In the following tutorial, you will learn everything you need to know about cutting out shapes in Illustrator.
Once you've learned how to cut an object in Illustrator, you can head over to Envato Elements, where you'll get unlimited downloads of stock videos, music, graphics, photos, fonts, and more.
What You'll Learn in This Tutorial
- How to cut a shape in Illustrator with the Knife Tool
- How to cut out a shape in Illustrator using the Pathfinder panel
1. How to Cut a Shape in Illustrator Using the Knife Tool
Select the Knife Tool and simply click and drag across the vector object that you wish to cut.
Hold down the Alt key before you click and drag, and you'll get a straight cut. Also hold down Shift whenever you wish to create perfect horizontal, vertical, or oblique cuts.
2. How to Cut a Shape in Illustrator Using the Pathfinder Panel
Use the Pen Tool (P) or the Line Tool (\) to draw a path across the object that you wish to cut.
Use the Selection Tool (V) to select the path along with your vector object, and click the Divide button from the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder).
3. How to Cut Out a Shape in Illustrator
Cutting out shapes in Illustrator can be done either using the Knife Tool or with the Pathfinder panel.
Step 1
Select the Knife Tool and simply click and drag to cut out a section from your vector object.
Step 2
Select two overlapping vector objects, and click the Minus Front button from the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder) to easily subtract the front shape from the one in the back.
Congratulations! You're Done!
Now that you've learned how to cut an object in Illustrator, feel free to use these techniques in your future projects.
You can find some great sources of inspiration at Envato Elements, with interesting solutions to improve your design portfolio.
Want to Learn More?
We have loads of tutorials on Envato Tuts+, from beginner to intermediate level. Take a look!
