This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Andrei Marius
In this Pathfinder tool Illustrator tutorial, you'll learn how to use and take full advantage of all the Pathfinder panel commands.
If you prefer using video tutorials to follow along, then you can't miss this new video from the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel. Quickly learn how to use the Pathfinder in Illustrator by watching this:
What You'll Learn in This Pathfinder Tool Tutorial
- How to open the Illustrator Pathfinder panel
- How to use the Illustrator Pathfinder panel
- How to use Compound Shapes
How to Open the Pathfinder Panel In Illustrator
To open the Pathfinder panel, you can either go to Window > Pathfinder or use the Shift-Control-F9 keyboard shortcut. The Pathfinder panel has two sets of commands: Shape Modes and Pathfinders.
Shape Modes
Unite
One of the first commands of the Pathfinder in Illustrator is Unite. The Unite command unites your selected shapes. The resulting shape keeps the color attributes of the shape that is in front.
Minus Front
The Minus Front command allows you to crop the shape in the back using the shape in the front. It removes the top shape along with the overlapping area, while the bottom shape keeps its color attributes.
Intersect
The Intersect command creates a new shape out of the area where your selected shapes are overlapping. The resulting shape keeps the color attributes of the shape that is in front.
Exclude
The Exclude command creates a new shape out of the area where your selected shapes do not overlap. The resulting shape keeps the color attributes of the shape that is in front.
Pathfinders
Divide
Now we'll talk about Adobe Illustrator Pathfinders. The Divide option creates a new shape for each shape section. It creates separate shapes for both overlapping and non-overlapping areas.
Trim
The Trim command allows you to crop the shape in the back using the shape in the front. Unlike the Minus Front command, using this commands the front shape continues to be part of your design.
Merge
The Merge command unites shapes that share the same color attributes and crops the ones that don't.
The Merge command can also be used to remove strokes from selected shapes.
Crop
The Crop command creates a new shape out of the area where your selected shapes are overlapping, remove the rest of the back shape and keeps an invisible outline with the remaining section of the front shape.
Outline
The Outline command turns your selected shapes into outlines, i.e. all the separate paths that make up your selected shapes.
Minus Back
The Minus Back command does the opposite of the Minus Front command as it crops the shape in the front using the shape in the back. It removes the back shape along with the overlapping area, while the top shape keeps its color attributes.
Compound Shapes
Finally, you might be wondering what's with that Expand button in the Adobe Illustrator Pathfinder panel. Hold down Alt as you click on any of those Pathfinder commands, and you'll get a compound shape.
When you use compound shapes, the result of your Pathfinder command remains editable. You can select the components of these compound shapes and adjust the size, position, or appearance.
Press the Expand button whenever you wish to remove the compound shape and get that final shape.
Congratulations! You're Done!
Now that you've learned to use the Pathfinder in Illustrator, feel free to use these techniques in your future projects.
You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to improve your design portfolio.
Want to Learn More?
We have loads of tutorials on Envato Tuts+, from beginner to intermediate level. Take a look!
Illustrator's Type Tool: A Comprehensive Introduction
How to Merge Layers in Illustrator
How to Make a Semicircle in Illustrator
How to Draw a Line in Illustrator
How to Use the Live Paint Bucket in Illustrator
How to Move an Anchor Point in Illustrator
How to Zoom In and Zoom Out in Illustrator
How to Group and Ungroup Objects in Illustrator
How to Move a Guide in Illustrator
How to Scale in Illustrator
This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Andrei Marius
Andrei Marius | Sciencx (2015-12-23T12:42:51+00:00) How to Use the Pathfinder Tool in Illustrator. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2015/12/23/how-to-use-the-pathfinder-tool-in-illustrator/
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