Use the Selection tool to select the base object, right-click it, and then select Arrange > Send to Back. Arrange the cutter objects in the required order, and then position them over the base object.
Last updated on
Apr 22, 2026
Learn how to combine overlapping paths to create filled and transparent areas based on fill rules.
A compound path lets you control where fills and holes appear in overlapping paths of objects, based on a fill rule. You can convert even a single path having overlaps or intersections into a compound path with fills and holes. When you create a compound path, it acquires the fill, stroke, and style attributes of the backmost constituent object.
A compound path behaves like a grouped object, but appears as a single item in the Layers panel without the option to manage its constituent objects. You can adjust the shape of constituent objects separately, but you can't adjust their appearance attributes, graphic styles, or effects separately.
Cut holes in an object using other objects
You can cut holes in a base object using one or more cutter objects by combining them as a compound path:
Use the Selection tool to select the base and cutter objects.
Select Object > Compound Path > Make. You get a compound path with fills and holes based on the non-zero winding fill rule by default.
Cut holes in an object by making a compound path.
A fill rule determines which points from the constituent objects are considered to be inside the compound path and fills them. So, it leaves the points outside the compath path as holes. You can select the non-zero winding fill rule or the even-odd fill rule:
Use the Selection tool to select the Compound Path.
Select Window > Attributes to open the Attributes panel.
In the Attributes panel, select one of the two fill rules:
- Use Non‑Zero Winding Fill Rule : Draws a ray from a point to infinity in any direction and keeps a net count of how many times path segments cross it. Starting from zero, it adds one each time a segment crosses from left to right and subtracts one each time a segment crosses from right to left. If the result is zero, the point is outside the compound path. Otherwise, it's inside.
- Use Even‑Odd Fill Rule : Draws a ray from a point to infinity in any direction and keeps a simple count of how many times path segments cross it. If the total is odd, the point is inside the compound path. Otherwise, it's outside.
Note
Some apps, such as Adobe Photoshop, use the even‑odd rule by default, so compound paths imported from these apps will use the even‑odd rule.
Change the areas containing fills and holes
When you make a compound path with a non-zero winding fill rule, you can change the areas that have fills and holes by reversing the path direction in the Attributes panel. This option doesn’t necessarily swap the filled areas and holes, but recalculates the fills and holes.
Select Window > Attributes to open the Attributes panel.
In the Attributes panel, select Use Non‑Zero Winding Fill Rule.
Use the Direct Selection tool to select only the part of the compound path you want to reverse.
Select Reverse Path Direction Off or Reverse Path Direction On .
Release the compound path
Use the Selection tool to select the compound path.
Select Object > Compound Path > Release.
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