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luckynorth
luckynorth
Known Participant
September 25, 2012
Question

Subtract Front Shape after drawing the shapes?

  • September 25, 2012
  • 2 replies
  • 64110 views

Hi,

i can't figure out how to subtract the front shape from two already drawn shapes. I can draw a shape, choose "Subtract Front Shape" from the menu and then draw the second shape. But what if the two shapes are already there and i wanna subtract the front shape from the other. Please don't tell me, thats it's not possible ...

Mario

      2 replies

      C
      charlesf14179035
      Participant
      April 4, 2019

      I had a similar issue I think, which stumped me for hours until I solved it. I selected around a complicated object that had spaces within it I did not want, first with normal selection tools, then creating a vector mask which I was able to adjust accurately to the image. When I finished, the background around the object dropped out, but not the negative spaces within the main object, although they also were defined by vector masks. Subtract Front Shape was no help, ditto all other options in the same drop down. Seems counter-intuitive, but it was Bring Shape To Front that solved the issue. With the neglected area(s) selected (one at a time), choosing this option dropped it out. 

        Nancy OShea
        Community Expert
        Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        April 4, 2019

        Why are we resurrecting old posts from 2012??

        Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
        sudarshan.t
        sudarshan.t
        Inspiring
        September 25, 2012

        You definitely can - as long as the 2 other shapes are still as a shape and that you haven't flattened/ rasterized them.

        Draw your new shape above both the existing shapes. Select the Shape tool - (U key). Choose 'Subtract Front Shape', then draw your 3rd shape.

        luckynorth
        luckynorthAuthor
        Known Participant
        September 25, 2012

        Thanks for your reply!

        When i choose 'Subtract Front Shape' before drawing the next shape it's working. But what, when the shapes are already there? I draw a circle and after that i draw another circle. And then i wanna subtract one from the other or intersect. How can i do that?

        Mario

        sudarshan.t
        sudarshan.t
        Inspiring
        September 25, 2012

        Pathfinder in Illustrator can do exactly what you're looking at. In Photoshop, the only available way I'd see is a Vector Mask.

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