Creating a final shape quickly

If you know what shape you want to create, and you don't need the live, editable attributes of a compound shape or Pathfinder effect, use the filters in the Pathfinder palette. The Pathfinder filters produce final objects directly. Using Pathfinder filters is the same as creating a Pathfinder effect or (when using Add, Subtract, Intersect, or Exclude) a compound shape, and then expanding it--it's just a faster way of getting the same result.

To create a final shape using Pathfinder filters:

Select the objects you want to combine, and then in the Pathfinder palette, do one of the following:

• Click a Pathfinder button.
• Press Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac OS) and click a Shape Modes button.

Note: For a description of each button, see the respective name and description in Using effects to combine shapes nondestructively.