Compound paths

[Farabomb]

So I have a little project here that's outlines with compound paths. I need to change the color of the first letter. If I try to change it, it changes the whole line. I've found that I can track down the compound path in layers and release it then I can change the first letter.

The thing is when I do that and there are letterforms like O, P, e and the like the inner path fills in with the color of the letter. I can make it work by playing with the layer order and filling it with white but there has to be a better way to do it. At least I assume there is a better way. I can manage to click on things in illustrator and eventually make things work most of the time. That's great when I'm not pressed for time but I'd rather learn the correct way to accomplish it than hacking through it all the time.

I use release compound (build) to get it to work, is there another, more correct way?

[DCurry]

Without releasing the compound path, can you use the Direct Select tool (white pointer) to select just the one letter and change its color?

[Farabomb]

Direct selection is the only way to select it, the selection tool (black) will pick up another box.

It will show that only that letter is selected but if I change the color, it changes all the letters in the line.

[DigiCorn]

When that happens to me, and I forget to compound path it, I just punch it out with pathfinder and delete the dot in the middle.

[Farabomb]

I got it done, it wasn't all that hard once I figured out what needed to be done. I was just wondering if there was a more "correct" way of doing it.

[AaronH]

Would Add Unnamed / Add Used Colors put them in the swatch palette? I know sometimes it doesn't always work or the color might not be a global swatch. It helps sometimes though.

[andyfest]

So I have a little project here that's outlines with compound paths. I need to change the color of the first letter. If I try to change it, it changes the whole line. I've found that I can track down the compound path in layers and release it then I can change the first letter.

The thing is when I do that and there are letterforms like O, P, e and the like the inner path fills in with the color of the letter. I can make it work by playing with the layer order and filling it with white but there has to be a better way to do it. At least I assume there is a better way. I can manage to click on things in illustrator and eventually make things work most of the time. That's great when I'm not pressed for time but I'd rather learn the correct way to accomplish it than hacking through it all the time.

I use release compound (build) to get it to work, is there another, more correct way?

If you use the white arrow w the + sign (group select) and double click on a letter it should pick up the outside path, then the inner dot, so you have the whole letter. Only works if there's an inner path like in an a, e or o.

[Farabomb]

Ok, I pulled most of the stuff out to be able to post it but you'll see what going on. Maybe it's because I'm using CS6 but it didn't error when I opened it and I'm pretty sure the designer hasn't got on the CC train yet.

[mwc]

Don't think it has anything to do with the version, opened in CC and see the same thing (releasing clipping and compound path to make the edit in AI). In Acrobat DC you can 'edit' the text and select/recolor individual characters (if the text if recognized when converting paths TO text....yes, it actually does this....sometimes...).
The old standby for us is PITSTOP for these 'pesky' changes.
I don't know of a 'better' way unless you get your hands on the original files before the text was converted.
As with most things in PREPRESS/PREP, you have some of the tools to do the surgery...but when shit don't play right, it becomes that hacked-up mess...important thing is who(or what) survives in the end.

[David]

It looks like they made each whole word a compound path. Release the clipping mask, release the compound, then re-compound  the O's, A's etc., then you can color the letters individually.  Way too much work.

musta been a pro that built that file. Oh, and I really like the "artistic" touch of the little boxes and dots on the letters, makes it look so arty.

 

[Farabomb]

That's exactly what I ended up doing. It really wasn't hard once I knew what had to be done. Those dots are the reason I needed to play with the file. They print out these diplomas and then use a gold paint marker to fill those dots with gold. I was told it takes them days. 

I just thought it was me. I didn't expect the file to react like that but this designer is a bit uppity.

[David]

....but this designer is a bit uppity.

yes, this is my shocked face

 :shocked:

[andyfest]

Ok, I pulled most of the stuff out to be able to post it but you'll see what going on. Maybe it's because I'm using CS6 but it didn't error when I opened it and I'm pretty sure the designer hasn't got on the CC train yet.

I used CS6 to pop the pdf. I selected the "B" with the dot and used Pathfinder to subtract from the shape area. Was then able to colour the "B" anything I wanted. Not sure if that was the effect you were after tho'. If the dot has to be coloured another colour (other than white), select it , copy in front and raise to a new layer. Then do the pathfinder thing on the original layer, colour the B whatever, and then colour the dot on Layer 2 whatever you want.

[DPSprint]

They print out these diplomas and then use a gold paint marker to fill those dots with gold. I was told it takes them days. 

OMG!
***imagining people colouring in the dots!***

wouldn't a gold foil be a little easier? might be too small maybe i guess

[JohnG]

One small way to speed things up is to release the compound path, deselect only the parts of the "B", and then re-Make the compound path to restore the other letters. (Then, of course, Make a compound path of the "B" and color it as needed.)