Open the document that contains the objects.
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Create compound shapes
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Learn how to use Pathfinder operations to combine objects into editable compound shapes in Adobe InDesign.
You can work with a compound shape as a single object or release its component paths to edit each one separately. For example, you can apply a gradient fill to one part of the compound shape while leaving the remaining areas unfilled.
Select all objects you want to combine using the Selectiontool.
Open the Pathfinder panel (Window > Object & Layout > Pathfinder).
In the Pathfinder panel, choose an option based on what you want to create:
- Add: Combines selected shapes into one shape
- Subtract: Removes front shapes from the back shape
- Intersect: Keeps only the overlapping area
- Exclude Overlap: Keeps only the non-overlapping areas
- Minus Back: Removes back shapes from the front shape to create holes
In most cases, the resulting shape inherits the attributes of the frontmost object, including fill, stroke, transparency, and layer settings. However, when you subtract shapes, the front objects are removed, and the resulting shape inherits the attributes of the backmost object.
If you include a text frame in a compound shape, only the frame shape changes, and the text remains unchanged. To modify the text itself, first convert it to outlines, then create the compound path. To release a compound shape, break out the compound path.
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