Live Pathfinder effects and how they differ in Vectornation

Combining shapes is the backbone of a lot of vector work. Cutting one shape from another, splitting overlapping shapes into pieces and merging pieces of the same colour are everyday tasks for logos and icons. In Vectornation by Zaweba the Pathfinder operations are also available as live effects: Divide, Trim, Merge, Crop, Outline, Hard mix, Soft mix and Trap.

Live is the important word. The original shapes stay in the file, and the combined result is what you see.

What each one does

Divide splits overlapping shapes into separate pieces along every edge where they cross. It is useful when you want to colour each region of an overlap differently.

Trim removes the hidden parts of shapes that sit behind others, leaving only what you can see, while keeping each shape's colour.

Merge does what trim does and also joins touching shapes of the same colour into one.

Crop uses the top shape as a frame and keeps only the parts of the shapes below that fall inside it.

Outline reduces the shapes to their outlines, split where they cross. It is handy for preparing artwork for cutting or for seeing where edges meet.

Hard mix combines the colours where shapes overlap in a strong, hard edged way, a little like inks printed over each other.

Soft mix combines overlapping colours more gently, so the overlap reads as a softer blend of the two.

Trap creates slight overlaps between touching colours. In printing, plates can shift a little, leaving thin white gaps where two colours meet. Trapping hides those gaps, and having it in the same set means you can see and adjust it alongside your artwork.

Why live combining helps

A one off pathfinder operation is final. If you have cut a crescent moon from two circles and then want a fatter crescent, the original circles are gone and you start again. With the live effect, the two circles are still there. Move the inner one and the crescent changes shape.

That makes live pathfinder effects good for design work in progress. Logo ideas, icon sets and diagrams often go through many small changes, and keeping the parts editable saves a great deal of redrawing.

When to expand

Some destinations need the final shapes as plain paths: a sign cutter, an embroidery program, or a partner who uses different software. When you get to that point, make sure the shapes you send are plain paths. Keep the live version safe, perhaps on a hidden layer, so you can return to it if changes come back.

For your own working files, there is little reason to flatten early. The live version shows exactly what will be output.

Choosing between them

If you want one solid shape from several, think about Merge. If you want to keep colours but lose hidden parts, Trim. If you need regions to colour separately, Divide. If the job is about how inks overlap in print, Hard mix, Soft mix and Trap are the ones to look at. And Crop is the quick answer to fitting artwork inside a frame shape.

Keeping combined shapes predictable

Group the shapes you want combined before applying the effect, so it is clear which objects take part. Name the group if the file is complex. And check the result at the size it will be used. These habits keep live pathfinder effects predictable, and make it easy to pick up the file again weeks later.