Use Pathfinder Tools in Adobe Illustrator

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Video: Use Pathfinder Tools in Adobe Illustrator

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Hello, you're watching VisiHow. In this video, we are going to learn how to use the pathfinder tool in Adobe illustrator. The pathfinder tool allows you to combine basic shapes in order to make new shapes.

1. 1
   Go to "Window" located on the top bar, then click on "Pathfinder" option

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   This will open the Pathfinder toolbar. You can also press Shift+Ctrl+F9 to open the Pathfinder toolbar.

   

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2. 2
   To begin, create the shapes you want to work with and overlap one with the other

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3. 3
   Use the "Selection Tool" to select both shapes, then click on the "Unite" tool

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   The "Unite" tool is the first tool on the pathfinder toolbar. It will combine the overlapping shapes together to form a new shape.

   

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4. 4
   The "Minus Front" tool, the second tool on the toolbar, will remove the shape in front from the shape in the back

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   The shape that was in back will show a cutout space where the other shape was.

   

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5. 5
   The "Intersect" tool, the third tool on the toolbar, will only show the overlapping portion of the shapes

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6. 6
   The "Exclude Shape" tool, the fourth tool on the toolbar, excludes the overlapping portion of the shapes

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7. 7
   The "Divide" tool will take all the paths and divide them into different shapes

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   To use this tool, ungroup them by going under the "Object" menu on the top bar, or you can press Shift+Ctrl+G.

   

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8. 8
   The "Trim" tool will group the two overlapping shapes together and it will remove the strokes around the shapes

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9. 9
   The "Merge" tool will also group the shapes and remove the strokes around them

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10. 10
    The "Crop" tool will only show the overlapping portion of the shapes, and it will remove the strokes surrounding it

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11. 11
    The "Outline" tool will remove all color and only the outline of the two shapes will remain

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12. 12
    The "Minus Back" tool will subtract the shape in the back off of the shape in the front

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13. 13
    Today you learned how to create not-so-basic shapes using the "Pathfinder" tool in Adobe Illustrator

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    If you have any comments or questions, please leave them in the section below. You've been watching VisiHow. Thank you and have a good day.

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If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.

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