We’re excited to present you with a thorough guide on utilizing the cutting tool in Adobe Illustrator. Adobe Illustrator is an influential and flexible software for creating vector graphics, and mastering the cutting tool is a crucial ability for all users. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the detailed steps of using the cutting tool in Adobe Illustrator.
Step 1: Open Adobe Illustrator
Firstly, open your Adobe Illustrator application. If you haven’t installed the application yet, you can download it from the official Adobe website.
Step 2: Open or Create the Document
Next, open the document that you would like to cut or create a new one. To open an existing document, select File > Open from the menu and navigate to your document. To create a new document, select File > New from the menu and specify your document settings.
Step 3: Select the Cutting Tool
The cutting tool in Adobe Illustrator is called the Scissors Tool. You can select the Scissors Tool from the main toolbar. If you can’t see the Scissors Tool in the toolbar, it might be grouped with the Eraser Tool or the Knife Tool. Click and hold on these tools in the toolbar to reveal the Scissors Tool. You can also select the Scissors Tool by pressing C on your keyboard.
Step 4: Cut the Path
Once you’ve selected the Scissors Tool, click on the path where you would like to make the cut. If the path is a closed shape and you would like to cut it open, you will need to click on the path twice — once at the start of the cut and once at the end of the cut.
// Select the Scissors Tool
selectTool('Scissors');
// Click at the start of the cut
clickPath(startPoint);
// Click at the end of the cut
clickPath(endPoint);
Step 5: Finalize the Cut
Once you’ve made the cut, you can move the pieces apart or manipulate them individually. At this point, the cut you’ve made is permanent and cannot be undone unless you use the Edit > Undo function or reload your document without saving.
And that’s it! You’ve successfully cut a path in Adobe Illustrator. Now that you know how to cut, you can create more complex shapes and designs. Keep practicing, and you’ll become an Adobe Illustrator expert in no time!