How to use Shape Builder in Illustrator

Drawing curved lines on canvas is a nightmare. The pen tool, available in design software, can be helpful but controlling the curve handles is time-consuming. Is there an easier way to find or create a profile of a fish, of a bird, and so on? You can try using plugins, but then finding the right one is cumbersome. To solve this, the shape builder tool in adobe illustrator comes to your rescue. With the shape builder tool, you can merge, extract, remove and add different sections of overlapping shapes. And, using it is very intuitive. Let us understand in detail the advantages of the shape builder tool.

Where to find the Shape Builder tool?

You can see primarily two modes in the shape builder tool: merge and erase. However, you can use these two modes for a variety of operations like merge, extraction, remove and fill. You can use each of these functions to create complex shapes using simple shapes like rectangles, circles, etc.

Merge function

Let us start to understand how the function of the shape builder tool works. Draw two circles such that part one of them overlaps on another. Then select both the shapes. Next, click on the shape builder tool and drag across the circles(while holding the right-click). Presto, the two circles now combine to form a cloud-like shape.

Extract function

Let us continue exploring the two overlapping circles as in the previous section(before they were merged). Once again, select both of the circles. Then, select the shape builder tool. Now instead of dragging it across, select the intersecting portion. When you hover over the shapes, you can see the selected section as they will be highlighted. Right-click on it. Go to the selection tool(shortcut V) and Double click on the section on which you used the shape builder tool. Now you can see a leaf shaped section. Drag it out. Congratulations, you have successfully created a leaf just using two overlapping circles.

Alternatively, you can hold down the Alt key while selecting the leaf shaped section while using the shape builder tool. This will just create a cavity in the remaining section.

Remove function

Let us say, we want to create a crescent shape. For ease of understanding, we will be using the example in the previous sections. Select the overlapping circles. Select the shape builder tool. Press hold the alt key. Now, go on clicking on two sections from left or right. What you get now, is a crescent shape. Simple and precise.

Shape builder tool additional options

Before we learn the fill function, we will need to explore a few more features of the shape builder tool.

Double click on the shape builder tool icon. Alternatively, you can click on the shape builder tool and click on “Tool Options” from the property panel on the right. A window with Shape builder tool options will pop up. Let us now understand the different features.

Gap detection: Small(3 pts), Medium(6pts), large(12 pts),custom. This will help to create shapes out of void spaces between closely placed shapes.

Consider Open Filled Path as Closed: Treats open profile as closed shapes so that you can use it in merge and erase modes.

In Merge Mode, Clicking Stroke Splits the Path: Selecting this option lets you select each individual portion of a shape’s path, hence splitting the path.

Pick color from: You can choose what colour will be filled with the merged shapes(from colour swatch or from artwork).

Selection: Straight Line: You can drag across shapes in a straight line only: Freeform: Lets you to drag across shapes in free form to merge them; 

Fill: Helps you visualise the the section on which operation in being performed by providing a mesh shade

Highlight Stroke when Editable: Highlights the part of the stroke which is modified by shape builder options.

Fill function

This is rather a two-step process. Ensure that Gap detection is medium or large. Thereafter, create a circle and make 4 copies of it. Place the circle such that they look like petals of a flower. In the center, a shiny shape should appear. Select all the shapes. Then, select the shape builder tool and merge the circles. Now, hover over the space in the center. You should see the portion getting highlighted. Click on it. A new shine-like shape will be generated. Next, you can either extract the shape or remove the unwanted portion.

Quick note

While using shape builder, notice that the alt key serves a primary purpose of deletion. Broadly speaking, using the shape builder tool without alt key merges or creates a section. Whereas, using the shape builder tool with alt key pressed removes a section.

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