Adobe Illustrator Combining Objects and Paths Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

What is the difference between the 'Unite' and 'Merge' Pathfinder operations?

Accepted Answer

Unite combines all shapes into one regardless of color; Merge combines same-colored overlapping shapes and divides different-colored ones

Answer

They produce identical results

Answer

Merge only works with strokes

Answer

Unite preserves individual paths while Merge flattens them

Question 2

How does the Shape Builder tool differ from Pathfinder operations?

Accepted Answer

Shape Builder lets you interactively click and drag to merge or subtract regions, while Pathfinder applies the operation to entire selected shapes at once

Answer

Shape Builder only works with rectangles

Answer

Pathfinder is more accurate

Answer

Shape Builder requires the Pen tool first

Question 3

What does the 'Outline' Pathfinder operation do?

Accepted Answer

Divides overlapping shapes into separate segments along every intersection line, removing fills and keeping only stroked edges

Answer

Converts fills to strokes

Answer

Creates an outline of the selected text

Answer

Removes all strokes from the selection

Question 4

What is a Compound Shape and how is it different from a Compound Path?

Accepted Answer

A Compound Shape preserves original shapes with live Pathfinder modes; a Compound Path creates simple cutout holes

Answer

They are the same thing

Answer

Compound Paths support color but Compound Shapes do not

Answer

Compound Shapes only work with text

Question 5

When using 'Minus Front', which object determines the resulting shape's fill color?

Accepted Answer

The backmost object

Answer

The frontmost object

Answer

The object with the largest area

Answer

No fill is applied - the result is always unfilled

Question 6

How do you use the 'Crop' Pathfinder operation?

Accepted Answer

It uses the frontmost object as a cookie cutter to trim all objects beneath it to its shape

Answer

It crops the artboard to the selection

Answer

It removes everything outside the artboard bounds

Answer

It works like a clipping mask but is non-destructive