借助 Adob e Illustrator(Illustrator)的Shape Builder工具，即使是初学者也可以组合简单的形状来创建复杂的形状。在这个简单的Illustrator教程中，我们将向您展示如何合并和减去基本形状(subtract basic shapes)以创建新形状。
形状生成器(Shape Builder)工具在CS5版本中添加到Illustrator中，此后的所有版本都包含它。我们使用的是Adobe Illustrator CC，但只要您使用的是Illustrator CS5或更高版本，这些说明应该可以工作。
如何使用形状生成器工具合并(Shape Builder Tool)形状(Shapes)
我们将从合并矢量形状开始。Illustrator中的所有形状工具都可以创建矢量形状(vector shapes)。这意味着它们可以缩放到任何大小。
- 在画板上添加一些形状。您可以使用任何形状工具，例如矩形工具、椭圆工具、多边形工具或钢笔工具。
- 我们将在重叠形状上使用形状生成器工具的合并模式(Shape Builder Tool)并(Merge Mode)移动形状，使它们相交。
- 使用选择工具(Selection Tool)选择两个或多个重叠的形状。按住Shift可选择多个形状。
- 从工具面板中选择Shape Builder或使用键盘快捷键(Shape Builder)Shift + M。
- 将(Drag)形状生成器(Shape Builder)工具拖过选定的形状。当您拖动新形状的每个部分时，它们都会突出显示。当您释放鼠标时，形状将合并。您会在光标旁边看到一个小加号，提醒您正在将一个形状添加到另一个形状。
提示：为避免无意中丢失多个形状的某些重叠区域，请在拖动形状生成器(Shape Builder)选取框的同时围绕要合并的所有形状
按住Shift 。
如何使用形状生成器工具擦除(Shape Builder Tool)形状(Shapes)
有时，图形设计项目(graphic design project)会要求您从另一个形状中减去一个形状。Shape Builder有一个擦除(Erase)模式，使它变得容易。
- 首先使用选择工具(Selection Tool)选择两个重叠的形状。我们将从另一个形状中减去一个形状。
- 选择Shape Builder Tool并按住Alt或Option ( Mac )，同时从一个形状拖动到该形状与另一个形状重叠的部分。如您所见，按Alt或Option会使Shape Builder工具进入擦除模式(Erase mode)，以便从另一个形状中减去一个形状。您会知道您已激活擦除模式(Erase mode)，因为您会在光标旁边看到一个小减号。
提示：请注意，额外的锚点会添加到两个形状相交的新形状中。如果您愿意，可以使用这些锚点来重塑路径。
如果您曾经使用 Illustrator 的Pathfinder工具来创建复杂的形状，那么您会喜欢使用Shape Builder工具更快、更轻松的方法。
如何设置形状生成器工具选项(Shape Builder Tool Options)
现在您已经对Adobe Illustrator中的(Adobe Illustrator)Shape Builder工具的工作方式有了很好的了解，请花一点时间了解您可以自定义的选项。
通过双击工具栏中的Shape(Shape Builder) Builder访问Shape Builder Tool选项。
间隙检测
想象一下(Imagine)，您有三个重叠的椭圆，中间有一个间隙。
在形状生成器选项(Shape Builder Options)中打开间隙检测(Gap Detection)允许您告诉形状生成器(Shape Builder)在合并形状时包含该间隙区域。
正确设置间隙长度可能需要反复试验，因此Shape Builder包含您想要的尽可能多的间隙。
将开放的填充路径(Open Filled Paths)视为封闭的
如果您使用钢笔(Pen)工具创建了开放路径，并且选中了形状生成器(Shape Builder)选项中的将开放填充路径(Consider Open Filled Paths)视为闭合框，那么形状生成器(Shape Builder)将在路径打开的位置创建一个不可见的边缘，以便它能够创建一个区域。
在合并模式下(Merge Mode)，单击笔划会拆分(Stroke Splits)路径(Path)
如果选中 In Merge Mode , Clicking the Stroke Splits the Path复选框，您可以选择路径的一部分。
从中挑选颜色
您可以在此处选择如何为新创建的形状着色。
- (Select Artwork)如果您希望新形状的样式与您使用形状生成器(Shape Builder)工具
触摸的第一个对象相同，请选择艺术品。
- (Select Color Swatches)如果您想用来自最后一个选定对象的色板填充新形状，请
选择色板。
选中Cursor Swatch Preview框将弹出一个浮动颜色选择器。使用左右箭头在选项中循环。
选择
您选择的“选择(Selection)”选项决定了“形状生成器(Shape Builder)”选择在您将其拖过对象时的行为方式。如果您选择Freeform，您将能够移动您不想包含的选项和区域。
强调
突出显示(Highlight)选项可帮助您查看使用形状生成器工具选择的内容(Shape Builder)。填充(Fill)选项将使形状生成器(Shape Builder)使用网格图案填充您拖过的区域。您可以在上面的屏幕截图中看到网格图案。
如果选中“可编辑(Editable)时突出显示描边(Highlight Stroke)”，则可以编辑的路径部分将以所选颜色描边。您还必须在Merge Mode中，单击 Stroke(Clicking Stroke)会拆分上面选择的路径(Path)。否则，路径段将不可编辑，因此不会突出显示。
坚持下去
一旦您熟悉了 Adobe Illustrator 的Shape Builder工具，您可能想尝试一下3D 建模(3D modeling)。它的工作方式大致相同——通过添加和减去形状。唯一的区别是，在Illustrator中，您使用的是二维形状，并且根据定义，3D 建模意味着使用 3D 对象。
How to Use Adobe Illustrator’s Shape Builder Tool
With Αdobe Illustrator’s Shape Builder tool, even beginners can combine simplе shapes to creatе complex ones. In this simple Illustrator tutorial, we’ll show you how to merge and subtract basic shapes to create a new shape.
