How to use the divide pathfinder tool in illustrator

Unite The Unite pathfinder tool will combine all selected objects into one solid shape, creating 1 outlining path. This tool is also useful for uniteing overlapping text into 1 solid shape, particularly script fonts. For this demonstration, we are using the font Sunkissed from Design Bundles. Minus Front When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Minus Front tool will remove the front layered shape from the shape layer below where it overlaps, creating 1 single outline path.

Create and select your 2 overlapping shapes. Select the Minus Front tool. Intersect When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Intersect tool will create a new shape from the overlapping section of the 2 shapes. Select the Intersect tool. Exclude When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Exclude tool will remove the overlapping section of the 2 shapes to form 1 shape.

Select the Exclude tool. Divide When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Divide tool will create a new shape from the overlapping section of the 2 shapes, to give you 3 shapes. Select the Exclude tool, then ungroup the shapes. They can then be separated individually. You can make use of the Pathfinder Panel or the Effects menu to get access to all the effects. The effects available from the Effect Menu can only be applied to layers, text objects or groups. Once you apply an effect, you will still be able to select your original objects and edit them.

You can also make use of the Appearance panel to remove or modify any effect you want. If you apply effects from the Pathfinder panel, they can be applied to layers, groups or a combination of objects. You can make use of the panel to edit the final shape and create a complex combination of shapes if you want. The objects are automatically grouped when you apply effects from the panel. You can combine objects to create compound shapes.

These shapes are fully editable and can be created using two or more objects. The Pathfinder tool makes it easy to create complex shapes because you can manipulate the shape, location, appearance and stacking order of all included shape paths. Simply create multiple shapes and use the Add, Exclude and Intersect options from the Pathfinder tool to create a compound shape.

Combining objects lets you work on the whole compound shape instead of working on all individual shapes used to create your final compound shape. If you want to target a specific component, you can still do so from the Layers menu. Here are a few examples of compound shapes. Learn about the different methods for cutting, dividing, and trimming objects in Illustrator.

Commands for cutting and dividing objects. Divide Objects Below. Select the object to use as a cutter, and position it so that it overlaps the objects to cut.

Split Into Grid. Select the object. Enter the number of rows and columns you want. Optional Do any of the following:. To add guides along the row and column edges, select Add Guides. Click OK. Optional Select the path to see its current anchor points. Tools for cutting and dividing objects. Knife tool. Do one of the following: To cut in a curved path, drag the pointer over the object.

To cut in a straight path, hold down Alt Windows or Option macOS as you click the artboard with the Knife tool, and then drag. The cuts created using the Knife tool appear as strokes on the object. Illustrator selects the object by default while cutting. Trim objects using clipping masks. Move the clipping path above the objects you want to mask in the stacking order.

Select the clipping path and the objects you want to mask. Trim objects using Pathfinder effects.