Combine
Command in the Object menu to create interesting effects - Combine command can
be used with shapes or paths to make your drawing or artwork more powerful.
Combine shapes with other
shapes or paths
Expression Blend has five
ways to combine shapes or paths. You can use Unite, Divide, Intersect, Subtract
or Exclude Overlap command to produce stunning effect.
To combine them, choose the
Selection tool, select all the shapes and paths that you want, and then choose
Objects -> Combine.
I will demonstrate each
command with help of a diagram to make you understand in an easy and interesting
way.
Unite:
It maintains the outer stroke of all the selected objects while elimination the
interior strokes and uses the fill of the topmost shape or path as the fill for
the entire new object, as shown in figure.
Draw a rectangle on the
artboard. After drawing the rectangle draw a circle with the help of ellipse
tool on Toolbox. You can hold the Shift key to have perfect circle drawing
ellipse.
Place the circle on top of
the rectangle. Select both the objects. After that choose Objects -> Combine ->
Unite command to get the desired effect. Figure 1.1 shows a picture of a door
has round shaped on the top with the help of combining rectangle and circle with
help of Unite command.
Figure 1.1
I will show one more
interesting example of Unite command. Lets make a engine with the help of Unite
Command.
Draw a rectangle on the
artboard. Place a small rectangle on top of the rectangle as shown in the
pictures. Make two circles and place on the drawing to show the picture of a
train engine Figure 1.2.
Figure 1.2
Select all
the objects and choose Objects -> Combine -> Unite. See the interesting result
in Figure 1.3.
Figure 1.3
Divide:
It maintains all strokes, and uses the fill of the topmost shape or path as the
fill of all selected shapes and paths.
Make three circles and
select them as shown in Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1
Now choose
Objects -> Combine -> Divide. See the interesting result in Figure 2.1.
Figure 2.2
Intersect:
Keeps only the segment of the shapes or paths that overlap all the selected
shapes or paths. If no such segment exists, then the intersect pertain to the
segment of shapes or paths which overlap and contain the topmost shape or path.
Draw a rectangle giving a
gray effect as if it is a candle. Than draw two rectangles with gradient effect
of a flame as shown in figure 3.1. Place both circle near as they are
intersecting each other.
Figure 3.1
Select both circles
and choose Objects -> Combine -> Intersect. Place the flame shape on top of the
rectangle, which we made as candle. See the interesting result in Figure 2.1 a
candle with a beautiful flame.
Subtract:
Leaves only the segment or segments of the topmost shape or path that are
overlapping another shape or path.
I will explain subtract with
the help of a good example. A half glowing sun can be made with help of it. Make
two circles and place one circle over the other circle as shown in figure 4.1.
Figure 4.1
Select both the circles and
choose Objects -> Combine -> Subtract. See the effect a beautiful half sun with
glowing effect.
Figure 4.2
Exclude Overlap:
Excludes areas overlapped by two shapes or paths or both. Areas overlapped by
three shapes, paths, or both are not excluded.
To understand Exclude
Overlap command draw petal shape with the help of Ellipse. Copy that petal shape
ellipse and rotate with the help of Transform - Rotate in the Property Panel.
Give it some angle say 15 degree for each petal as shown in the Figure 5.1
Figure 5.1
Now select the entire petal
shape ellipse and Objects -> Combine -> Exclude Overlap. See the effect a
beautiful design.
Figure 5.2
You saw the interesting drawing which were made with the
help of Combine command. I will be contributing more articles to make your
Expression Blend learning easy and interesting. Have Fun while you learn.