Select the Shaper tool from the Tools panel or press Shift + N.
Last updated on
Oct 22, 2026
Learn how to draw freehand gestures in Adobe Illustrator that convert to vector shapes, then merge or remove overlapping areas.
The Shaper tool transforms rough sketches into precise vector shapes and supports intuitive gestures to combine or remove overlapping areas. This approach works well when you want to quickly explore design ideas without switching between multiple tools.
Use the Shaper tool to create rectangles, circles, ellipses, triangles, and polygons from freehand drawings. All shapes created remain fully editable as live shapes. This tool supports mouse input on desktops or touch input on compatible devices.
For combining shapes with more advanced options, use the Shape Builder tool instead.
What you need
- Adobe Illustrator 2023 or later
- Basic familiarity with the Tools panel
Draw vector shapes from freehand gestures
Draw a rough version of a rectangle, circle, ellipse, triangle, or polygon.
Draw freehand shapes that automatically transform into editable vector graphics. The Shaper tool recognizes your natural gestures and converts them into precise geometric shapes—circles, rectangles, polygons, and more. Each shape you create is a Live Shape, so you can continue to adjust corners, angles, and proportions without starting over.
Release the mouse.
Your freehand drawing automatically converts to the closest matching geometric shape. The resulting shape is a live shape that you can modify using standard selection and transformation tools.
Combine or remove overlapping shape areas
Create or select multiple overlapping shapes.
Select the Shaper tool if it is not already active.
Scribble across the areas you want to merge or remove.
The Shaper tool applies different operations based on where your scribble starts and ends:
- Scribble within one shape: Removes that area
- Scribble across intersecting areas: Removes the overlapping portions
- Scribble from non-overlapping to overlapping area (front shape): Punches out the front shape
- Scribble from overlapping to non-overlapping area (front shape): Merges shapes using the color from where the scribble started
- Scribble from non-overlapping to overlapping area (back shape): Merges shapes using the color from where the scribble started
When shapes merge, the result uses the fill color from where you started the scribble.
Select individual shapes in a Shaper Group
Select the Shaper tool.
Select a Shaper Group to display the bounding box with an Arrow widget.
Select the shape again to enter Face Selection mode, where merged shape faces appear matted.
Change the fill color or other properties.
Use Face Selection mode to select and change the fill color of individual shape faces within the group.
Face Selection mode lets you modify the appearance of merged shapes while keeping the underlying structure. To edit individual underlying shapes, use Construction mode instead.
Edit underlying shapes in Construction mode
Select a Shaper Group with the Shaper tool.
Click the Arrow widget to point it upward, double-click any shape, or single-click a shape's stroke.
Modify properties or appearance of the selected underlying object.
Construction mode reveals the individual shapes that make up a Shaper Group, even after they’ve been merged or removed. This gives you access to all shape properties and transformation controls.
Remove a shape from a Shaper Group
Enter Construction mode by clicking the Arrow widget, double-clicking a shape, or clicking a shape's stroke.
Drag the selected shape outside the bounding box to remove it from the group.
The shape becomes an independent object and no longer participates in the Shaper Group's merger.
Design with precision in Illustrator
Bring your ideas to life with vector graphics tools built for creative freedom and accuracy.
