Adobe After Effects CS3 - Manual (Page 338)

AFTER EFFECTS CS3
User Guide
333
Merge Paths options
The Merge Paths path operation takes all of the paths above it in the same group as input. The output is a single path
that combines the input paths. The input paths are still visible in the Timeline panel, but they are essentially removed
from the rendering of the shape layer, so they don’t appear in the Composition panel. A fill and stroke are added after
the Merge Paths property group in the Timeline panel if a fill and stroke are not already present; otherwise, the
output path wouldn’t be visible.
Merge Paths options
A. Add for all shapes B. Subtract for squares C. Intersect for squares D. Exclude Intersections for squares
The Merge Paths path operation has the following options, each of which performs different calculations to
determine the output path:
Merge Merges all input paths into a single compound path. This is the default used for shapes created from text
characters made up of multiple paths, like the letter e, when using the Create Outlines command.
Add Creates a path that encompasses the union of the areas of the input paths.
Subtract Creates a path that encompasses only the areas defined by the topmost path, subtracting the area defined
by underlying paths.
Intersect Creates a path that encompasses only the areas defined by intersections between all input paths.
Exclude Intersections Creates a path that is the union of the areas defined by all input paths, minus the areas defined
by intersections between all input paths.
Using the Repeater to replicate shapes
The Repeater path operation creates virtual copies of all paths, strokes, and fills above it in the same group. The
virtual copies are not represented by separate entries in the Timeline panel, but they are rendered in the Composition
panel. Each copy is transformed according to its order in the set of copies and the values of the properties in the
Transform property group for that instance of the Repeater.
A B
C D