Help using one path to cut/trim another

[Guest]

I haven't done much work in Illustrator, and I'm currently using CS4.  I'm trying to figure out how to do something simple, and AI is so counter-intuitive that I'm about to rip my hair out.

This is all that I'm trying to do:

I have two lines intersecting, and a circle (just a path, not a filled shape) smaller than the length of the lines, and centered on where they meet.  I'm trying to use the circle to cut out the portion of the lines within the circle, so I'm left with what's outside the circle.

That's it, that's all I'm trying to do.  I've clicked every button on the Pathfinder palette, I've tried making a compound path, I've tried making a clipping mask, I've tried using the scissor and knife tools, etc...  There's no guarantee I did these things correctly, but as I said, Illustrator is so counter-intuitive that for someone new to the application, they usually end up wanting to set the install discs on fire.

So, how can I use the circle to cut the lines?  I'd appreciate any help.

[Ignatius Fay]

You are right - this is relatively simple once you know.

Make sure your circle is above the two lines in the stacking order. If it isn't, select the circle and choose Object>Arrange>Bring to Front.

Select all the elements, then choose Trim from the Pathfinder palette. The portions of the lines within the circle will be eliminated, leaving the outer portions and the circle.

[Guest]

I tried that in my initial attempts.  I get an error that says "The filter produced no results.  Please select one or more filled paths

."

As I said in my initial post, all of these items are just paths.  They might be stroked, but there are no filled shapes that I'm working with.

Oh, and if I try to fill the circle first, than the intersecting lines are completely deleted - inside and outside the circle.

[Jacob Bugge]

Fyard,

You may do this:

Make sure the circle is below the lines, then use the Scissors Tool with Smart Guides on and cut when it says Intersect (four times).

[Guest]

Okay, the scissors technique worked, Jacob.  Thank you for that.

But, for future items, is there no way to do it in one step using one path to trim another?

[Jacob Bugge]

You are welcome, Fyard.

You could use Outline in one step, and then Ungroup, remove the mess in the middle, and restore the Stroke Weight.

[Ignatius Fay]

Fyard 47 -

My apologies. I forgot to mention that both lines and the circle need to have a fill and a stroke. The fill will not be apparent for the lines, but that matters not. Selecting Trim eliminates the parts of the lines within the circle and causes fills and strokes to be jumbled - the circle loses its stroke and the lines loose their fills and become stroked the color of the circle's fill. Weird, I know. All you have to do is give the resulting elements whatever fill/stroke you want.

[Wade_Zimmerman1]

This is does not address your question but you might find it a useful tool when you want to do something similar but only need some paths eliminated and not all of them.

Unfortunately there is not a good cropping tool in Illustrator and like in the case it would be good if you culd use different shapes to crop and to be abe to crop in an inverted way. Images as well.

Hee is a video

http://gallery.me.com/wzphoto2/100052

[JETalmage]

This is all that I'm trying to do...

That's it, that's all I'm trying to do.

Illustrator is so counter-intuitive...

.. this is relatively simple once you know...

I tried that in my initial attempts.  I get an error

Make sure the circle is below the lines, then use the Scissors Tool with Smart Guides...

...is there no way to do it in one step...?

...use Outline in one step, and then Ungroup, remove the mess in the middle, and restore the Stroke Weight...

I forgot to mention that both lines and the circle need to have a fill and a stroke. The fill will not be apparent for the lines...Weird, I know...

Egads.

If this thread doesn't demonstrate what a ridiculous program this is...

JET

[Wade_Zimmerman1]

Egads.

If this thread doesn't demonstrate what a ridiculous program this is...

JET

I really have to say I really do not understand the purpose of this type of posting on the User to User Forum>

There is no one here who can do anything about they way the program works, what exactly do you expect to accomplish?

What purpose does this serve? Should you not be addressing this the the Adobe management or customer service?

What is that you think the users on this forum can do?

If you are trying to start a dialogue should you not be creating a new Topic?

Could you please start another thread so those who think they can offer the user some assistance can actually do so?

Thanks!

[JETalmage]

Wade,

Worry about your posts. I'll worry about mine.

Nobody here has to explain themselves to you.

JET

[Wade_Zimmerman1]

That is exactly the point why don't you do exactly that just let us do what we are doing here helping the OP and you worry about your personal problems elsewhere.

What nerve! Since when have you not interfere with my postings even to the point of concerning yourself about my grammar and spelling!

Your full of yourself.

My word preacher!

[JETalmage]

Wade,

You're the one who jumped in here and, unprovoked, lambasted me for my comment.

My post was succinct and makes a strong point: Such a simple operation as that described causes untold confusion for a new user. Somewhat experienced users make suggestions, each exposing ridiculous caveats which render the "solutions" insufficient. It's a case-in-point demonstration of the weakness of Illustrator's Pathfinder features--for what is such a common and straightforward function in other drawing programs.

I'm not interested in your incessant personal attacks and insults that have nothing to do with the actual subject of the thread. Go find someone else to follow around like an attention-starved puppy.

JET

[jamie Pritchett]

And here in 2015 - this is STILL not addressed. It's like Adobe killed freehand and has been dribbling out a Freehand feature one every upgrade and STILL doing the job badly.

Working with object selection/layers is still a nightmare. I tried to clip a path (like you can do in Indesign by overlaying an object and choosing "subtract" but there's no feature. If you use the trim feature, it ADDS your trim box to the element and then deletes any other inside elements in the original graphic.

I don't call it working or drawing in Illustrator. It's more like fighting the program to do everything. Ug.

[Logicartists]

And here we are in 2016 and this seemingly simple, must-have useful feature is still nowhere to be found.

[Kurt Gold]

You don't mention which version of Illustrator you are using, Logicartists.

In recent versions of Illustrator you can do it by using the Shape Builder tool (just to mention one way).

[runninghead_design]

Agree with most posters here- It's now 2017 and workarounds to this problem using the Shape Builder Tool or Object > Path > Divide Objects Below (both unreliable) are still not present where they logically should be- in the Pathfinder palette.

cs6 - There Must Be A Way: Trimming Groups Of Lines To Fit Complex Shape - Illustrator - Graphic Des...

Shapes or lines regardless: It's like there's a family gathering in Pathfinder and just one member is missing!

Come on Monika, etc- prove the AI haters wrong and provide a Pathfinder based solution here, please.

[Guest]

Thank you all for your help.  I appreciate the time you put in for me.  I've tried both methods and see that I can use the Scissors tool, if I don't mind the manual work of doing it one intersection at a time, or the fill and trim method, if it's less work to restore the fill/stroke settings afterwards.

Thank you again!

[Jacob Bugge]

For my part you are welcome, Fyard.

[Ignatius Fay]

And for my part, as well - you're welcome.

[Bufftom]

It can't be done. Freehand did it beautifully and intuitively. Adobe bought and killed Freehand and left us with a bloated and out of date "drawing" program that still is inferior to Freehand.

Good luck.