Combining Shapes with the Pathfinder

Topics covered in this Illustrator tutorial:

Merging paths (Pathfinder), Transparency options, Grouping objects

Exercise Preview

Exercise Overview

The Pathfinder is an excellent way to create shapes and special effects. Instead of drawing the woman by hand, you will cut, overlap, and merge various shapes to create the finished illustration shown above.

1. From the Illustrator Class folder, open the file geisha.ai.

2. Make sure the Pathfinder panel is open (go to Window > Pathfinder if it’s not open).

Creating/Assembling the Illustration

You will see an assortment of shapes. Many of these shapes have been created by modifying ellipses using the Direct Selection and Anchor Point tools. You’ll use the Pathfinder panel to combine them to create more complex shapes that would have been harder to make if you had to draw the final shapes yourself.

1. First we’ll create the hairline. With the Selection tool , drag the Slice Line over the Large Oval. Refer to the example for correct placement.
2. Make sure some of the slice line hangs slightly off the edge of the hair at the bottom.
3. With the line still selected, go to Object > Path > Divide Objects Below. This will cut the object into two pieces using the slice line as a guide.
4. We don’t need the smaller piece we’ve created. Go to Select > Deselect.
5. Select and delete that slice by-product so you are left with just the shape of the hair.
6. Move the hairpiece over the face shape and contemplate a new career in digital hairdressing. Be a good hairdresser and make sure there are no little white spaces showing through.
7. Shift–click on the face so that both the hair and the face are selected.
8. In the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder), under Pathfinders, click the Trim button . This makes the face into a shape that doesn’t include the part obscured by the hair.
9. The face and the hair are now grouped but we don’t need them to stay grouped. Choose Object > Ungroup.
10. Select the piece labeled Hair Bun and drag it so it partially protrudes from the top right of the hair.
11. Hold Shift and click on the hair to add it to your selection (you should have both black objects selected).

12. In the Pathfinder panel, under Shape Modes, Opt–click (Mac) or Alt–click (Windows) the Unite button to add the two shapes together. It may not look like anything has happened, but give us a second to prove it.

13. With the hair still selected, give it:
    • A 3 pt stroke with a color of 15c, 35m, 100y.
    • A fill color of 35c, 85m, 85y, 75k.

    NOTE: If you don’t see CMYK values, go to the panel menu and select CMYK.

14. Deselect it so you can see how Illustrator now sees the hair as one shape!
15. You can still move the bun separately. Choose the Group Selection tool .

16. Make sure only the bun circle is selected. Then move it around and see how the whole thing still looks as though it’s one shape.

    The Pathfinder Panel

    By default, the Shape Modes will automatically merge multiple paths into a single path. To make a compound path (in which all the paths are maintained as distinct and editable objects), you must Opt–click (Mac) or Alt–click (Windows) one of the Shape Mode buttons in the Pathfinder panel.

17. This looks good so far, but our lady is earless. Using the Selection tool , drag the piece labeled Ear into a position appropriate for an ear. Refer to the example if you have to.
18. Shift–click on the face and in the Pathfinder panel, under Shape Modes, click the Unite button .
19. Drag the Eyebrows and Lips onto the face and position them properly.
20. Drag the Fan over so it is partially obscuring her lips.
21. Deselect the fan.
22. With the Group Selection tool , click on the orange part of the fan.
23. In the Properties panel or the Control panel at the top of the screen, set the Opacity to 70%.

24. Select the entire Geisha and do an Object > Group.

    This part of the drawing is complete!

25. Select File > Save As and name it yourname-geisha.ai.

    NOTE: If you get an alert about spot colors and transparency, click Continue.

Moving the Illustration onto a Cover

1. Select the Geisha and copy her (Cmd–C (Mac) or Ctrl–C (Windows)).

2. Open the MenuCover.ai file.

3. Switch to the Layers panel by clicking its name in the tabs at the top right.

4. In the Layers panel menu make sure Paste Remembers Layers is NOT checked. If it is checked, choose it to turn it off.

5. Paste the illustration (Cmd–V (Mac) or Ctrl–V (Windows)).

6. Position it into the red area.

7. Scale the Geisha 90% (double–click the Scale tool and enter the amount next to Uniform).

8. You’re done! Save the file as yourname-MenuCover.ai.

9. In the dialog that appears, leave the default options checked and click OK.

   In the future, keep in mind that sometimes you can build an illustration more effectively than drawing it from scratch!