Commands for cutting and splitting objects

Split bottom object

Example: Use the Split bottom object command

The split bottom object command acts like a cutter or scissors, using the selected object to cut through other objects and discarding the original selected object.

1. Select the object you want to use as a cutter, and then place it in an overlapping position with the object you want to cut.
2. Choose Object > Path > Split the lower object.

Split into grids

Example: Split to a grid

The Split to grid command allows you to split one or more objects into multiple rectangular objects arranged in rows and columns. You can precisely change the height, width, and spacing between rows and columns, and quickly create guides to lay out your artwork.

1. Select the object.

   Note:If you select more than one object, the result grid of the object uses the appearance properties of the uppermost object.

2. Choose Object > Path > Split to Grid.

3. Enter the number of rows and columns you want.

4. (Optional) Perform any of the following operations:

    

   • To set the size of each row and column, enter height and width values.
   • To set row spacing and column spacing, enter spacing values.
   • To change the size of the entire mesh of an object, enter a total value.
   • To add guides along row and column edges, select Add Guides.

   

   Option for splitting objects into grids

5. Click OK.

Shear path at selected anchor point

Example: Cut path at selected anchor point

“Shear path at selected anchor point” () icon cuts path at anchor point, and one anchor point becomes two anchor points, one of which is directly on top of the other.

1. (Optional) Select a path to view its current anchor point.

2. Use direct selection () the tool selects the location of the anchor point to split the path.

3. Click on the Control panel to cut path at selected anchor point () icon.

   When you split the path at the anchor point, the new anchor point will appear on top of the original one and an anchor point will be selected.

4. Use the Direct selection Tool () adjust new anchor points or path segments.

Tools for cutting and splitting objects

scissors

Example: Scissors tool

The scissors tool splits paths, graphic frames, or empty text frames at anchor points or along a segment.

1. Click and hold the eraser () tool to view and select scissors () tools.

   

2. Click the path to split. When splitting a path, the system creates two endpoints. By default, an endpoint is selected.

    

   Note:

   If you use the Scissors tool and do not click a point or path, Illustrator will prompt you to use the tool at the anchor point of the segment or path. Click OK to continue.

3. Use direct selection (The tool can modify the object by selecting the anchor point or path clipping from the previous step.

Box cutter tools

Example: Box cutter tool

The box cutter tool cuts the object along the hand-drawn path that you draw with the tool, dividing the object into surfaces filled as its components. (A surface is an area not divided by a line segment.)

1. Click and hold the eraser () tool to view and select tool knives () tools.

   

2. Do one of the following:

   • To clip a curve path, drag the pointer over the object.
   • To cut in a straight path, hold Alt (Windows) or Option (macOS) and drag while clicking using the Art Knife tool on the artboard.

   The clipping created using the Box Cutter tool is displayed as a stroke on the object.

3. Select Select > Deselect.

    

   Note:

   By default, Illustrator selects objects when clipping.

4. Use the Direct selection Tool () Click and drag each section.

Crop objects using a clipping mask

Example: Crop objects using a clipping mask

Crop masks allow you to hide parts of one object from another.

1. Create an object to use as a mask. This object is called the clipping path. Only vector objects can be used as clipping paths.

2. In stack order, move the clipping path above the object you want to cover.

3. Select the clipping path and the object you want to cover.

4. Choose Object > Clipping Mask > Create.

    

   Note:

   To create a clipping path from an area where two or more objects overlap, group the objects first.

Crop objects using pathfinder effects

Pathfinders provide a variety of methods for splitting and pruning overlapping objects.

Crop objects using the available Shape Modes in the Path Finder panel

A. Add to shape region using Union set mode B. Subtract top layer from shape region using Subtract top layer mode C. Use intersection pattern to cross with shape region d. use difference set pattern to exclude overlapping shape region

1. Use selection () tool selects the object to cut.
2. Choose Window > Pathfinder.
3. Use the Pathfinder panel to select shape mode and pathfinder effect.