Is it possible to "invert" an SVG file? Not the colours, but the actual areas/paths?

Question

I have an SVG file, and I want to create the opposite of it. It's a monochrome icon, and I want a version where the logo is transparent and the rest of the rectangle is filled paths.In theory it feels like it should be a common problem, and something like Inkscape should have an "Invert Paths" (or similar) function, but in practice I couldn't find any relevant help in Inkscape or Google?Thanks!

Answer 1

Yes! If you are using Adobe Illustrator, I would approach this by putting the vector in front of a square that spans its dimensions. The square should be the color that you want to invert it to. Then, using the pathfinder tool from the window tab, click "minus front." Hopefully this helps. I would also recommend looking into the "Object > Path > Outline Stroke" function if this doesn't work or doesn't fit your problem specifically.