How to Combine Vector Images Together
Learning to combine vector images lets you reduce the number of vector shapes in a drawing, which can help you manage your drawing more effectively and efficiently. Also, combining vector images makes it possible to smooth a rough or "unsmooth" portion of your illustration. For example, if you have two different vector shapes representing the left and right sides of a face, the place where those shapes overlap in the face's chin may produce an unnaturally harsh "V" angle. Once you join the left and right vectors, you can smooth the chin by deleting any nodes located there.
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Instructions
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CorelDraw
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1
Click the tool palette icon shaped like a white arrow to run the selection tool.
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2
Click a vector shape to select it.
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3
Press and hold the "Shift" key.
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4
Click another vector shape, and then release the "Shift" key. This action selects both shapes for combining.
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5
Right-click the canvas and click "Combine." CorelDraw will indicate that both shapes are combined by drawing a bounding box around both.
Illustrator
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6
Click the white arrow on the tool palette to run the direct selection tool.
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7
Click one of the square handles on a vector shape. Illustrator's help file refers to this handle as an anchor point.
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8
Click the scissors icon on the toolbar to split the vector shape. This is necessary for the "Join" command.
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9
Use the instructions from Steps 2 and 3 to cut the shape with which you want to combine the first shape.
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10
Click one of the endpoints of the first shape, and then press and hold the "Shift" key. Click one of the endpoints of the second vector shape to select it. Right-click the canvas and click "Join." Illustrator will extend a new line connecting the two endpoints you selected, joining the two separate shapes into one.
Inkscape
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11
Click the tool palette icon shaped like a black arrow to run the tool for selecting vector shapes.
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12
Click one of the shapes you want to combine with another shape.
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13
Press and hold "Shift."
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14
Click another shape for the combine operation, and then release the "Shift" key.
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15
Click the "Shape" menu, and then click "Combine." Inscape will draw a bounding box around both shapes, indicating that they are now one shape.
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1
References
- "Illustrator CS5 Bible"; Ted Alspach; 2010
- "CorelDRAW X5 The Official Guide"; Gary Bouton; 2010
- "The Book of Inkscape"; Dmitry Kirsanov; 2009
