How to Use The Shape Builder Tool in Adobe Illustrator

Modifying images can be a daily occurrence in the life of a graphic artist. Merging, deleting and reconstructing images can create new image features, focal points and designs. Adobe Illustrator is a frequent tool used by graphic artists and designers to help quickly and accurately create vector-based images for commercial and artistic purposes. Learn how to use the shape builder tool in Adobe Illustrator to merge, delete and create images from one or more existing images.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-O84e8B0EU

How to Use The Shape Builder Tool in Adobe Illustrator Video

Janee Meadows, an award-winning graphic artist from Los Angeles, offers a visual tutorial on how to use the shape builder tool in Adobe Illustrator. She offers a step-by-step guide on activating and utilizing the tool to modify images. This graphic design tutorial is part of a larger series of Adobe Illustrator guides offered on the Mahalo.com YouTube channel.

Step 1: Create Images

Open an Adobe Illustrator document and create at least two objects. Overlap the two images slightly by dragging one figure on top of the other image.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-O84e8B0EU

Step 2: Activate Shape Builder Tool

Highlight the images you want to modify. Click on the shape builder tool, which is the 9th button from the top in the left column of your tool palate. If you prefer using quick keys, press and hold the "Shift" button, then press "M".http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-O84e8B0EU

Step 3: Build Your Image

Once the builder tool is activated, the cursor will feature a small plus under the arrow. Click on one of your images and drag the line that appears to the other image. The images will fuse together. Press the "Option" button (or the "Alt" key on a Windows-based system), and the cursor image will change to a minus sign. Click on an area and the area will be removed from your image.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-O84e8B0EU