Create a compound path, Change holes to fills in a compound path, Break up a compound path – Adobe InDesign User Manual
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Compound path containing two subpaths with same path directions (left) and opposite path directions (right)
Create a compound path
You can create a compound path from two or more open or closed paths. When you create a compound path, all of the originally selected paths
become subpaths of the new compound path. The selected paths inherit the stroke and fill settings of the object farthest back in the stacking
order.
If one or more selected objects have contents, such as text or imported images, the attributes and contents of a compound path are set by
the attributes and contents of the object farthest back. Selected objects farther behind, without contents, won’t affect the compound path.
You can change the shape of any part of a compound path by using the Direct Selection tool to select an anchor point on one subpath.
1. Use the Selection tool to select all of the paths you want to include in the compound path.
2. Choose Object > Paths > Make Compound Path. A hole appears wherever selected paths overlap.
You can fill a hole created by a subpath or turn a subpath into a hole. Using the Direct Selection tool, select a point on the subpath you want to
change. Then select Object > Paths > Reverse Path or click Reverse Path in the Pathfinder panel.
Change holes to fills in a compound path
The direction of each subpath—the order in which its points were created—determines whether the area it defines is inside (filled areas) or outside
(empty). If, in your compound path, holes sometimes don’t appear where you expect them to, you can reverse the direction of that subpath.
Two separate closed paths (left) and two subpaths of the same compound path (right); the compound path uses the center circle as a hole
1. With the Direct Selection tool , select the part of the compound path to reverse (or a point on that part). Do not select the entire compound
path.
2. Do one of the following:
Choose Object > Paths > Reverse Path.
Click Reverse Path in the Pathfinder panel.
Break up a compound path
You can break up a compound path by releasing it, which turns each of its subpaths into an independent path.
1. Using the Selection tool , select a compound path.
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