The Shape Builder tool was added to Illustrator in version CS5, and all versions since then have included it. We used Adobe Illustrator CC, but as long as you’re using Illustrator CS5 or later, these instructions should work.
How to Merge Shapes With the Shape Builder Tool
We’ll start by merging vector shapes. All of the shape tools in Illustrator create vector shapes. That means they can be scaled to any size.
- Add a few shapes to the artboard. You can use any shape tool like the rectangle tool, the ellipse tool, the polygon tool, or the pen tool.
- We’ll use the Merge Mode of the Shape Builder Tool on overlapping shapes and move the shapes, so they intersect.
- Use the Selection Tool to select two or more overlapping shapes. Hold down Shift to select multiple shapes.
- Select Shape Builder from the tools panel or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + M.
- Drag the Shape Builder tool across the selected shapes. Each part of the new shape will be highlighted as you drag over them. When you release the mouse, the shapes will merge. You’ll see a tiny plus sign next to the cursor to remind you that you’re adding one shape to another.
TIP: To avoid inadvertently missing some overlapping areas of multiple shapes, press Shift while you drag the Shape Builder marquee around all the shapes you want to merge.
How to Erase Shapes with the Shape Builder Tool
Sometimes a graphic design project will require you to subtract one shape from another. Shape Builder has an Erase mode that makes it easy.
- Begin by using the Selection Tool to select two overlapping shapes. We’ll subtract one shape from the other.
- Select the Shape Builder Tool and hold down Alt or Option (Mac) while you drag from one shape into the part of that shape that overlaps the other shape. As you can see, pressing Alt or Option puts the Shape Builder tool into Erase mode so that one shape is subtracted from the other. You’ll know you’ve activated Erase mode because you’ll see a tiny minus sign next to the cursor.
TIP: Notice that additional anchor points are added to your new shape where the two shapes used to intersect. If you like, you can use those anchor points to reshape the path.
If you’ve ever used Illustrator’s Pathfinder tool to create complex shapes, you’ll love how much faster and easier it is to use the Shape Builder tool instead.
How to Set Shape Builder Tool Options
Now that you have a good idea of how the Shape Builder tool works in Adobe Illustrator, take a minute to learn about the options you can customize.
Access the Shape Builder Tool options by double-clicking on Shape Builder in the toolbar.
Gap Detection
Imagine you have three overlapping ellipses with a gap in the middle.
Turning on Gap Detection in Shape Builder Options allows you to tell Shape Builder to include that gap region when merging shapes.
It may take trial and error to set the gap length correctly, so the Shape Builder includes as much of the gap as you want.
Consider Open Filled Paths as Closed
If you’ve used the Pen tool to create an open path and you check the Consider Open Filled Paths as Closed box in the Shape Builder options, Shape Builder will create an invisible edge where the path is open so it’s able to make a region.
In Merge Mode, Clicking the Stroke Splits the Path
If the In Merge Mode, Clicking the Stroke Splits the Path box is checked, you can select a portion of a path.
Pick Color From
This is where you choose how the newly-created shape will be colored.
- Select Artwork if you want the new shape’s styling to be the same as the first object you touch with the Shape Builder tool.
- Select Color Swatches if you want to fill the new shape with the swatch from the last object that was selected.
Checking the box for Cursor Swatch Preview will bring up a floating color picker. Use the left and right arrows to cycle through the options.
Selection
The Selection option you choose determines how the Shape Builder selection will behave as you drag it across objects. If you choose Freeform, you’ll be able to move around options and regions you don’t want to include.
Highlight
The Highlight option helps you see what you’ve selected with the Shape Builder tool. The Fill option will cause Shape Builder to fill the regions you’ve dragged across with a mesh pattern. You can see the mesh pattern in the screenshots above.
If Highlight Stroke when Editable is checked, parts of a path that can be edited will be stroked in the color selected. You must also have In Merge Mode, Clicking Stroke Splits the Path selected above. Otherwise, the path segments won’t be editable, and, therefore, won’t be highlighted.
Keep At It
Once you become familiar with Adobe Illustrator’s Shape Builder tool, you might want to try your hand at 3D modeling. It works in much the same way—by adding and subtracting shapes. The only difference is that in Illustrator, you’re working with two-dimensional shapes, and, by definition, 3D modeling means working with three-dimensional objects.
