(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)

Pathfinder Options
Another way to build complex objects is using the powerful 'Pathfinder' palette. This set of tools allow designers to 'Unite,' 'Intersect,' 'Exclude,' 'Minus Front,' 'Minus Back,' 'Divide,' 'Trim,' 'Merge,' 'Crop,' and 'Outline,' objects and paths.

Unite
This tool traces the outline of all selected objects and merges them into a single object. All interior paths are deleted. The top object's fill/line attributes will be applied to the new object.

Intersect
This tool traces the outline of all overlapping objects. This command is limited to two objects at a time. The top object's fill/line attributes will be applied to the new object.

Exclude
Exclude tool traces all non-overlapping shapes, making overlapping areas transparent. Where an even number of objects overlap, the overlap becomes transparent. Where an odd numbers of objects the overlaps become filled.

Minus Front
This tool subtracts the front most selected object from the back most object.

Minus Back
This tool subtracts the back most selected object from the front most object.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)