creating stroke outline

Forum|Forum|22 days ago
July 2, 2026
5 replies
77 views

Hello, I am trying to create multiple stroked paths and then outline them. Upon outline stroke, I get paths where the paths overlap… (please see attached images)… I find it hard to select and delete these parts of the path… I am trying to create an outline of the entirety of the paths without the overlapping paths...just one outline… help???

Correct answer RvdT

Window > Pathfinder > Unite

I

ipanema451Author

Known Participant

thank you...

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

ipanema,

Mentioned in his absence, I am sure that Ton suggested the Unite after outlining rather than instead of outlining.

To use it for laser cutting the outer shape, you need to outline and unite because otherwise the cuts will just be along the spine of the paths.

You can switch from fill to stroke if needed for the laser software.

Tina_Irvine

Community Expert

Hi @ipanema451, while it will no longer be strokes, to get the look that it seems like you’re trying to achieve, try selecting your strokes and choose Object > Expand. From there, you’ll be able to use your pathfinder if you want to knockout the white and/or join the black.

I

ipanema451Author

Known Participant

thanks, I believe I need to have strokes as in the end I am using this for laser cutting...

Tina_Irvine

Community Expert

@ipanema451,

Strokes need to have an one end point and one beginning point. To make it continuous, you’d need to trace and back-trace over the same paths, so that it’s one line only. Unfortunately, the pathfinder tools won’t work that way.

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

Are you selecting all of the paths at once and then applying the outline path function? If so try selecting each path individually and see if the same thing happens.