4 Replies Latest reply: Mar 29, 2011 3:14 PM by zoon_unit RSS

    Why is it so hard to cookie cutter in Illustrator???

    zoon_unit Community Member

      I want to cut an object using the cookie cutter metaphor.  In other words, the cookie cutter object is used to partially cut its shape into another shape without "destroying" the cookie cutter.  (as in real life)

       

      Here's a real world example: I have several odd shaped pieces that should be individual objects, but they need to fit perfectly inside a container, ie. the cookie cutter.  (think of jigsaw puzzle pieces inside of a head shaped object.  So I want to place the container (cookie cutter) over the other objects and slice them so that they fit exactly INSIDE the container object without DESTROYING or MODIFYING the container in the process!

       

      If you use the pathfinder tools or the "object/path/divide objects below" command, the cookie cutter object either gets destroyed after cutting, or gets itself cut at the intersection points.  The only way around this is with a kludgey method such as below:

       

      1) Copy cookie cutter to the clipboard

      2) Use pathfinder divide, which cuts the object below, but also cuts the "cookie cutter."

      3) Delete the unused pieces and the destroyed cookie cutter.

      4) Edit/paste in place from the menu to restore the undamaged cookie cutter.

       

      Why isn't there an option to denote an object as a "cookie cutter" so that it is not altered during the slicing or dividing process?

       

      This seems like such an oft used shaping technique that I'm surprised there isn't an easy method to accomplish this!

       

      Yes, I know that masks can "simulate" this effect, but oftentimes you want a physical, cut object, not a mask to work with.

        • 1. Re: Why is it so hard to cookie cutter in Illustrator???
          rcraighead Community Member

          Have you experimented with the "Shape Builder Tool" in AICS 5?

           

          As for retaining the "cookie cutter", why not just copy it and paste-in-place when you're finished creating the inner shapes?

          • 2. Re: Why is it so hard to cookie cutter in Illustrator???
            zoon_unit Community Member

            Thanks for the reply.

             

            Your reference to "paste-in-place" was exactly the workaround I mentioned in

            the post.  It's not a horrible workaround, but you always run the risk that

            during the copy/paste-in-place sequence, that you forget and copy something

            over top of the clipboard.  Then you have to undo-cycle-through or remember

            to save profusely.

             

            It's just inefficient.  We are spending literally thousands of dollars for

            premiere/high end software when we purchase Adobe.  Simple things like

            cookie cutter functionality and rounded corner manipulations are something

            that should have long since been added to Illustrator functionality.

             

            I come from a CorelDraw background, and frankly, Corel is MUCH better from

            the usability standpoint, and things work logically.  Unfortunately, Corel

            doesn't have the pixel perfect sophistication of Adobe, hence the need to

            move to the "pro" package.  But, since we're paying "pro" prices, we should

            expect "pro" functionality!

             

            Kent

            • 3. Re: Why is it so hard to cookie cutter in Illustrator???
              rcraighead Community Member

              I agree. I just forked out a BIG wad to upgrade to CS5 Extended and there are things I would like to see addressed. I've made suggestions, but doubt my small voice gets much attention at Adobe.

               

              That being said, when I want to create professional, clean vector artwork, I turn to Illustrator. In spite of its flaws, it is the best, most versitile vector tool out there and I would be lost without it.

              • 4. Re: Why is it so hard to cookie cutter in Illustrator???
                zoon_unit Community Member

                I agree with you.  Having struggled with Corel for a long time, I appreciate

                the professional approach of Adobe.  HOWEVER, these guys are getting "lazy"

                in the sense that they own the "space" and as a result, they fail to take

                advantage of some of the innovations they could easily accomplish, yet

                choose to ignore because it's not a "pressing issue."

                 

                As long as they are "king of the hill" they don't see the need to keep up

                with change.  That hurts us all, and is one of the reasons why I like open

                source.  Not because everything should be free, but because "volunteers" are

                "free" to innovate without the constraints of "business."

                 

                If Adobe were smart, they would be parsing out every advantage of their

                competitors, and adding that functionality to their own product.  But pride

                and sloth get in the way.  And we end up with a substandard effort.

                 

                For instance, why IN THE WORLD does Adobe have 10 or more odd applications

                that do essentially the same thing, but with slightly different approaches?

                (since the programmers obviously don't communicate with each other.)  WHY do

                we need SEVERAL swatch libraries and locations?  WHY do we need several

                different ways to handle vector shapes?  (Illustrator vs. Photoshop vs.

                Dreamweaver vs. Fireworks) Why can't we have one, simple, "vector, type,

                image, video" application that works together toward one end?

                 

                You can see, I'm frustrated. 

                 

                Kent