decorative banner

Using the Pathfinder palette


    Use the Pathfinder palette to combine paths into new objects and shapes. In the Pathfinder palette, you can access filters for combining paths and you can access shape mode commands, which create and modify compound shapes. For more information on how filters affect the objects to which they're applied, see Using filters and filter effects.

    You access Pathfinder filters by clicking a Pathfinders button or pressing Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and clicking a Shape Modes button. (See Creating a final shape quickly.) You access shape modes by clicking a Shape Modes button. (See About compound shapes.)

To open the Pathfinder palette:

    Choose Window > Pathfinder.

To display the Pathfinder palette menu:

    Click the triangle at the upper right corner of the palette.

To repeat the action of the most recent Pathfinder palette button:

    In the Pathfinder palette menu, choose Repeat <command>.

    The command is applied with the most recently used options.

To set Pathfinder options:

  1. Choose Window > Pathfinder.
  2. Choose Pathfinder Options from the Pathfinder palette menu.
  3. Specify any of the following Pathfinder options, and then click OK:
    • Type a precision value in the Precision text box to affect how precisely the Pathfinder filters calculate an object's path. The more precise the calculation, the more accurate the drawing and the more time is required to generate the resulting path.
    • Select Remove Redundant Points to remove redundant points as you click a Pathfinder button.
    • Select Divide and Outline Will Remove Unpainted Artwork to delete any unfilled objects in the selected artwork as you click the Divide or Outline button.
    • To reset all options to their default settings, click Defaults.