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In this tutorial, we’re going to learn how to cut shapes out in Illustrator. We’ll be using the Pathfinder tool and a variety of other techniques to achieve the final result.
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Introduction
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use the cookie cutter tool to cut out shapes in Illustrator. This is a great way to create custom shapes for your designs, and it’s really easy to do!
The Basic Shape Tools
In Adobe Illustrator, you use the Shape tools to create precisely the shapes you want. These tools create simple geometric shapes, and they’re especially useful for drawing shapes that are distribute evenly, like flowers or houses on a street. With the Shape tools, you can draw rectangles, ellipses, polygons (or stars), and lines.
To access the Shape tools, do one of the following:
-Click and hold down the Rectangle tool in the Tools panel.
-Click and hold down the Ellipse tool in the Tools panel.
-Click and hold down the Polygon tool in the Tools panel.
-Click and hold down the Line Segment tool in the Tools panel.
-Choose Window > Shape.”
The Rectangle Tool draws rectangles and squares; when you first click with this tool, you’re prompted to specify two corner points. To make a perfect square or circle with this tool, press Shift as you drag diagonally with the mouse.”
“The Ellipse Tool draws ovals and circles; when you first click with this tool, you’re prompted to specify two points that determine opposite corners of an imaginary bounding box within which your ellipse will appear.”
“The Polygon Tool draws any kind of regular polygon — that is, a polygon whose sides are all equal in length and whose angles between sides are all equal.”
To make a polygon with this tool, click once to specify the number of sides (3 through 100), then click again to specify where you want the center of your polygon to be. (You can also click once on an existing object to use it as a reference point.)”
“The Star Tool draws stars and polygons; when you first click with this tool, you’re prompted to specify two points that determine opposite corners of an imaginary bounding box within which your star will appear.”
To make a symmetrical star — one in which all points are equidistant from its center — press Shift as you drag diagonally with this tool.”
“The Line Segment Tool simply draws straight lines; when you first click with this tool, you’re prompted to specify two points that determine where your line will begin and end.”
The Pathfinder Tool
The Pathfinder tool is one of the most commonly used tools in Adobe Illustrator. With it, you can easily create complex shapes and designs by combining and manipulating basic geometric shapes. In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use the Pathfinder tool to create a variety of different shapes.
To get started, open up Adobe Illustrator and create a new document. Then, using the Rectangle Tool (M), draw a rectangle on your canvas. Next, use the Ellipse Tool (L) to draw an ellipse on top of the rectangle. With both shapes selected, click on the “Unite” icon in the Pathfinder palette.
This will combine the two shapes into one single shape. You can also use the ” Divide,” “Trim,” “Exclude,” and “Merge” options in the Pathfinder palette to create different effects. For example, if you select “Divide,” the two shapes will be divided into separate parts. Experiment with all of the different options to see what kinds of results you can achieve.
Once you’re happy with your shape, you can add color to it by going to “Edit > Fill.” You can also add a stroke around your shape by going to “Edit > Stroke.” experiment with different colors and strokes until you find something that looks good. Then, save your file and you’re done!
The Pen Tool
The Pen tool is one of the most versatile tools in Adobe Illustrator. With it, you can create any shape you can imagine. The Pen tool is also one of the most difficult tools to master. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use the Pen tool to create a variety of shapes. We’ll also give you some tips on how to get the most out of this powerful tool.
So let’s get started!
Using Shape Layers
To create a custom shape, you first need to create a new shape layer. To do this, click on the “Create New Layer” icon at the bottom of the Layers panel. Alternatively, you can go to Layer > New > Shape Layer.
Once you have created a new layer, use the Pen tool (P) to draw your custom shape. If you want to fill your shape with color, make sure that the “Fill” option is selected in the Tools panel. You can also add a stroke around your shape by selecting the “Stroke” option.
Once you have created your custom shape, you can use the Selection tool (V) to move it around or resize it. You can also change the color of your shape by clicking on the “Color” swatch in the Tools panel.
Clipping Masks
A clipping mask is an object whose shape masks other artwork so that only areas that lie within the shape are visible.
There are two types of clipping masks, clipping paths and compound shapes. A clipping path is an object that uses a vector or raster outline to mask objects below it. A compound shape is a combination of two or more objects that interact as a single object.
To create a clipping mask, select the object or group of objects you want to use as the mask and then choose Object > Clipping Mask > Make (or use the Ctrl+7 [Windows] or Cmd+7 [Mac OS] keyboard shortcut).
You can also release a clipping mask by choosing Object > Clipping Mask > Release (or use the Ctrl+8 [Windows] or Cmd+8 [Mac OS] keyboard shortcut).
Live Paint
In Adobe Illustrator, the Live Paint feature allows you to easily color in areas of your artwork. A live paint group is made up of uncolored or unfilled objects that interact with one another as though they were one single object. You can add color to a live paint group by using the Live Paint Bucket, which fills an area with the currently selected fill color. The Live Paint Selection tool allows you to select and move the faces of a live paint group independently from one another.
To use Live Paint, first create your artwork. Then, select the objects that you want to include in your live paint group by holding down the Shift key and clicking on each object. Once all of your objects are selected, go to the Object menu and choose Live Paint > Make.
Your selected objects will now be grouped together as a live paint group. You can add color to your live paint group by using the Live Paint Bucket tool. To use this tool, simply click on the area that you want to fill with color. The currently selected fill color will be applied to that area.
You can also use the Live Paint Selection tool to select and move individual faces within your live paint group. To use this tool, simply click on the face that you want to move. Then, use the arrow keys on your keyboard to nudge it into place.
Using Blends
If you want to cut out complex shapes in Illustrator, one of the best ways to do it is by using blends. Blends allow you to create smooth transitions between two shapes, making it easy to create intricate designs. Here’s how to use blends in Illustrator:
1. Select the two shapes that you want to blend together.
2. go to Object > Blend > Make.
3. Adjust the settings in the Blend Options dialog box to control the appearance of the blend.
4. Click OK.
Gradient Meshes
A gradient mesh is a vector object composed of a grid of interconnected vertices, allowing you to control the color and shading of your artwork with great precision. Gradient meshes can be used to create realistic illustrations, three-dimensional (3D) effects, isometric graphics, and more.
In this tutorial, we’ll show you how to use gradient meshes to create a 3D cube. You’ll learn how to add and manipulate vertices, how to color your mesh, and how to add a drop shadow for extra depth. Let’s get started!
Advanced Shape Cutting Techniques
If you’re looking to take your Illustrator skills to the next level, then you need to learn how to cut shapes out. This advanced technique can help you create complex illustrations with ease.
There are a few different ways to cut shapes out in Illustrator. The most common method is to use the Pen tool to draw a path around the shape you want to keep. Then, you can use the Pathfinder tool to delete the unwanted area.
Another method is to use the Shape Builder tool. This tool lets you select multiple shapes and then delete the areas that you don’t want. It’s a quick and easy way to create complex illustrations.
Finally, you can also use the Eraser tool to erase parts of a shape. This is a great way to create more organic shapes. Simply draw a path around the area you want to keep and then erase the unwanted parts.
