Adobe illustrator 10 Manuale Utente

The shape layers and layer clipping paths (vector masks) in Adobe Photoshop are types of 
compound shapes. You can import shape layers and layer clipping paths into Illustrator as 
compound shapes and continue to manipulate them. In addition, you can export 
compound shapes to Photoshop. Keep the following in mind when using compound 
shapes with Photoshop:

Only compound shapes that reside at the top level of the layer hierarchy are exported 

to Photoshop as shape layers.

A compound shape painted with a stroke using a join other than round or with a weight 

in points that is not an integer, is rasterized when exported to the PSD file format. (See 

.)

You create compound shapes using the Make Compound Shape command on selected 
objects. By default, each component is assigned the Add mode and the Make Compound 
Shape command combines them into a unified shape. You then design the shape and 
control the interaction between paths using the Shape Modes buttons in the Pathfinder 
palette on individual paths within the shape. You can apply the following shape modes 
one at a time:

Add to Shape Area Adds the area of the component to the underlying geometry. 

Subtract from Shape Area Cuts out the area of the component from the underlying 
geometry. 

Intersect Shape Areas Uses the area of the component to clip the underlying geometry 
as a mask would. 

Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas Uses the area of the component to invert the under-
lying geometry, turning filled regions into holes and vice versa. 

Shape modes 
A. All components in Add mode B. Subtract mode applied to squares C. Intersect mode applied to 
squares D. Exclude mode applied to squares

A

B

C

D