Another useful panel in the construction of logos and infographics is the Pathfinder panel, which you can use to construct and merge shapes and paths. Refer to Figure 7-45.
Figure 7-45. Pathfinder panel and its menu options
This panel is divided into two sections. The first is the upper section or Shape Modes that can be used in an editable mode, known as Make Compound Shape, when two shapes or paths are selected and you hold down the Alt/Option key and you click the icon. Refer to Figure 7-46.
Figure 7-46. Combine and divide various selected shapes using the Pathfinder panel Shape Modes
These include the options of
•\ Unite: A compound added shape
•\ Minus Front: A compound shape that subtracts from the front of the shape area
•\ Intersect: A compound shape, which leaves the intersection of the two shapes
•\ Exclude: A compound shape that removes the overlapping area and only leaves the surrounding shapes
When using these Shape Modes, if you do not hold down the Alt/Option key or afterward click the Expand button while the compound shape is selected, this will cause the shape to be destructive, and the setting of the paths will be permanent unless you choose Edit ➤ Undo (Ctrl/CMD+Z) right away or use your History panel. You can use the Pathfinder panel’s menu to make, release, and expand compound shapes.
The second Pathfinders section is in the same panel. However, it has no editable compound shape option, and the effects that are applied are permanent to the combining of the grouped shape or remaining path. Refer to Figure 7-47.
Figure 7-47. Combine and divide various selected shapes using the Pathfinder panel Pathfinders options with some paths altered using selection tools
These include
•\ Divide: Divides the shape in multiple segments which you can later drag away from the shape using the Direct Selection tool while grouped.
•\ Trim: Separates the two different colored shapes and deletes the part of the shape behind the upper shape.
•\ Merge: This can act just like trim, but if the shape’s colors are the same, then it is similar to unite.
•\ Crop: Changes the color of the upper shape that was originally the lower shape color and leaves only that part of the upper shape that was within the lower shape.
•\ Outline: Leaves the surrounding stroke where the two shapes touched. In example Figure 7-47 part of the lower stroke of the star was then be selected with the Direct Selection tool and deleted. To see the complete outline path that is created refer to the similar example in Figure 7-48.
•\ Minus Back: Leaves only the part of the upper shape outside of the lower shape.
Note Alternatively, you can also use the Effect ➤ Pathfinder menu on grouped paths to create a similar effect. In this case, the effects will appear similar and remain editable. As well as additional options for Hard and Soft mix of colors. To complete the transformation, use Object ➤ Expand Appearance. Refer to Figure 7-48.
Figure 7-48. Various kinds of effects you can create with grouped paths and Pathfinder effects
For Photoshop users, you can also find for live Shape Modes Pathfinder options for working with vector layers in the Properties panel. However, there are only four options available. You can refer to my file pathfinder_examples.ai to review this.