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RMarchand
RMarchand
Participating Frequently
April 8, 2015
Question

Shape Builder tool not working on shapes in a clipping mask

  • April 8, 2015
  • 3 replies
  • 14729 views

Hello again,

Why is the Shape Builder Tool don't work on shapes inside a Clipping Mask? The Pathfinder does work but for the Shape Builder Tool: NADA!

Thank's for answering,

Lindberg

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

RMarchand
RMarchandAuthor
Participating Frequently
September 15, 2015

Hello and thank you all for being interested a this particular topic and providing me with various constructive answers. I'm just getting back to school and all, I took real time off this summer and therefore stayed really away from my computer.

I'm looking forward to read all your message and I will get back to you very soon.

Robert Marchand

Teacher

SRM12345
SRM12345
Participating Frequently
August 30, 2015

I came here to ask a very similar question... I can answer Robert Marchand's question, I think, but my answer is only going to lead him asking the same question I came here to ask.

I have three objects A, B and C.

I use A to clip B. Now I have A and C at the top level and B inside A.

Now I use shape builder with A and C selected. Anything I do with Shape Builder is going to just be adjusting the shape of my clipping mask A... because A is itself a shape. There's no way for the tool to say, "Oh... you wanted me to treat the thing inside A as if it were a shape." That's meaningless.

So that's why the tool doesn't (and can't) work the way you want it to, Robert.

But that leads directly to the question I want answered --- is there any way I can select a clipping mask with objects inside it and in one click get some tool to do the following:

a) trim all the contained objects to the boundaries of the clipping mask, throwing away all the parts of the objects that are hidden under the edges of the clipping mask.

b) release the clipping mask

c) delete the object used for the clipping mask

If I could find a tool that quickly does that, it would greatly help my work... and, I suspect, Robert's as well. Should I ask mine as a separate question?

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 30, 2015

SRM12345 schrieb:

But that leads directly to the question I want answered --- is there any way I can select a clipping mask with objects inside it and in one click get some tool to do the following:

a) trim all the contained objects to the boundaries of the clipping mask, throwing away all the parts of the objects that are hidden under the edges of the clipping mask.

b) release the clipping mask

c) delete the object used for the clipping mask

If I could find a tool that quickly does that, it would greatly help my work... and, I suspect, Robert's as well. Should I ask mine as a separate question?

Use isolation mode to edit objects inside a clipping mask

Use oathfinder "Crop" to crop the masked objects. Doesn't work with strokes and a lot of other stuff. Try it.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 30, 2015

Here's a link to the sample .ai file:

EditThis.ai - Google Drive


What I don't understand is the meaning of the stroke. Your clipping mask object looks completely different than the finished one. So given the poor handling of strokes in the pathfinder function I don't get why you're using strokes like this.

You might need to reconsider the workflow and maybe not use clipping masks at all. Are they really needed or could this be achieved by other means (live paint for instance).

If you insist on clipping masks then why do you use strokes at all before applying pathfinder functions?

Is this a concept you show to a client and then later finish for printing? Or something else. You might be better off applying the stroke after using the pathfinder.

In any case: try the pathfinder "Divide". It might better suit your needs.

What you could do is:

Select all

Apply pathfinder Divide

Ungroup

Deselect star and remains of circle

Apply pathfinder Unite (or whatever the name - the top left one)

    Larry G. Schneider
    Community Expert
    Larry G. SchneiderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 8, 2015

    If you release the Clipping Mask and try the Shape Builder tool then, does it still balk at making the shape?

    RMarchand
    RMarchandAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    April 9, 2015

    Hi,

    Thank you for answering. No it will work correctly. The Pathfinder work inside a clipping path and in any situation but not the Shape Builder Tool. Unless this is normal, I think that the specialist at Adobe should have a look at this annoying behavior and try to release an upgrade with this behavior corrected in a near futur.

    Thank’s again for answering,

    Robert Marchand

    cactus2@videotron.ca <mailto:cactus2@videotron.ca>

    Le 8 avr. 2015 à 10:41AM, Larry G. Schneider <forums_noreply@adobe.com> a écrit :

    Shape Builder tool not working on shapes in a clipping mask

    created by Larry G. Schneider <https://forums.adobe.com/people/LarryG.Schneider> in Illustrator - View the full discussion <https://forums.adobe.com/message/7418340#7418340>

    If you release the Clipping Mask and try the Shape Builder tool then, does it still balk at making the shape?

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