Skip to main content
D
defaulte14od0158yxn
Participating Frequently
March 30, 2022
Answered

Do the Shaper Tool and Shape Builder Tool not work together?

  • March 30, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 938 views

Shaper Tool and Shape Builder Tool not working together. 

I am new to Illustrator and and trying to teach it to my high school students. I taught the Shaper Tool on the top portion of a document and then had the students building shapes with the Shape Builder tool at the bottom of the document. When kids started to combine shapes with the Shaper Tool and then try using the Shape Builder Tool to keep adding to the shape it wasn't working. They weren't supposed to be using both, but I don't understand why it matters. I have a video above to show what I mean. Is this normal? Why can't I use one tool on part of a shape and then use the other tool on another part of the shape? I've got to be missing something. Thanks for any help.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer tromboniator

When you combine shapes using the Shaper Tool and select the resulting shape, if you look at the top of the Properties panel you will see that you have a Shaper Group, which does not behave as an ordinary shape, or group of shapes, does. Select the Shaper Group (flower and pot), then go to the bottom of the Properties panel and click on the Expand button. If the panel is not sufficiently elongated you may need to drag the bottom of it downward to expose the button. Alternatively, go to the Object menu and go down to Expand.

 

You should now be able to set the rectangle over the flowerpot group and use the Shape Builder Tool in the expected fashion.

 

I hope I've explained this well enough to help. If not, please feel free to ask for a better explanation.

 

Peter

2 replies

tromboniator
Community Expert
tromboniatorCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
March 31, 2022

When you combine shapes using the Shaper Tool and select the resulting shape, if you look at the top of the Properties panel you will see that you have a Shaper Group, which does not behave as an ordinary shape, or group of shapes, does. Select the Shaper Group (flower and pot), then go to the bottom of the Properties panel and click on the Expand button. If the panel is not sufficiently elongated you may need to drag the bottom of it downward to expose the button. Alternatively, go to the Object menu and go down to Expand.

 

You should now be able to set the rectangle over the flowerpot group and use the Shape Builder Tool in the expected fashion.

 

I hope I've explained this well enough to help. If not, please feel free to ask for a better explanation.

 

Peter

    D
    defaulte14od0158yxnAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 31, 2022

    Peter,

     

    Great explanation, that was it! Thank you so much. I expanded the Shaper group and it worked perfectly. 🙂

    tromboniator
    Community Expert
    tromboniatorCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 31, 2022

    You're welcome! I'm delighted that it was useful to you.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 30, 2022

    The Shaper tool cooperates with the Live paint tool.

     

    The shapebuilder on the other hand does a comparable thing, but is destructive when doing it. The other two create live objects.

    D
    defaulte14od0158yxnAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 31, 2022
    Thank you for your response. However, were you able to watch the video? I’m trying to figure out why I can’t get the Shape Builder to work on a shape that has been altered with the Shaper Tool. Am I doing something wrong or do they not work together? I’m new to Illustrator so your response may be answering the question, but I don’t understand what Live Paint has to do with my issue as we’re not using Live Paint. Thank you.
    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 31, 2022

    I would use the Pathfinder panel--much easier to understand and control (for me, at least...)

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices