Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 9/29/2008

Question
I am using Illustrator in creating Fashion designs. I am currently teaching myself by following an industry text, however, when I try to divide the dress illustration into a bodice and skirt after using the pen tool to create a divide line, Pathfinder creates a path down the back of the dress from top to bottom and thus instead of two pieces I end up with four! Please tell me what I am doing wrong so that I only end up with the bodice and skirt. Thank you.

Answer
Hi J.E.

Your original drawing is not an enclosed shape, instead it is two pieces a left side and a right side. You need to make sure that at the top center and bottom center the points are connected and not just two mirrored open shapes. Once enclosed, your pathfinder split will work just fine.

To join the two halves easily, select the two points that you need to connect and go to object>Path>Join.

Thanks

Kevin