cutting or dividing a shape using a line drawn across the shape

[Jeremy Harbinson]

Hi,

Is there a way to divide any shape along a line drawn across that shape. For example, I draw a rectangle, and then draw a line across the rectangle, and split the rectangle along the line by essentially merging the rectangle with the line and dividing the new shape into two parts that could be edited separately. This can be done to some shapes (e.g. squares, rectangles) with the knife tool, but that is limited in terms of the form of the line it can draw, and the cut ends need to be tidied up by adding new lines to re-enclose the new shapes. 

all the best,

Jeremy Harbinson

[eazydave]

Draw the desired line - then it is available for inspection, zoom in, tweak ... whatever.  

When you are happy with placement, use the Knife tool. Cut at the intersections - notice the Knife will automatically snap to an intersection. So - you make two (or more...) cuts. Now you have the two pieces of the cut graphic and the new closing segment (doesn't need to be a line). Select the desired elements and perform Convert to Welded Bezier. If both elements need "closing" duplicate-in-place the cut-closing segment so you have one for each half.

If the cut-intersections are near a vertex - use Option key with the knife to favor "intersection" over "node delete".

If the combined result has more control points than are needed - use Graphic Details to re-format the desired segments.

Dave