How to Cut a Circle in Adobe Illustrator

How to Cut a Circle in Adobe Illustrator

There are a few different ways to cut a circle in Adobe Illustrator, depending on the desired outcome.

Method 1: Using the Knife Tool

The Knife tool is a versatile tool that can be used to cut a circle in a variety of ways. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Select the Knife tool (X) from the Tools panel.
2. Click and drag the Knife tool around the circle to create a cutting path.
3. Click on the two endpoints of the cutting path to close it.
4. The circle will be cut into two pieces.

Method 2: Using the Divide Tool

The Divide tool is a more precise way to cut a circle into multiple pieces. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Select the Divide tool (Shift+X) from the Tools panel.
2. Click and drag the Divide tool over the circle.
3. The circle will be divided into the number of segments specified in the Options bar.

Method 3: Using the Shape Builder Tool

The Shape Builder tool is a powerful tool that can be used to create complex shapes by combining or subtracting other shapes. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Create a rectangle or another shape that will serve as the boundary for the cut circle.
2. Select both the circle and the boundary shape.
3. Click on the Shape Builder tool (Shift-M).
4. Click and drag within the boundary shape to cut the circle.

Method 4: Using the Eraser Tool

The Eraser tool can be used to erase portions of a circle, creating a cutout effect. To use it, follow these steps:

1. Select the Eraser tool (E).
2. Click and drag on the circle to erase the desired portions.

Tips

• You can use the Pathfinder panel to combine or subtract shapes to create complex cut circles.
• You can use the Free Transform tool (Ctrl+T) to skew or distort the cut circle after it has been created.