# Area clearing letters **URL:** \ **Category:** X-Carve\ **Created:** [March 22, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608 "2017-03-22T20:19:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SeanMcconnell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@SeanMcconnell](https://community.inventables.com/u/SeanMcconnell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/1 "2017-03-22T20:19:13Z")
Hi guys, I need some help! Im trying to area clear some letters with someones name on it. I highlight each letter and “fill” and works a dream but iff i highlight say an ‘e’ or an ‘a’ it "fills the inside of the letter completely! i thought if i grouped the inside of the ‘e’ and outside and “filled” it it would know i dont want to fill the inside of the ‘e’. Am i missing something in the Easel to do this? regards Sean ---
**Author:** ![SeanMcconnell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@SeanMcconnell](https://community.inventables.com/u/SeanMcconnell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/3 "2017-03-22T20:28:25Z")
Ah yes! i selected the middle of the “a” and set to zero the filled the outside and looks like it will do what i want it to! Thanks very much Phil, yes i do all my drawings in artcam then import to easel for cutting. ---
**Author:** ![JDM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jdm/32/84169_2.png) [@JDM](https://community.inventables.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/4 "2017-03-22T20:37:02Z")
Also, if you set the insides to zero and then combine from the edit menu, it will join them as one shape ready to cut. Alternately, you can set up your letters as a compound shape outside of Easel. In Illustrator you can “minus front” and combine multiple shapes. I’m not exactly sure of the tool command for Inkscape. ---
**Author:** ![SeanMcconnell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@SeanMcconnell](https://community.inventables.com/u/SeanMcconnell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 8:49pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/5 "2017-03-22T20:49:01Z")
Hang on iv lost it now. If i highlight the middle of the ‘a’ and set fill to zero or outside to zero? then highlight the outside of the ‘a’ and fill to say 2mm? or highlight both and fill? iv tried both but its not working? ---
**Author:** ![SeanMcconnell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@SeanMcconnell](https://community.inventables.com/u/SeanMcconnell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/7 "2017-03-22T21:47:25Z")
![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/4/1/4175d870fc033ecd8ed72397aa603230c098b905.png) Im sorry Phil im lost! everything i do it just stays filled like this? regards Sean ---
**Author:** ![SeanMcconnell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@SeanMcconnell](https://community.inventables.com/u/SeanMcconnell)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/9 "2017-03-22T21:59:42Z")
Brilliant! thanks Phil, lifesaver! ---
**Author:** ![JDM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jdm/32/84169_2.png) [@JDM](https://community.inventables.com/u/JDM)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/10 "2017-03-22T23:59:02Z")
I put up a few vids on basic Easel operations that you might find helpful. Take a look at the “Booleans” vid. > [@Easel 101 Video](https://community.inventables.com/t/easel-101-video/34085): > > I’ve started on a series of Easel videos that begin with the absolute basics. I’ll slowly add to them over time and update here. I’ll even try to answer specific questions in video format as time allows. There is no polish or production on these, just the bare bones. ---
**Author:** ![SeanMcconnell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@SeanMcconnell](https://community.inventables.com/u/SeanMcconnell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/area-clearing-letters/35608/11 "2017-03-23T20:48:11Z")
Very helpful video, thanks Jason.