Participant

Answered

Shapes not merging with pathfinder tool

Forum|Forum|9 years ago
March 29, 2016
6 replies
52405 views

I'm having a lot of problems since I upgraded to Illustrator CC 2015.

One of them is that shapes are not merging when I use the pathfinder tool "Unite". First I was thinking maybe something is wrong with the shapes.

But when I save my file and reopen then miraculously I can merge the shapes.

This doesn't happen all the time but it's quite annoying to have to save and close the file and reopen again like 10 times a day.

Anybody with the same issue?

Correct answer caroline56green

This was the fix for me – Object>Expand... , then Unite the shapes. Thank you!!!

T

Thomas32123204ufkb

Participant

You need to make sure the colorful square on the right of the layer is on the layer you want. if the layer is red for instance, the little square will be red. Hope this helps.

C

cydward

Participating Frequently

Same issue here, in 2022. Unite always used to create one object from two paths as long as they were touching. Now it won't, no matter what. I've had to resort to the Shape Builder tool, which is probably what they want.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

As long as we don't see any screenshot, nobody can help you.

Also: this is an old thread and it discusses at least 3 different issues. Which one is the one you have? Are you really sure your paths are touching?

philippaw43340443

Participating Frequently

Hi,

I am having similar problems as described above - I cannot merge shapes to create a new shape. I have drawn a whale using circles, but when trying to fill the colour it fills all the circles? I am quite new ti illustrator so thinking I may have missed a step along the way...any advice would be gratefully received!

Monika Gause

Community Expert

schrieb
Hi,
I am having similar problems as described above - I cannot merge shapes to create a new shape. I have drawn a whale using circles, but when trying to fill the colour it fills all the circles? I am quite new ti illustrator so thinking I may have missed a step along the way...any advice would be gratefully received!

Use Live paint or the shapebuilder tool.

How to create and work with Live Paint groups in Illustrator

ryan9

Participant

Hi,

Have you made sure that all points are connected on each of the shapes you are trying to merge?

If there are any 'open' shapes they will not merge.

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

open shapes will merge, along a line that intersects their endpoints.

Larry G. Schneider

Community Expert

‌Are you sure you are using the Pathfinder panel and not Effects>Pathfinder? Does it work if you use Object>Shape>Expand first?

S

Snosrap

Known Participant

If I have any two shapes the Pathfinder "Unite" action within the Pathfinder side palette and from the Effects Menu give me an error that I need two over lapping objects. If I go to Objects/Expand Appearance, then I get results. Pain in the butt. Adobe, if you need anyone to beta test give me a call. Seems I run into stuff right out of the chute every time there's an "upgrade".