Vector overlap problem

[djwaterman]

Hi, I'm setting up what should be a simple character but it is my first so I'm having problems. The characters body is all one vector shape and when I bend a limb so that it overlaps the torso, I get an empty area at the intersecting area, as if it is masked.





There is masking happening in that group, but it is not the cause of the problem from what I can tell.

Is this the wrong way to set up this type of character, should I make it as separate limbs in their own layers?

[slowtiger]

should I make it as separate limbs in their own layers?

Yes.

There are several tricks to let it appear as being one shape, but usually we build characters with several shapes on several layers so body parts can go behind each other.

[djwaterman]

Okay thanks for setting me straight. The design is from the client so that's why it is all one shape like that, but I should be able to keep the look even if I have to break it up.

[heyvern]

You could create a character like that entirely from strokes. Round end caps for arms and legs, with a mask and follow path set to 0 for the ends of the limbs. I slapped a test together in about 20 minutes that works pretty well. With stroke shapes there is no shape overlap problem.

[heyvern]

Never mind,

I did get the stroke trick to work, just could not get the black outline of the body to work. Just no way to pull that off easily. Better off sticking with the drawn shapes.