How exactly did you combine your paths? I’m not sure what you mean by that.
~Em
I used my "path component selection" tool (black arrow) and selected two different, closed paths and then went to the available buttons in the header on top of the adobe page and clicked on the "add to shape area (+) button, then selected the "combine" button.
That made both of the path shapes a "combined path" that moved together instead of separately.
So now, I’m trying to figure out how to "un-combine’ these two path shapes so that I can move them around independently again?!
Thanks for any help you can offer.
So you didn’t save the paths independently in the paths palette? Hm… You know, I don’t think I ever combine paths in PS. Anyone?
If you have Illustrator, you could export paths to Illustrator and break them apart in that program. Maybe there is a way in PS, but I never do complicated paths in PS.
From memory without verifying in photoshop, but using other vector knowlwdge…;
When you combine paths (vector shapes) you are creating 1 vector shape by definition. There is No way to UNcombine the paths. I.e. they exist a points with relationships between them (not GROUPS/SETS of points, per path).
Vector programs may let you select a range of points and then slice them off into a new path/vector shape. But for overlapping paths the result will not be what the seperate vector shapes were before.
Combining is diffrent from GROUPing. Where the 2 or more path/vector shapes still are treated as 2 diffrent vectors by definition. Its just that all operation afffect both in all ways..eg. move rotate etc.
So maybe you can select a range of points (enough to define the path to slice off) and do a copy and paste to a new path. Or maybe duplicate the combined path and on one duplicate select and delete one path, and in the otehr copy select and delete the other path.
"I used my "path component selection" tool (black arrow) and selected two different, closed paths and then went to the available buttons in the header on top of the adobe page and clicked on the "add to shape area (+) button, then selected the "combine" button."
Don’t do that any more.
Use the hollow arrow to select and individual path in a group, you then need to go around that path and, while keeping the shift key down through the entire process, select each node point so that it show filled (selected) until the entire path element has filled point, then cut, command-X, create a new path, select it, then paste that element onto it new individual path. You will need to reposition it correctly also.
I would just cut the entire path and paste it in Illustrator and ungroup it there then repaste.
Don’t paint yourself into corners is the rule.
: )
Tom,
You can select one of the path shapes with Direct Selection Tool (white arrow) and press Ctrl + X (cut) and Ctrl + V (paste). Then they’re not combined anymore.
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Regards
Madsen.
Thanks for the replies.
I understand the whole "combine vs grouping" thing….Illustrator lets you take two separate "closed shape" paths and create a "compound" (aka combined) path and then "release" the compound (or combined) paths.
This should be available in photoshop when dealing with paths as well.
Basically, I had to go through and using the open arrow tool, select each node of the one closed-shape path and then cut it out and re-paste it back in. What a hassle!
Why not have a similar "release compound path" like Illustrator has?
For the record: Coreldraw lets you combine or uncombine multiple paths at the click of a button…
Ok, then…I guess I’ll have to work it around a more difficult way when working in Photoshop…thanks for the advice…I was thinking I must have been missing something…but I guess it just can’t be done like I was hoping.
Thanks again for all the help and responses everyone. 🙂
Tom
wrote:
For the record: Coreldraw lets you combine or uncombine multiple paths at the click of a button…
For the record: Coreldraw isn’t comparable to Photoshop. It’s two completely different programs for completely different purposes.
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Regards
Madsen.
Thanks Thomas…I was trying to make the point that like Illustrator, Coreldraw will let you "un-combine" previously combined shapes….and that it would be nice if Photoshop, like Illustrator would allow you to do that as well.
Sorry I didn’t make that point very clear.
In the end…I pretty much had to do what you suggested to make them "separate" again.
Tom,
Okay. You’re right that it would be nice if one could un-combine combined paths in Photoshop the same way as in Illustrator, but as you see, it is possible to un-combine them in Photoshop as well. It may not be as easy as in Illustrator and CorelDraw, but never the less it’s possible. 🙂
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Regards
Madsen.
HD:
re:"When you combine paths (vector shapes) you are creating 1 vector shape by definition. There is No way to UNcombine the paths."
This is not true, when you select the combined path and use ‘break apart’ the paths will ‘uncombine’. (This is for Corel)
Select the path and choose Compound Path\Release for Illustrator.
Thank you ID…this is the comparison/point I was trying to make.
