Object Creation Tools

Three tools make new objects out of the ones you already have: Shape Builder combines overlapping shapes, Repeater arranges copies in lines and circles, Spray scatters copies across the canvas. All three keep the result editable.

Shape Builder

Build complex shapes from simple overlapping ones — merge, subtract or extract the regions where they overlap, directly on the canvas, without drawing curves by hand.

1. Select two or more shapes.
2. Press B (Shape Builder). A mesh appears over the shapes; every region formed by the overlaps can be picked.
3. Click regions to add them to the new shape — or drag across several regions at once.

The toolbar has two modes and a set of quick selections:

• Add (+) — the clicked regions become one unified shape.
• Remove (−) — the clicked regions are deleted; use it to cut holes or trim overlaps.
• All · Subtract · Intersect · Exclude · Deselect — select all regions, prepare a subtraction, keep only the overlaps, keep everything except the overlaps, or clear the selection.

For the classic boolean operations on whole objects (Unite, Subtract, Intersect, Exclude) see Path operations.

Repeater

Create many synchronised copies of an object with one click — rows, grids, radial arrays — that stay linked to the original: edit the original and every copy follows.

1. Select the object (several objects also work — they repeat as one unit).
2. Group it: Object › Group (⌘ / Ctrl + G).
3. Tick Repeater in the Properties panel — or press Y for the Repeater tool.

Then set, in the Repeater section:

Property	Meaning
Copies	how many instances to generate
Origin	the pivot the copies are arranged around
Translation	the distance and direction between consecutive copies
Rotation	the angle added with each copy
Scale	the size change from one copy to the next

The toolbar (Repeater tool) has presets and shortcuts: Circle (a perfect radial array), Line (a straight row), Add one clone / Remove one clone, Cancel Repeat (removes the effect from the group). The group’s shape and the repeater settings are edited independently, so you can restyle the original at any time.

Spray

Scatter copies of an object with organic, randomised size, rotation and opacity — leaves, stars, dust, confetti.

1. Select the object and group it (⌘ / Ctrl + G). A group can hold several shapes — the tool sprays the cluster as one unit.
2. Pick the Spray tool in the Tools panel.
3. Click, or drag across the canvas, to distribute copies.

The copies are SVG <use> clones of the original: hundreds of them stay light, and changing the original inside the group updates every sprayed copy. Toolbar settings:

Setting	Meaning
Spray Radius	the size of the area each click covers
Amount	how many copies per click / drag step
Rotation	random rotation applied to each copy
Min / Max Scale	the size range the copies are picked from
Min / Max Opacity	the transparency range — fade-outs, depth, atmosphere

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Next

• Turn a repeated cluster into a reusable Symbol to place it elsewhere.
• Linked copies of a single object without a group: Clones.