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Combine objects

Learn how to combine objects in Illustrator.

You can combine vector objects to create shapes in a variety of ways in Illustrator. The resulting paths or shapes differ depending on the method you use to combine the objects.

Methods of combining objects

Pathfinder effects

Pathfinder effects let you combine multiple objects using interaction modes. When you use Pathfinder effects, you can’t edit the interactions between objects. See Combine objects using Pathfinder effects.

Compound shapes

Compound shapes let you combine multiple objects and specify how you want each object to interact with the other objects. Compound shapes are more versatile than compound paths because they provide four kinds of interactions: add, subtract, intersect, and exclude. In addition, the underlying objects aren't changed, so you can select each object within a compound shape to edit it or change its interaction mode. See Combine objects using compound shapes.

Compound paths

Compound paths let you use an object to cut a hole in another object. For example, you can create a doughnut shape from two nested circles. Once you create a compound path, the paths act as grouped objects. You can select and manipulate the objects separately using the Direct Selection tool or Group Selection tool; or you can select and edit the combined path. See Combine objects using compound paths.

Note:

You can also add to an object by using the Blob Brush tool. When you use this brush, paths you paint are added to adjacent paths that use identical fill attributes. See Draw and merge paths with the Blob Brush tool and Building new shapes using the Shape Builder tool.

Combine objects using Pathfinder effects

Navigate the Pathfinder panel

You use the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) to combine objects into new shapes.

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Combine objects in a few simple steps.

Pathfinder panel overview
Pathfinder panel

Use the top row of buttons in the panel to make paths or compound paths. To make compound shapes, use the buttons in those rows while pressing the Alt or Option key. 

Choose from the following shape modes:

Add To Shape Area

Adds the area of the component to the underlying geometry.

Subtract from Shape Area

Cuts out the area of the component from the underlying geometry.

Intersect Shape Areas

Uses the area of the component to clip the underlying geometry as a mask would.

Exclude Overlapping Shape Areas

Uses the area of the component to invert the underlying geometry, turning filled regions into holes and vice versa.

Use the bottom row of buttons in the panel, called Pathfinder effects, to create final shape combinations on the first click. (See Apply Pathfinder effects.)

Pathfinder effects
Shape modes

A. All components in Add mode B. Subtract mode applied to squares C. Intersect mode applied to squares D. Exclude mode applied to squares 

Specify Pathfinder options

Set Pathfinder Options from the Pathfinder panel menu or by double-clicking a Pathfinder effect in the Appearance panel.

Precision

Affects how precisely the Pathfinder effects calculate an object’s path. The more precise the calculation, the more accurate the drawing and the more time is required to generate the resulting path.

Remove Redundant Points

Removes unnecessary points as you click a Pathfinder button.

Divide And Outline Will Remove Unpainted Artwork

Deletes any unfilled objects in the selected artwork as you click the Divide or Outline button.

Apply Pathfinder effects

Pathfinder effects let you create new shapes out of overlapping objects. Apply Pathfinder effects by using the Effects menu or the Pathfinder panel.

  • Pathfinder effects in the Effects menu can only be applied to groups, layers, and text objects. After you apply the effect, you can still select and edit the original objects. You can also use the Appearance panel to modify or remove the effect. See Apply a Pathfinder effect using the Effects menu.

  • Pathfinder effects in the Pathfinder panel can be applied to any combination of objects, groups, and layers. The final shape combination is created when you click a pathfinder button; after that, you can't edit the original objects. If the effect results in multiple objects, they are automatically grouped together. See Apply a Pathfinder effect using the Pathfinder panel.

Apply a Pathfinder effect using the Effects menu

  1. Do one of the following:
    • Group together the objects you want to use, and select the group.

      -or-

    • Move the objects you want to use into a separate layer, and target the layer.

  2. Choose Effect > Pathfinder and choose a Pathfinder effect.
    Note:

    To quickly apply the same Pathfinder effect again, choose Effect > Apply [effect].

Apply a Pathfinder effect using the Pathfinder panel

  1. Select the objects to which you want to apply the effect.

    To apply a Pathfinder effect to a group or layer, target the group or layer.

  2. In the Pathfinder panel, click a pathfinder button (in the bottom row), or Alt‑click (Windows) or Option‑click (macOS) a Shape Mode button (in the top row).

Summary of Pathfinder effects

Divide

Separates a piece of artwork into its component-filled faces (a face is an area undivided by a line segment).

Note:

When you use the Divide button in the Pathfinder panel, you can use the Direct Selection or Group Selection tool to manipulate the resulting faces independently of each other. You can also choose to delete or preserve unfilled objects when applying the Divide command.

Trim

Removes the part of a filled object that is hidden. Removes any strokes and doesn't merge objects of the same color.

Merge

Removes the part of a filled object that is hidden. Removes any strokes and merges any adjoining or overlapping objects filled with the same color.

Crop

Divides artwork into its component-filled faces, and then deletes all the parts of the artwork that fall outside the boundary of the topmost object. It also removes any strokes.

Outline

Divides an object into its component line segments, or edges. This command is useful for preparing artwork that needs a trap for overprinting objects. See Create a trap.

Note:

When you use the Outline button in the Pathfinder panel, you can use the Direct Selection or Group Selection tool to manipulate each edge independently. You can also choose to delete or preserve unfilled objects when applying the Outline command.

Minus Back

Subtracts the objects in back from the frontmost object. You can use this command to delete areas of an illustration by adjusting the stacking order.

Combine objects using compound shapes

A compound shape is editable art consisting of two or more objects, each assigned a shape mode. Compound shapes make it easy to create complex shapes because you can precisely manipulate the shape mode, stacking order, shape, location, and appearance of each path included.

