Shapes with holes not editable

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Level 5

5,812 points

Shapes with holes not editable

I guess Keynote has a way to go to replace Adobe Illustrator -- it turns out it is not possible to edit Keynote shapes with holes, at least not if you want to preserve the hole. This is unfortunate because one can potentially do interesting things with such shapes (e.g., make unusual masks for images, such as with letters of the alphabet), and it would be extremely convenient to be able to edit them as you like (e.g., skew them) directly within Keynote. Unfortunately, Keynote won't allow that.

It is possible to generate a Keynote shape with a completely enclosed hole (e.g., by creating the object in SVG format in Illustrator, then importing via svg2key), however, if you try to make the shape editable, the hole disappears, and the shape becomes a simple closed curve. You can edit this shape, but you can't get the hole back.

This means that, if you want to use a shape with a hole, you have to create the exact object you want and import it, since it isn't editable (apart from changing its size) once it is in Keynote.

PowerMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Posted on Apr 25, 2006 1:40 PM

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Answer 1

Sijmons

Level 4

2,095 points

Apr 25, 2006 1:48 PM in response to Tulse

Tulse,
maybe these templates are useful for you:
http://www.keynoteuser.com/prothemes/frames.html

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Answer 2

Tulse Author

Level 5

5,812 points

Apr 25, 2006 2:03 PM in response to Sijmons

There certainly are a lot of great themes that have interesting overlays and cutouts that are usable as image masks. But those objects are almost always themselves just images, and so not nearly as malleable as true Keynote objects. This isn't a problem that is insurmountable, but it really would be nice if Keynote allowed editable objects with more than one closed curve.

PowerMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

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Answer 3

Apr 25, 2006 3:17 PM in response to Tulse

This means that, if you want to use a shape with a hole, you have to create the exact object you want and import it, since it isn't editable (apart from changing its size) once it is in Keynote.

I would beg to differn on that statement, you can change it's fill, the teture inside if you want, and the stroke. That's more than 'just the size' I will grant you, however, that the inability to edit the inner cutout can be a limitation.

It would be better, perhaps, if one had the option of splitting a 'compound' shape and joining two simple shapes others so they would become compound shapes, complete with cutouts.

As to whether or not Keynote has a long way to go before replacing illustrator? Well, they are two different products designed for two different markets. It all boils ddown to using the right tool for the job.

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Answer 4

Tulse Author

Level 5

5,812 points

Apr 25, 2006 3:31 PM in response to Gerry Straathof

I would beg to differn on that statement, you can
change it's fill, the teture inside if you want, and
the stroke.

Sure, all that can be changed, but the shape can't be "edited" in the sense used by Keynote (as in the menu item "Make editable"). More specifically, its shape can't be changed.

It would be better, perhaps, if one had the option of
splitting a 'compound' shape and joining two
simple shapes others so they would become compound
shapes, complete with cutouts.

That would truly be awesome. I would love something like Illustrator's Pathfinder feature.

As to whether or not Keynote has a long way to go
before replacing illustrator? Well, they are two
different products designed for two different
markets.

I should have put a smiley after my original comment, as it was meant as a joke. (That said, I think it is interesting to see such features as Bezier curves and image adjustment make it into Keynote and Pages. It makes me wonder if Apple might not have the foundation of illustration and photo editing applications lurking there, as insurance against a possible Adobe defection.)

PowerMac G5 Mac OS X (10.4.4)

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