Shape Builder Tool not Working

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
October 16, 2017
3 replies
7039 views

Hello people,

Currently following the Adobe beginner tutorial but I'm having trouble with the Shape Builder Tool.
I have drag selected a couple of shapes using the Direct Selection Tool, but when I switch to the Shape Builder Tool to combine shapes I get the circle with a line in it signalling that I cannot do that.

I'm using CS5.

Thank you for your help in advance! 🙂

shape builder tool

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Correct answer Kurt Gold

This file was not created in Illustrator CS5. It was a newer version and probably you just opened it in CS5, that is, you opened the .pdf portion of the file. Therefore there is at least one clipping mask that you would have to release and delete and then select all and ungroup the selection. After that you should be able to use the Shape Builder tool successfully.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

Can you share this sample .ai file, so one can take a look at it?

Normally it doesn't matter if you are selecting the paths with the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool. The Shape Builder should work. But sometimes there are some unexpected combinations which may hinder it to work faultlessly.

J

JhojgaardmooAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hello,

This is the file:

http://www.filedropper.com/combiningshapes

Kurt Gold

Correct answer

Community Expert

This file was not created in Illustrator CS5. It was a newer version and probably you just opened it in CS5, that is, you opened the .pdf portion of the file. Therefore there is at least one clipping mask that you would have to release and delete and then select all and ungroup the selection. After that you should be able to use the Shape Builder tool successfully.