Illustrator

Erase artwork

You can erase portions of your artwork using the Path Eraser tool, the Eraser tool, or the eraser on a Wacom stylus pen. The Path Eraser tool  lets you erase parts of a path by drawing along the path. This tool is useful when you want to limit what you erase to a path segment, such as one edge of a triangle. The Eraser tool  and the eraser on a Wacom stylus pen let you erase any area of your artwork, regardless of structure. You can use the Eraser tool on paths, compound paths, paths inside Live Paint groups, and clipping paths.

Using the Path Eraser tool to erase portions of a path (left), using the Eraser tool to erase part of a grouped object (right)

For a video on using the Eraser tool, see www.adobe.com/go/vid0036.

Erase part of a path using the Path Eraser tool

  1. Select the object.
  2. Select the Path Eraser tool .
  3. Drag the tool along the length of the path segment you want to erase. For best results, use a single, smooth, dragging motion.

Erase objects using the Eraser tool

  1. Do one the following:

    • To erase specific objects, select the objects or open the objects in isolation mode.

    • To erase any object on the artboard, leave all objects unselected.

    When you have nothing selected, the Eraser tool erases through and across all layers.

  2. Select the Eraser tool .
  3. (Optional) Double-click the Eraser tool and specify options.
  4. Drag over the area you want to erase. You can control the tool by doing any of the following:

    • To constrain the Eraser tool to a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, Shift‑drag.

    • To create a marquee around an area and erase everything inside the area, Alt‑drag (Windows) or Option‑drag (Mac OS). To constrain the marquee to a square, Alt‑Shift‑drag (Windows) or Option‑Shift‑drag (Mac OS).

Erase objects using a Wacom stylus pen eraser

When you flip a stylus pen, the Eraser Tool automatically becomes active. When you flip the stylus pen back over, the last active tool becomes active again.

 Turn over the stylus pen and drag across the area you want to erase.

Press harder to increase the width of the erased path.

Eraser tool options

You can change the Eraser tool options by double-clicking the tool in the Tools panel.

Note: You can change the diameter at any time by pressing ] to enlarge or [ to reduce.
Angle
Determines the angle of rotation for the tool. Drag the arrowhead in the preview, or enter a value in the Angle text box.

Roundness
Determines roundness of the tool. Drag a black dot in the preview away from or toward the center, or enter a value in the Roundness text box. The higher the value, the greater the roundness.

Diameter
Determines the diameter of the tool. Use the Diameter slider, or enter a value in the Diameter text box.

The pop‑up list to the right of each option lets you control variations in the shape of the tool. Select one of the following options:

Fixed
Uses a fixed angle, roundness, or diameter.

Random
Uses random variations in angle, roundness, or diameter. Enter a value in the Variation text box to specify the range within which the brush characteristic can vary. For example, when the Diameter value is 15 and the Variation value is 5, the diameter can be 10, or 20, or any value in between.

Pressure
Varies in angle, roundness, or diameter based on the pressure of a drawing stylus. This option is most useful when used with Diameter. It is available only if you have a graphics tablet. Enter a value in the Variation text box to specify how much more or less the original value the brush characteristic will vary. For example, when the Roundness value is 75% and the Variation value is 25%, the lightest stroke is 50% and the heaviest stroke is 100%. The lighter the pressure, the more angular the brush stroke.

Stylus Wheel
Varies in diameter based on manipulation of the stylus wheel.

Tilt
Varies in angle, roundness, or diameter based on the tilt of a drawing stylus. This option is most useful when used with Roundness. It is available only if you have a graphics tablet that can detect the direction in which the pen is tilted.

Bearing
Varies in angle, roundness, or diameter based on the pressure of a drawing stylus. This option is most useful when used to control the angle of calligraphic brushes, especially when you’re using the brush like a paintbrush. It is available only if you have a graphics tablet that can detect how close to vertical the pen is.

Rotation
Varies in angle, roundness, or diameter based on how the drawing stylus pen tip is rotated. This option is most useful when used to control the angle of calligraphic brushes, especially when you’re using the brush like a flat pen. It is available only if you have a graphics tablet that can detect this type of rotation.