User Guide

Chapter 4: Drawing And Vector Effects
Because clipping paths are special objects, they do not display the pen inks, fill inks, or strokes of
their original objects. Canvas displays clipping paths with 1-point black strokes (which the Clipping
Path | Hide command makes invisible).
If you select a clipping path and change its inks or stroke, Canvas applies the attributes to the object,
but the attributes aren’t visible unless you use the Release command to convert the clipping path
back into a vector or text object.
Combining objects
The Combine command in Canvas allows you to create new objects from the intersection of two or
more vector objects. You can outline the overlapping objects, delete all except the overlapping area,
subtract the overlapping area, and perform other combinations.
Combine effects
To access the Combine menu, select more than one vector object. To use a combine method, each
selected object must overlap at least one other selected object.
To combine objects:
1. Select two or more objects that you want to combine.
2. Open the Combine menu or use the Combine palette (Effects | Combine).
3. Select a combine method and the effect immediately happens.
Selecting a combine method
The Combine menu contains various methods for combining objects. Some methods require that the
paths of overlapping objects intersect for the effect to be visible or work properly. In addition, some
methods work only with closed vector objects, and not with lines and open curves.
Trim: Trims intersecting lines or arcs by shortening them until they meet at a vertex. You
can trim a line to a line, an arc to an arc, or an arc to a line. In each case, Canvas trims the
shorter segments of the intersecting lines and arcs. Trimmed lines and arcs remain separate
and retain their attributes.
Trim also trims lines or arcs where they intersect closed vector objects. The vector objects do
not change.
If Canvas can’t trim the selected objects, a message tells you that the operation requires at least
one open path.
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