How to merge shapes to one object

[petrab60631600]

Hello!

As first I wish you all a Merry, Peaceful Christmas:)

I tried to solve 1 issue, and I could not find the solution. I would like to merge the small shapes in the group to the one object. I tried a pathfinder, but it did not work. Does exist a way how to do it? Thank u.

[Ton Frederiks]

If you want a single color, choose Unite in the Pathfinder panel.

[petrab60631600]

Hm, I would like leave this design, but I just want to have the all shapes together with the texture also. 

[Anna Lander]

in this condition it's impossible. You can either have the united shape with the same color/gradient or have many different pieces with different colors.

If you want to have fewer amount of objects and keep the texture, I could suggest this way:

1. export the current artwork as a raster image with the needed resolution;

2. unite all the shapes as Ton recommended (use Pathfinder > Unite);

3. import the image and create a clipping mask: put the united shape above the image, select both and click Ctrl(Cmd)+7.

Another way is to create a Gradient Mesh for the united shape, but it's a very long and complicated work.

[petrab60631600]

It sounds great, so I will definitely try it 🙂 Thank you both for the help.

[Doug A Roberts]

I would encourage anyone who wants to 'merge' their artwork into one object to ask themselves why they think they need to first.

[Jacob Bugge]

Petra,

Always keep the original artwork and work on a copy when you make irreversible changes, such as rasterizing, which will limit the artwork to a specific number of pixels, each pixel haing one colour.

[Jacob Bugge]

Petra,

An afterthought; if you merely wish to avoid its filling the expanded Layer, you can just click the down arrow to collapse the GREEN LEAVES Group.