Page 57 - CS6_AI_Look_Inside.pdf
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The Pathfinder Panel in Depth
In the Pathfinder panel, the top row of buttons — the Shape Modes — create complex shapes by combining the originally
ILLUSTRATOR FOUNDATIONS
selected shapes. (You can press Option/Alt and click a Shape Mode to maintain the paths from the original objects.)
Original objects
Unite combines all selected objects
If you Option/Alt-click a shape mode
into a single shape. By default, the Shape
options result in a single new object. button, the result maintains the original
paths unless you manually expand it.
Minus Front removes overlapping areas Intersect creates a shape of only areas Exclude removes any areas
from the backmost shape in the selection. where all selected objects overlap. where two objects overlap.
The second row of options — the Pathfinders — do exactly that. The resulting shapes are some combination of the paths
that made up the originally selected objects.
Divide creates separate shapes from all Trim removes underlying areas Merge removes underlying areas
overlapping areas of selected objects. of overlapping objects. Objects of the of overlapping objects. Objects of
same fill color are not combined. the same fill color are combined.
Crop returns the areas of underlying Outline divides the selected objects, then Minus Back removes the area of
objects that are within the boundary of the returns unfilled, open paths. underlying objects from the front object.
topmost object.
Project 1: International Symbols 65
