: What are the Pros/Cons of Pathfinder vs Compound path? Say I had a silhouette and a circle (Gradient is just for to be able to understand better) Now, I wanted the silhouette cut-out of

@Nimeshi706

Pathfinder actually generates compound paths when best suited. So they are really one in the same.

The Pathfinder Panel applies the selected (clicked) operation to the selected objects then expands the artwork (as if you choose Expand from the Object Menu). Altering the original object paths.

If you are seeking to maintain the original paths, in other words keep the appearance "live", there are options.


Using the Pathfinder effects from the Effects menu will retain the original paths (unexpanded artwork)
Holding down the Option/Alt key while clicking on a button in the Pathfinder Panel will not expand the result, similar to the menu effect.


Compound paths are essentially the Pathfinder Exclude operation unexpanded. If one object is completely encompassed by another object, then the results of a Compound Path would be along the lines of the Minus Front/Back Pathfinder operations, unexpanded.

There's no "best" use anywhere. Both compound paths and pathfinder have different uses overall and either can be correct to use. There's also no "downfall" for using either. So you really can't go wrong with either if it gets you the results you want.

This question may be additionally helpful: In Pathfinder window, what is the difference between a shape mode and a pathfinder?

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@Martha945

Both options do not always produce the same results.

Pathfinder allows much greater control over how the paths are combined. As you can see below, I've made two hexagons to demonstrate the Shape modes in the Pathfinder Window.

The Pathfinder window has both Shape Modes and Pathfinders, but I'm just going to focus on Shape Modes



If I am to simply make a compound path from these (⌘ + 8), it treats the paths as though I've used the Exclude mode of Pathfinder.



Depending on what you're trying to achieve, this may be fine, but there are several other ways in which the pathfinder can control the combination of paths (in their panel order from left to right):

Unite



Minus Front



Intersect



Exclude



My workflow is as follows:


Select paths I wish to combine
Choose how I want them combined (Pathfinder method)
Make Compound Path after using Pathfinder

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