Combining Multiple Paths / Parts in Adobe Illustrator CS6

Question

I have created a design in Illustrator and am having difficulty combining the shapes/paths.

The goal is to make this:

...which I have essentially made, but the pieces won't connect properly. When I use the pathfinder, it doesn't follow the contour and connects points that cut through the image like this:

Here's the AI file:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1rsfxcqknv50oy/Interlocking-Circles-Illustration-1.ai?dl=0

Any tips/help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

• Make a Blend using two circles > Specified Steps = 4
• Make a Blend using two horizontal paths > Specified Steps = 6
• Select both blends and go to the Menu Object > Blend > Expand

• Select both blends and go to the Menu Object > Ungroup

• Select all and use the Shape Builder Tool holding Alt to drag over the surplus segments and delete them

• Select the main paths, change the colors and delete the rest

Answer 2

Use the Shape Builder Tool instead (Shift+M)

Select all the areas you want to connect, and then using the tool Click + Drag on the areas to connect.