Illustrator Help Needed...

[conseit68]

Ok I know this has to be simple, but I have gone retarded...

Picture 2 circles...Circle #1 is slightly smaller and inside of Circle #2.

Now picture that you want to connect those two circles together with a line from the bottom of Circle #2 to the bottom of Circle #1...

Then you would like to repeat that process (another connecting line) slightly to the right of the first line...

Now, finally you want to delete just the portions of both circles bewteen both lines...


OK, NOW IT SOUNDS SIMPLE ENOUGH...BUT I AM AT A COMPLETE LOSS ON HOW TO CONNECT 2 SHAPES AND DELETE THE PORTIONS. HELP PLEASE...

[MikeDeuce]

Not sure I'm understanding...

something like what is represented here?

If that's right, you can do it manually with the pen tool or quick and dirty with the Pathfinder tools (window -> pathfinder).

Do the circles first, put one on top of the other, use the "subtract from shape area" button, then once you have the donut, draw a rectangle over one part of the donut and use "subtract from shape area" again in pathfinder.

I'd do it manually with the pen tool and direct selection tool, myself... but only because I would probably be doing this to use with a plotter.

[conseit68]

Yes exactly as you have represented...I am doing this for a waterjet machine to cut a design out of 1/4" aluminium so I have to make sure all of the shapes connect in some way. If I do it the pathfinder way will that pose a problem?...

[MikeDeuce]

Oooh I see... then definitely don't do it with the shape modes in pathfinder like I mentioned before... that would only work for illustration purposes.

You can still use THE pathfinders within the pathfinder tool window (the bottom row).

Here's the steps I'd use:

1) Draw small circle first
2) Draw bigger circle over the smaller circle
3) Select both and use the "Minus back" pathfinder
4) Draw the rectangle and do Object Menu-> Arrange -> Send to back
5) Select both and and hit the "Minus back" pathfinder again

And that should make the path perfect (good enough for my vinyl cutter for sure).

hth
mike