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pw23779290
Participant
April 17, 2020
Answered

Subtract one shape from another (Was "Indesign help”)

  • April 17, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 39408 views

Hi, I have created a non-regular shape in InDesign (infilled it green) by using the PEN tool. 

 

I have several other non-regular shapes (infilled red) that are already created that I want to use their shapes to cut out the green. How do I do this / Can I do this? 

 

The image below shows the red shapes sitting behind the green shape (and thus the red shapes are not thoroughly RED in colour but tinged with the green opaqueness). 

 

Please advise. 

 

Thanks in advance

 

 

Correct answer Randy Hagan

You do this using InDesign's Pathfinder panel tools, which are also located as sub-menu commands under the Object menu.

 

To make it easier to illustrate, the following screen captures use the panel tools:

 

1. Select your Red shapes using the Arrow/Selection tool and the Shift key. (Note: Do Not group them. While this is exactly the way you would make multiple "knockouts" with Adobe Illustrator, with InDesign grouping them will turn off the tool options. InDesign needs to read the stacking order to excise/knockout the shapes). Now select the Green background, as shown below:

 

 

2. Go to the Pathfinder panel, and click the Subtract button, as illustrated below:

 

 

3. End Result: you get the Red shapes "knocked out" of the Green screen above your plan illustration.

 

 

Good luck,

 

Randy

4 replies

E
Community Expert
Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 18, 2020

Did you change the transparency?

 

I wouldn't - make a new Tint Swatch - https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/indesign/using/tints.html

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 17, 2020

You are welcome, PW. We are always happy to help.

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    inco80
    inco80
    Participating Frequently
    March 15, 2023

    Could you tell me how I edit text in indesign for stenciling so the inner parts of the letter b for instance will not fall away when it is laser cut. I want to add little parts to hold the inner letter bits in place. The typeface I'm using will not work in illustrator so I'm doing it in indesign. I uesss I could turn it into a shape and bring it into illustrator.

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 15, 2023

    It will need to be converted to outlines for the laser cutter, anyway, I think, so you can go ahead and convert the text to oulines, then draw the connector shapes on top where you need them, select all and use the pathfinder Add command.

    R
    Community Expert
    Randy HaganCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    April 17, 2020

    You do this using InDesign's Pathfinder panel tools, which are also located as sub-menu commands under the Object menu.

     

    To make it easier to illustrate, the following screen captures use the panel tools:

     

    1. Select your Red shapes using the Arrow/Selection tool and the Shift key. (Note: Do Not group them. While this is exactly the way you would make multiple "knockouts" with Adobe Illustrator, with InDesign grouping them will turn off the tool options. InDesign needs to read the stacking order to excise/knockout the shapes). Now select the Green background, as shown below:

     

     

    2. Go to the Pathfinder panel, and click the Subtract button, as illustrated below:

     

     

    3. End Result: you get the Red shapes "knocked out" of the Green screen above your plan illustration.

     

     

    Good luck,

     

    Randy

      P
      pw23779290Author
      Participant
      April 17, 2020

      Thank you, Randy. Explained perfectly.

      R
      Community Expert
      Randy HaganCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 17, 2020

      My pleasure.

       

      If you find yourself in a jam working with InDesign, please don't hesitate to come back here and sound the alarm. There are lots of smart people here who are willing to help.

       

      Glad this worked for you,

       

      Randy

      Barb Binder
      Community Expert
      Barb BinderCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 17, 2020

      To cut the red shapes out of the green shapes:

      1. Put the red shapes on top of the green shapes
      2. Select red and green shapes
      3. Object > Pathfinder > Subtract (Subtract is the InDesign language for the Illustrator command Minus Front, which means subtract the front shape from the back shape.)

       

      ~Barb

      ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
        P
        pw23779290Author
        Participant
        April 17, 2020

        Perfect - thank you very much ! 🙂

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