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Answered

Splitting a shape into two

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
September 29, 2017
5 replies
11880 views

I'm in Adobe Illustrator. I have an irregular shape. I've got an open path through it, splitting it into two parts. I want the path to split it into two different shapes so that I can fill each with a different colour. Simple question, but the solution doesn't seem simple after several hours of research...

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Correct answer Cactus Cowboy

Try using the Live Paint Tool and Live Paint Direct Selection Tool. Draw your line dividing the object, select all and Live Paint make then use the Live Paint Selection Tool and paint away; back to Live Paint and expand when your done. The Live Paint Tool is amazing.

catherinec85512503Author

Participant

Thank you all for your help. Both the Pathfinder>Effects and the Live Paint>Make routes worked to split the shape. HOWEVER! I'm sorry to say that things are a little more complicated that I first let on. So my open path that divides the shape is a curve. It's a curve that I made out of a circle (I used the scissors tool to cut out a section - in fact, lots of different sections - of the circle). So, when I divide the shape, it gives me three parts (1) the part to the left of the convex part of the curve, (2) the curved line with a straight line on the concave side joining the two ends (like you've cut a piece off the side of a circle) and (3) the part to the right of the new (unwanted) closed-curve shape. This is a problem because I want to apply a gradient to the part that consists of area (2) and (3), so I really need these to appear as a single shape.

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

something like this?

sounds like the circle shape had a fill. either remove the fill before using pathfinder or live paint, or use shape builder to combine the two.

catherinec85512503Author

Participant

Thank you - picture is correct, but the vertical line between 2 and 3 should join the two ends of the curve. You were absolutely right; there was a fill in the circle (basic beginner error!). All sorted now. Thank you so much for your help.

jane-e

Community Expert

If you are still having trouble, post a screen shot so we can see what you are working with.

angie_taylor

Legend

Add my vote for Live Paint. Select your entire shape and then go to Object> Live Paint > Make. Then grab the Live Paint bucket tool and select your Color, click on the part of the shape you want to Color, then change colours and click on the other section. Easy -easy lemon-Squeezey!

Cactus CowboyCorrect answer

Inspiring

Try using the Live Paint Tool and Live Paint Direct Selection Tool. Draw your line dividing the object, select all and Live Paint make then use the Live Paint Selection Tool and paint away; back to Live Paint and expand when your done. The Live Paint Tool is amazing.

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

select the shape and your (no fill) open path and use Divide from the pathfinder palette.

catherinec85512503Author

Participant

Thank you. I just tried this but it doesn't work. I get a warning "Pathfinder effects should usually be applied to groups, layers or type objects. This may not have any effect on the current selection". I thought I had selected a group (i.e. a shape and the open path that splits it in two), but I'm a novice user and struggle with the technicalities. My layers aren't at all well organised...

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

don't use the pathfinder effects. use the palette (window > Pathfinder)

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