How to: Combining shapes but get rid of dozen editable paths?

[Pixel8r]

Hi All.

I've created a logo in Photoshop by using 14 shapes. My goal is to combine these shape to one perfect master shape that I can fill and export to Illustator for vectorizing to pdf. My problem is when I combine these paths it creates one shape but all overlapping paths are included. What I like to see is only outline and cutout/subtract paths (no overlapping paths). Is this possible?

 

[IamSam]

Yes. Highlight all shape layers, duplicate, merge. If you see overlapping paths on merged layer hit Command + H.

 

[Pixel8r]

Yes. Highlight all shape layers, duplicate, merge. If you see overlapping paths on merged layer hit Command + H.

Command + H > Hide Photoshop - What???

 

[IamSam]

Seriously? Surly you jest.

 

[Pixel8r]

Well, I figured this out by myself.

1) select all shape layers and merge (in layers)
2) choose path selection tool (black arrow icon)
3) select all overlapping layers: click every shape individually edge of the path cmd + shift (select all one by one)
4) select path operations from top (two boxes together icon) > merge shape operations
5) you're done - you have perfectly combined shape with no overlapping or what so ever

 

[IamSam]

Works both ways, depends on how many steps you want to add in there!

 

[Pixel8r]

Works both ways, depends on how many steps you want to add in there!

That's true. What ever works, man...

Actually I finished my work in Illustrator by using pathfinder tool. But it's nice to know how to do this in Photoshop where I usually do all my prework if the end product is vector based.