- Introduction
- Understanding Vector and Raster Graphics
- Understanding Paths
- Selecting a Drawing Mode
- Creating Pixel Aligned Objects
- Creating Rectangles and Ellipses
- Creating Polygons and Stars
- Creating Line Segments
- Creating Arcs and Spirals
- Creating Grids
- Using the Shape Builder Tool
- Creating Perspective Objects
- Working with Perspective Objects
- Customizing a Perspective Grid
- Understanding Selections
- Using the Selection Tool
- Using the Direct Selection Tool
- Using the Lasso Tool
- Using the Magic Wand Tool
- Selecting and Grouping Objects
- Selecting Similar Objects
- Saving and Editing Selections
- Moving Objects
- Duplicating Objects
- Aligning and Distributing Objects
- Transforming Objects
- Using the Free Transform Tool
- Rotating and Scaling Objects
- Reflecting and Shearing Objects
- Applying Multiple Transformations
- Reshaping Objects with Envelopes
- Using the Transform Panel
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Using the Shape Builder Tool
The Shape Builder tool allows you to create complex objects by merging and erasing simpler objects. The Shape Builder tool selects edges and regions of an object, which can be merged or erased to form a new object. An edge is any section of a path that doesn’t intersect the path of other selected objects and a region is a closed area. You can also break overlapping objects to create new ones. The style attributes of an object are adopted after the merge. By default, the Shape Builder tool is in merge mode; however, you can switch to erase mode by using the Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) key. Before you start using the Shape Builder tool, you can set up and customize options, such as coloring source, highlighting, and gap detection, to suit your own preferences.
Create an Object with the Shape Builder Tool
Click the Selection tool on the Tools panel, and then select only the paths you want to merge to create a shape.
Click the Shape Builder tool on the Tools panel. By default, merge mode is selected.
To break or extract a region from the shape, click the selected region.
To merge paths, drag along the region.The two regions get merged to form a new shape. The attributes from the region are applied to the merging shapes.
To erase paths, press Alt (Win) or Option (Mac) and click the closed region or edge you want to delete.
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Set Shape Builder Tool Options
- Double-click the Shape Builder tool on the Tools panel.
- To detect and show the gap between objects, select the Gap Detection check box, and then select a Gap Length, either Small (3 points), Medium (6 points), or Large (12 points), or select the Custom check box and specify a point size length.
- Specify the Options and Highlight settings you want:
- Consider Open Filled Path as Closed. Select to create an invisible edge for an open path to make a region.
- In Merge Mode, Clicking Stroke Splits the Path. Select to split the parent path into two; the first edge you click specifies the split location.
- Pick Color From. Select Color Swatches or Artwork as the source for coloring objects. If you select Color Swatches, select the Cursor Swatch Preview check box to preview and select colors.
- Fill. Select to highlight the merged area in gray or mouse over the selected path.
- Highlight Stroke When Editable. Select to highlight strokes you can edit in the color you select.
- Click OK.
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