Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 8/17/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Kevin,
I'm getting undesirable and unpredictable results with compound paths in AI CS4. I was supplied a pink tear drop shape (vector art) with type (in outlines with no strokes) that needs to knock out of it to let the color which prints below it show through. When I apply make CP, I get positive pink type with a pink outline around the tear drop shape. When I draw an oval and use the same outline type, it works fine except the circle-R won't knock out. When I tried it with a black rectangle and the same blue type it works GREAT except the rectangle turns blue, but I get all the type knocking out including the circle-R. Do you know what I'm doing wrong? I really need to succeed with this using the customer's tear drop shape (baby shampoo "no more tears"). I made a little pdf showing the results I described above. If you wish to see it, just tell me where to send it.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Marianne


ANSWER: Hi Marianne,

You can enclose image files on this site with your question, but it seems to be that your tear drop is the issue. Without seeing your setup for size, etc. I can only give you some general considerations.

First, it could be caused by the type overlapping the teardrop, not being totally contained inside. This would cause you to have pink type instead of knocked out teardrops. The other issue could be that the teardrop shape is not an enclosed shape - an open path.

The Registered trademark (®) is a known culprit of many compound path issues, since itself is a compound path to start with.

The easiest solution I have is to either trace the teardrop shape and then try creating your CP, or use a shape that does work and modify the larger shape into the teardrop.

Thanks

Kevin


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Kevin.
How do I check to see if the tear drop is an open or closed path?
Pls see attached pdf for illustration of the problem.
Thanks,
Marianne


Answer
Looking at your example, the tear drop is definitely not closed.

The easiest thing to do is to trace the tear drop shape using the pen tool. You can try selecting the original and then go to Object>Path>Join and see if it closes up.

The rectangle is turning blue because that was the color of the text creating the clipping.

Thanks

Kevin