Participant

Question

Erasing in a straight line

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
March 23, 2022
3 replies
4704 views

Hello, for some reason I cannot seem to figure out how to erase on a straight line that is not strictly vertical or horizontal in Illustrator. On photoshop you can hold shift before you click to create a vertical or horizontal line which you can do in Illustrator as well. In photoshop, if you click, then hold shift and click again it will create a straight line but it is a line connecting the two points regardless of the angle you choose (this does not seem to work in Illustrator). I would like to know how to create a line that is not just vertical or horizontal. I am trying to erase part of an object I have in Illustrator, but in a straight line and at a random angle that I choose. Is there anyway to do this? Thank you so much for the help.

How to

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Kurt Gold

Community Expert

I can now see what you mean, Claires.

Unfortunately, the straight line capabilities of the Eraser tool is limited to only some angles at the moment.

It would be a good feature request.

C

claires71565172Author

Participant

It is odd that they have it in photoshop, but not illustrator. I agree that it would be a good feature, maybe they will add it in the future! Thank you for your help.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

claire,

If you wish to actually delete part of a stroked straight path, you can just cut it by clicking the (spine of the) path with the Scissors Tool at both ends and delete the new separate path in between.

If you wish to do something else along a straight line, you can ClickDrag with the Line Segment Tool between the desired ends to create that line.

And what Kurt said.

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claires71565172Author

Participant

I never thought to use the scissor tool I will probably use that! This was very helpful thank you so much.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

For my part you are welcome, Claire.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

At least I think it's a bit difficult to follow your request since you do not mention what tools you are actually using at all.

Can you elaborate?

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claires71565172Author

Participant

I am trying to use the normal eraser tool (shift - e) to erase piece of an object in a straight line. I know how to create a straight vertical or horizontal erase line (by clicking and holding shift down while erasing) but I can't seem to figure out how to erase in a straight line at any angle I want. Hopefully this helps give you more information!

Met1

Legend

Illy is vector not pixel, so you can't just "turn-off" the pixels you don't want active like you can in PS.

You could cover up in a straight line using another line, just as you want, one click to start, one click to end...

You could use a (knockout) mask. There's a few different ways to do it.

You should look at the adobe help for the erase tool, it doesn't do what you think it would (a la PS).

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