The Pathfinder in Adobe Illustrator is that tool that will help us to create new figures starting from an original one. You may have used it to combine objects and create new shapes. But, we usually click on each of the panel icons, redoing and undoing to achieve the image we want. However, we will show you how to use the Pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator.
It would be a good idea to know precisely this tool, and see how useful it can be in creating some images or shapes. With Adobe Illustrator, you can also make a flat icon from scratch and here we made a review explaining it.
The Pathfinder Tool Panel
The pathfinder tool is used to join shapes or objects, thus creating new shapes, which originate from a main one. So from the original way you can get varieties of objects, depending on what you want to create; joining, excluding or even cutting the main figure. With Adobe Illustrator you can also add strokes that resemble hair and hair, in a section of our blog we explain it in a few steps.
Function of the four shape modes in the Pathfinder tool
These shape modes are useful in more than two ways in the Pathfinder tool, but it is essential to memorize the stacking order when executing this mode.
- Add/Unify: This function mixes all the preset shapes into one; and if these have different colors, the combined forms absorb the properties of the highest or highest.
- Subtract/Minus Front: This tool uses a type of “cookie-cutter” on the upper objects and thus extracts the shapes from the background object.
- Form Intersection: This suppresses everything that is not superimposed and performs the combination of the rest, in a unique way.
- Exclude: This instead of eliminating everything that is superimposed, here what is superimposed is undone and thus the shapes become compound strokes.
Pathfinder functions
Now, in the bottom row of the panel on the left, you will find the icon and name of the pathfinder. These are:
Divide
This tool is perhaps the most used, as it is used to cut the drawing into the desired pieces to separate them where the shapes are covered, but in this, the color of the original objects is not changed.
After making the division, use the Group Selection or Direct Selection tool to move the remaining pieces independently. You can also ungroup the objects and move them using the Selection tool.
Cut, Merge, Trim
Cut: This removes the parts of the shapes that are hidden or on top. This tool does not combine objects with the same colors but removes the strokes of the objects.
Combine: In this tool compared to the previous one, apart from cutting, it has something additional that is to combine hidden objects of the same color. The stacking order of the shapes is not taken into account either. Trim: As a reverse cookie cutter this tool works, using the top shape to cut the others.
Contour and Less Background
Outline: This tool can be compared to dividing, only that the division is independent line segments. In the case of Less Background, this removes any excess on the object behind, on top, or in front.
There are other options in the panel the pathfinder tool; These options allow you to adjust different combinations, these are precision and the divide and contour command:
Precision
Keep an eye on the precision of Illustrator as the strokes are drawn. A small amount sticks more to the original objects, for a larger one but not as much. Remove redundant points: It is used to undo the points that are one on top of the other.
Split and Stroke Commands Removing Inkless Artwork
Here you will correct unwanted filled shapes and no stroke. And now that you know a little more about the pathfinder tool in Adobe Illustrator | Creation of a simple icon, surely your designs will be of impact and with amazing results; and the most valuable, you will save time.
A useful tracing tool is one that converts text to a path; for them, we made a special section and explain it clearly. If you liked the information you can share it and of course, leave us your comment.