for each path 
included. Within a compound shape, you can include paths, compound paths, groups, 
other compound shapes, blends, text, envelopes, and warps, any of which can carry live 
effects. Open paths included in compound shapes are automatically closed. 

Compound shapes act as grouped objects. To select components of a compound shape, 
use the direct-selection tool or the group-selection tool. To make changes to the stacking 
order of the components, use the Layers palette.

Application of compound shapes 
A. Original objects B. Compound shape created C. Individual shape modes applied to each 
component D. Style applied to entire compound shape

A

B

C