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Exclusive Or Function

Multiple shapes can be combined into a single shape by performing an exclusive or (XOR) operation on all the selected shapes using the menu item Transform->XOR Paths. At least two shapes must be selected to perform this function. As with the merge path function, the new shape has the same styles as the backmost path in the selection and patterns will be converted to full paths.

For example, in Figure 8.38(a), there are three overlapping paths. The rear path has a non-zero winding rule. In Figure 8.38(b) the paths have been replaced by a single path created using the exclusive OR function. For comparison, the same three paths in Figure 8.38(a) were replaced using the merge function. The result is shown in Figure 8.38(c). Both paths in Figure 8.38(b) and Figure 8.38(c) use a non-zero winding rule, since that was used by the rear path in Figure 8.38(a).

geom xorpaths geommerge

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 8.38: Exclusive OR function: (a) original paths (the rear path has a non-zero winding rule, orchid fill colour and round join style); (b) the three paths in (a) have been replaced by a single path using the exclusive OR function; (c) for comparison, the three paths in (a) have been replaced by a single path using the merge paths function.