When an odd number of objects overlap, the overlap becomes filled. Intersect &mdash Only the areas in which all the objects overlap will remain.Įxclude &mdash When an even number of objects overlap, the overlap is cut out. Subtract &mdash The front-most objects will be cut out from the back-most object. Refer to the image below and observe these behaviors:Īdd &mdash The resulting shape will take on the color attributes of the top-most object. It is important to remember the stacking order when using the Shape Modes.

Of course you can use the Shape Modes with more than two objects. The resulting shapes become a compound path. Instead of getting rid of everything that isn't overlapping, it gets rid of everything that does overlap. Intersect &mdash Deletes everything that does not overlap, and combines the rest into a single shape.Įxclude &mdash The opposite of Intersect. Subtract/Minus Front &mdash Uses the top object(s) as a sort of 'cookie cutter' to subtract their shapes from the bottom object. If the objects are different colors, the merged shape takes on the attributes of the top-most object. Refer to the diagram below to see how the four Shape Modes work:Īdd/Unite &mdash Combines all the selected objects and merges them into a singe shape.

'Unite' is the same as 'Add,' and 'Minus Front' is the same as 'Subtract.' Just so you know. Note: If you have your Tool Tips turned on (Preferences> Show Tool Tips), you'll notice that a couple of the buttons are called one thing in the tip, but another in the Edit menu when you undo. The top four icons are called 'Shape Modes,' and the bottom five are &mdash there's that word again &mdash 'Pathfinders.' Let's start at the top row, from left to right: The panel itself is divided into two rows. It may create new ones from existing shapes, but the name can be misleading to the beginner. First of all, the Pathfinder doesn't actually find paths.

Adobe illustrator pathfinder tool