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Shape builder tool not working

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How come my shape builder tool is not working?

Participant

Hey! I know this is like a very old thread but I was having a similar problem and no answer here helped me. However, for me, the reason why the shape builder tool wasn't working was that I had a mask active on my shapes (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TURNED OFF, I HADN'T 'RELEASED' OR DELETED THE MASK). Releasing the masks (after deleting everything from the mask layer) solved the problem and I was able to use the shape builder tool as usual. So this is one of the things you might wanna check

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alexa_2816

Participant

Hello! I am also having trouble using the shape builder tool. I'm trying to make a rocket out of overlapping circles. The frist time I tried it it worked twice but not on all the elements I needed. Now I can't get it to work at all. I am creating my shapes, selected them, clicking on the SB tool and dragging through what I want deleted. Nothing happens and the shapes look the same. Help!

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Monika Gause

Community Expert

In order to delete, hold down Alt while dragging.

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Alessandra35939602nu98

Participant

Hello! I am also having the same issue! my shapebuilder is not working, please help!

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Monika Gause

Community Expert

@Alessandra35939602nu98 schrieb:

Hello! I am also having the same issue! my shapebuilder is not working, please help!

Please show a screenshot of your selected artwork and the layers panel and tell us exactly what is not working.

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georginag13263113

Inspiring

Hi, I know this is an old thread, but I've just had this problem and I managed to find a solution.

What I did was reset my workspace to default (Window- Workspace- Reset layout) and the shape builder tool was working again. Hope this helps someone!

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Wisdom5E99

Participant

Same thing here, my shape builder tool always gives me a different shape from my actual shape drawn, a more curvy look and not a straight outline and also my lines get large whenever I create a new page

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Monika Gause

Community Expert

Please show screenshots.

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Eclarexe Gulane

Participant

I just encounter this problem when working on circles and lines so even though I reset the preference it's no use.
I solved my problem when I click Expand ( Object > Expand > Ok ) to my work.

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Emiline Carolyne5C41

Participant

why does it do this and how can I fix it. I am trying to move from illustrator to indesign but no matter what I try it doesn't seem to work out.

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Monika Gause

Community Expert

Please create a new thread and tell us what you are trying to do.

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Ethereal_image5CAACorrect answer

Participant

Hey! I know this is like a very old thread but I was having a similar problem and no answer here helped me. However, for me, the reason why the shape builder tool wasn't working was that I had a mask active on my shapes (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TURNED OFF, I HADN'T 'RELEASED' OR DELETED THE MASK). Releasing the masks (after deleting everything from the mask layer) solved the problem and I was able to use the shape builder tool as usual. So this is one of the things you might wanna check

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Dante Hernandez

Participant

This was my issue! Thank you for posting this! I was trying to edit some shapes inside of a clipping mask, and nothing was working.

Please release your mask if you need to work with shapes contained within them.

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sayn0thing

Participant

This worked for me! 😊

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angelina_amsterdam

Participant

Maybe it's too late, but... I had an issue with a shaper, it didn't join two objects.

Then I deactivated stroke and realized that there is a gap between shapes. With just a fill I was able to use shaper )

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wrensauer

Inspiring

Hi Terry,

Were you able to get Shape Builder to work? Let us know if you need further assistance.

Best,

Wren

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454353252345234

Participant

Hi Wren,

My shape builder tool also is not working. No clipping masks, no stroke. Literally trying to combine a rectangle to a few other rectangles. I've restarted my computer and got it to work once out of about 100 tries. Nothing fancy at all. I'd rather use this tool then draw it out with the pen to ensure my die lines are consistent. Using the latest version of AI on CC - no updates available. Running macOS Sierra - 10.12.6.

Thanks!

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Monika Gause

Community Expert

454353252345234 schrieb
Hi Wren,
My shape builder tool also is not working. No clipping masks, no stroke. Literally trying to combine a rectangle to a few other rectangles. I've restarted my computer and got it to work once out of about 100 tries. Nothing fancy at all. I'd rather use this tool then draw it out with the pen to ensure my die lines are consistent. Using the latest version of AI on CC - no updates available. Running macOS Sierra - 10.12.6.
Thanks!

What exactly are you doing step by step?

Please show screenshots of your artwork (and of the layers panel).

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