: Nesting Paths for Vector Artwork in Illustrator Good day! Just wanted to ask designers for tips on how to speed up my workflow when creating the following: Example 1: When creating wrapped effects

@Kimberly620

There are several tools you could use. I personally prefer to use Shape Builder Tool for this as its by far the fastest tool. The trick to using shape builder is to hold Alt down to subtract parts of paths. Sometimes the Object → Path → Divide Objects Below Is the fastest tool. And last but not least is the scissors tool, but I tend to only use it if I really need the cut out segments.



Image 1: Shape builder tool in action, Alt clicking segments to delete. You could be faster if you allow for shape builder to redo your close shapes but I rarely want that.

Tools that you could use:


Shape builder
Object → Path → Divide Objects Below
Scissors tool
Knife tool but this is by far too imprecise for this task.
Eraser, a bit clunky but might work.

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@Sarah814

I would use the Knife or Scissors Tool provided by the program.

Here is the Adobe Help page giving an overview of the tool. helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/cutting-dividing-objects.html
Please let me know if you're looking for more!
- Cheers

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@Speyer780

For the second object, you can fill a non-closed path in Illustrator, so rather than editing the underlying path, just set the ones on top to be filled w/ white which will knock out the path beneath it.

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