Skip to main content
Participant
March 29, 2016
Answered

Shapes not merging with pathfinder tool

  • March 29, 2016
  • 6 replies
  • 52405 views

I'm having a lot of problems since I upgraded to Illustrator CC 2015.

One of them is that shapes are not merging when I use the pathfinder tool "Unite". First I was thinking maybe something is wrong with the shapes.

But when I save my file and reopen then miraculously I can merge the shapes.

This doesn't happen all the time but it's quite annoying to have to save and close the file and reopen again like 10 times a day.

Anybody with the same issue?

Correct answer caroline56green

This was the fix for me – Object>Expand... , then Unite the shapes. Thank you!!!

6 replies

Participant
October 2, 2023

You need to make sure the colorful square on the right of the layer is on the layer you want. if the layer is red for instance, the little square will be red.  Hope this helps.

Participating Frequently
October 14, 2022

Same issue here, in 2022. Unite always used to create one object from two paths as long as they were touching. Now it won't, no matter what. I've had to resort to the Shape Builder tool, which is probably what they want.

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 14, 2022

As long as we don't see any screenshot, nobody can help you.

 

Also: this is an old thread and it discusses at least 3 different issues. Which one is the one you have? Are you really sure your paths are touching?

philippaw43340443
Participating Frequently
September 25, 2017

Hi,

I am having similar problems as described above - I cannot merge shapes to create a new shape. I have drawn a whale using circles, but when trying to fill the colour it fills all the circles? I am quite new ti illustrator so thinking I may have missed a step along the way...any advice would be gratefully received!

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 25, 2017

  schrieb

Hi,

I am having similar problems as described above - I cannot merge shapes to create a new shape. I have drawn a whale using circles, but when trying to fill the colour it fills all the circles? I am quite new ti illustrator so thinking I may have missed a step along the way...any advice would be gratefully received!

Use Live paint or the shapebuilder tool.

How to create and work with Live Paint groups in Illustrator

ryan9
Participant
November 30, 2016

Hi,

Have you made sure that all points are connected on each of the shapes you are trying to merge?

If there are any 'open' shapes they will not merge.

Doug A Roberts
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 30, 2016

open shapes will merge, along a line that intersects their endpoints.

Larry G. Schneider
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 31, 2016

‌Are you sure you are using the Pathfinder panel and not Effects>Pathfinder? Does it work if you use Object>Shape>Expand first?

Participant
September 21, 2017

what is the difference?

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 21, 2017

  schrieb

what is the difference?

Please see here for the difference:

Pathfinder doesn't react

Participant
March 31, 2016

i have a same problem. T.T