When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Merge tool will join 2 shapes of the same hue and will trim from shapes of other hues.ġ.Create and select your 3 overlapping shapes.Ģ. When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Trim tool will remove the top shape from the overlapping section of the below shape.ġ.Create and select your 2 overlapping shapes.Ģ.Select the Trim tool, then ungroup the shapes. Select the Exclude tool, then ungroup the shapes. 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.Ģ. When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Exclude tool will remove the overlapping section of the 2 shapes to form 1 shape. When selecting 2 overlapping shapes, the Intersect tool will create a new shape from the overlapping section of the 2 shapes. Create and select your 2 overlapping shapes. 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.ġ. Select all the individual shapes/letters and select the Unite tool to create 1 single outlined shape. Outline your text to create individual letters/shapes.Ģ. For this demonstration, we are using the font Sunkissed from Design Bundles.ġ.

This tool is also useful for uniting overlapping text into 1 solid shape, particularly script fonts. The Unite pathfinder tool will combine all selected objects into one solid shape, creating 1 outlining path. We will show you what each of these can help you to achieve.

Your Pathfinder Panel will present you with 10 different icons/actions.

Start by opening your Pathfinder Panel by clicking Window > Pathfinder.

In this tutorial we will cover all of the Pathfinder tools: 1. Shape Modes will create new shapes with the selected/overlapping shapes, whereas pathfinders will break/change existing paths. Within the Pathfinder Panel, you have 4 Shape Modes and 6 Pathfinders. The pathfinder tools are really useful to design unique and custom shapes.

Pathfinder not working illustrator