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G
Gurs
Participant
November 9, 2023
Answered

Cutting Out Foreground/Background

  • November 9, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 347 views

I have a layer with a shape that is a path and also a group of horizontal and vertical blue lines.  I would like to create a second set of lines that have the shape cut out of them (so that the portion of each line covered by the shape is deleted, but the rest remains), and a third set of lines that cover the same area as the shape but no other area (so that the portion of each line covered by the shape remains, but the rest is deleted).  I have been playing around with the Pathfinder tools, but they either yield an undesired result or no result at all ("The filter produced no results.  Please select intersecting paths.").  I created a simplified version of the file to illustrate (pun intended) the issue, but of course Adobe wouldn't let me attach it to this post, so the link is below.  Any guidance would be appreciated.  

 

https://assets.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:decc73db-75a7-4990-8d04-31711ba048c2?view=difile

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Monika Gause

    I'm not quite sure I understand what you need, so 3 important things:

    1. Don't use Effect > Pathfinder, but Window > Pathfinder

    2. Your lines need to be converted to shapes for pathfinders to work (Object > Path > Outline stroke

    3. and most probably the rectangle shapes first need to be united so that you can then cubtract the bull from them.

    1 reply

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 9, 2023

    I'm not quite sure I understand what you need, so 3 important things:

    1. Don't use Effect > Pathfinder, but Window > Pathfinder

    2. Your lines need to be converted to shapes for pathfinders to work (Object > Path > Outline stroke

    3. and most probably the rectangle shapes first need to be united so that you can then cubtract the bull from them.

      G
      GursAuthor
      Participant
      November 10, 2023

      Thanks for the guidance Monika.  I was already using Window > Pathfinder, but I hadn't converted/united the lines before trying to work with them.  From there, it was my usual trial-and-error to get the right things subtracted, but I eventually got it.  Thanks for the tips.

      Monika Gause
      Community Expert
      Monika GauseCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 10, 2023

      I'm glad you could accomplish it. Good job!

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