You're hitting on a key distinction in how Illustrator handles objects! Here's a breakdown of the differences between "Group" and "Compound Path":
Group :
- What it does: A group is simply a way to organize multiple objects together. It's like putting them in a folder.
- How it works: You select multiple objects and then use the "Group" command (Object > Group or Ctrl/Cmd + G). This creates a single unit that you can move, resize, and rotate as a whole.
- Key characteristics:
- Any object type: Groups can contain any type of object, including paths, shapes, text, and even other groups.
- Independent objects: The objects within a group remain independent. You can still select and edit them individually if you use the Direct Selection Tool (white arrow).
- No interaction: Objects in a group don't interact with each other visually. They just move together.
Compound Path :
- What it does: A compound path combines multiple paths into a single object with holes or transparent areas.
- How it works: You select multiple paths and then use the "Make" command under Object > Compound Path. This creates a single path where overlapping areas are "knocked out" to create holes.
- Key characteristics:
- Only paths: Compound paths can only contain paths.
- Interacting paths: The paths within a compound path interact with each other. Overlapping areas become transparent.
- Single object: A compound path is treated as a single object with one fill and stroke.
Think of it like this :
- Group: Like a box holding different toys. You can move the box, but the toys inside are still separate.
- Compound Path: Like cutting shapes out of paper. You combine the paper shapes into one, and where they overlap, you get a hole.
Why the difference matters :
- Organization: Groups are for organization. They help you manage complex artwork by keeping related objects together.
- Creating shapes with holes: Compound paths are essential for creating shapes with transparent areas, like letters with counters (a, e, o), or a donut shape.
- Applying appearances: With groups, you can apply appearances (like fills and strokes) to the group as a whole, but the individual objects retain their own appearances as well. With compound paths, there's only one fill and stroke for the entire object.