Compound shapes act as grouped objects and appear as <Compound Shape> items in the Layers panel. You can use the Layers panel to show, select, and manipulate the contents of a compound shape—for example, to change the stacking order of its components. You can also use the Direct Selection tool or the Group Selection tool to select components of a compound shape.

When you create a compound shape, it takes on the paint and transparency attributes of the topmost component in Add, Intersect, or Exclude mode. Subsequently, you can change the paint, style, or transparency attributes of the compound shape. Illustrator facilitates this process by automatically targeting the whole compound shape when you select any part of it, unless you explicitly target a component in the Layers panel.

Compound shapes
Working with compound shapes

A. Original objects B. Compound shape created C. Individual shape modes applied to each component D. Style applied to entire compound shape 

Create a compound shape

  1. Select all the objects you want to be part of the compound shape.

    You can include paths, compound paths, groups, other compound shapes, blends, text, envelopes, and warps in a compound shape. Any open paths you select are automatically closed.

  2. Do one of the following:
    • In the Pathfinder panel, Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) a Shape Modes button. Each component of the compound shape is assigned the shape mode you select.

      -or-

    • Select Make Compound Shape from the Pathfinder panel menu. Each component of the compound shape is assigned the Add mode by default.

  3. Change the shape mode of any component by selecting it with the Direct Selection tool or Layers panel and clicking a Shape Mode button.

    Note: You never need to change the mode of the backmost component, because that mode isn't relevant to the compound shape.

    Note:

    To sustain maximum performance, create complex compound shapes by nesting other compound shapes (containing up to about 10 components each) instead of using many individual components.

Modify a compound shape

  1. Use the Direct Selection tool or Layers panel to select an individual component of the compound shape.
  2. Look for the highlighted Shape Mode button in the Pathfinder panel to identify which mode is currently applied to a selected component.
    Note:

    If you’ve selected two or more components that use different modes, question marks appear on the Shape Mode buttons.

  3. In the Pathfinder panel, click a different Shape Mode button.

Release and expand a compound shape

Releasing a compound shape separates it back into separate objects. Expanding a compound shape maintains the shape of the compound object, but you can no longer select the individual components.

  1. Select the compound shape using the Selection tool or Layers panel.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Click Expand in the Pathfinder panel.

      -or-

    • Choose Expand Compound Shape from the Pathfinder panel menu.

      The compound shape is converted to a <Path> or <Compound Path> item in the Layers panel, depending on the shape mode it used.

      -or-

    • Choose Release Compound Shape from the Pathfinder panel menu.

Move compound shapes between Illustrator and Photoshop

The shape layers and layer clipping paths (vector masks) in Adobe Photoshop are types of compound shapes. You can import shape layers and layer clipping paths into Illustrator as compound shapes and continue to manipulate them. In addition, you can export compound shapes to Photoshop. Keep the following in mind when using compound shapes with Photoshop:

  • Only compound shapes that reside at the top level of the layer hierarchy are exported to Photoshop as shape layers.

  • A compound shape painted with a stroke using a join other than round, or with a weight in points that is not an integer, is rasterized when exported to the PSD file format.

Combine objects using compound paths

A compound path contains two or more paths that are painted so that holes appear where paths overlap. When you define objects as a compound path, all objects in the compound path take on the paint and style attributes of the backmost object in the stacking order.

Compound paths act as grouped objects and appear as <Compound Path> items in the Layers panel. Use the Direct Selection tool or the Group Selection tool to select part of a compound path. You can manipulate the shape of individual components of a compound path, but you can't change appearance attributes, graphic styles, or effects for individual components, and you can't manipulate components individually in the Layers panel.

Note:

If you want more flexibility when creating compound paths, you can create a compound shape and then expand it.

Cut a hole in an object using a compound path

  1. Select the object to use as a hole, and position it so that it overlaps the object to cut. Repeat for any additional objects you want to use as holes.
  2. Select all the objects you want to include in the compound path.
  3. Choose Object > Compound Path > Make.

Apply fill rules to compound paths

You can specify whether a compound path is a nonzero winding path or an even‑odd path.

Nonzero winding fill rule

Uses mathematical equations to determine if a point is outside or inside a shape. Illustrator uses the nonzero winding rule as the default rule.

Even-odd fill rule

Uses mathematical equations to determine if a point is outside or inside a shape. This rule is the more predictable rule because every other region within an even‑odd compound path is a hole, regardless of path direction. Some apps, such as Adobe Photoshop, use the even‑odd rule by default, so compound paths imported from these apps will use the even‑odd rule.

Self-intersecting paths are paths that intersect themselves. You can choose to make these paths either nonzero winding or even‑odd, depending on how you want them to look.

Compound paths
Self-intersecting path with Use Non‑Zero Winding Fill Rule (left) compared with Use Even‑Odd Fill Rule (right)

When you create a nonzero winding compound path, you can specify whether overlapping paths appear with holes or are filled by clicking a Reverse Path Direction button in the Attributes panel.

Four circular paths
Fill rules

A. Four circular paths B. Circular paths selected, converted into compound path C. Reverse Path Direction applied to innermost path 

Change the fill rule for a compound path

  1. Select the compound path using the Selection tool or Layers panel.
  2. In the Attributes panel, click the Use Non‑Zero Winding Fill Rule button  or the Use Even‑Odd Fill Rule button  .

Change a hole in a compound path to a filled area

  1. Make sure that the compound path uses the nonzero winding fill rule.
  2. Using the Direct Selection tool, select the part of the compound path to reverse. Don't select the entire compound path.

  3. In the Attributes panel, click the Reverse Path Direction Off button  or the Reverse Path Direction On button  .

Return a compound path to its original components

  1. Select the compound path using the Selection tool or Layers panel.
  2. Choose Object > Compound Path > Release.

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