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    Feature Request: Zero-gap Divide using no-fill / no-stroke cutter

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    • BoldlineB Offline
      Boldline
      last edited by Boldline

      I would like Boolean Divide to support using a no-fill, no-stroke object as a zero-width cutter.

      This is a standard Illustrator workflow and it is useful when you need to split artwork into separate closed shapes without removing any area between them.

      Example:

      Place a rectangle or path over the artwork.
      Set the cutter rectangle to no fill / no stroke.
      Select the artwork and cutter .
      Apply Divide.
      The artwork is split into separate closed objects, but the pieces still meet on the exact same boundary.

      In VectorStyler, a cutter with a stroke creates a physical gap because the stroke width becomes part of the Boolean geometry. With no stroke, Divide does not currently produce the cut.

      The Knife Tool and other workarounds can get close, but they are not as efficient when cutting multiple filled objects, outlined shapes, or more complex artwork.

      Here is a YouTube video cued up to to the point where they make the cutter shape have no fill/no stroke and then use it to cut the rope piece.

      Requested behavior:

      Allow Divide to recognize the vector path of a no-fill / no-stroke object
      Treat that path as zero-width cutting geometry
      Split all intersected shapes into separate closed objects
      Preserve 100% of the original filled area
      Create no gap along the cut
      Support both open paths and closed cutter shapes

      This would make Divide much more useful for logo construction, spot-color artwork, screen-print separations, and any situation where adjacent shapes need to meet exactly.

      My screenshot shows the type of setup I mean. The vertical rectangle should act only as the division geometry, without removing any fill from the shapes below it.

      There is also an older related discussion here:

      “Use an Empty path like the knife tool to cut a shape with no visible gap”

      I think adding this directly to Divide would be a cleaner and more predictable solution than relying on workarounds.
      CleanShot 2026-08-07 at 15.30.33.png

      This is how it looks in VS without this option. The white divide lines are visible util I merge all of it down. : ebbc1307-e483-4370-ba0f-6b661417cfef-CleanShot 2026-08-07 at 15.55.45.png

      🍎 macOS Tahoe 26.2, Mac mini (M1, 2020), Chip Apple M1, Memory 16 GB
      Cintiq 27QHD Display and LG Ultra HD Display

      VectorStylerV 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • VectorStylerV Offline
        VectorStyler @Boldline
        last edited by

        @Boldline I added this to the backlog

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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