# Combine shapes

You can combine shapes to create more complex shapes or to remove parts of a shape. You can envelope another element.

Note: Panels, captions, and bubbles can be sources and destinations for the operations enabling the creation of more complex elements. Lettering can only be a source path for these operations. It cannot be destination.

1. Hold down the Shift key while you click two or more elements that are touching or overlapping.
2. From the Format > Shape menu (the Format menu at the top of your screen) choose one of the following:
   - Unite Paths: Combines the selected shapes into a single shape.
   - Intersect Paths: Creates a shape from the overlapping area.
   - Subtract Paths: Removes the shape that's layered on top of another shape. If necessary, move the shape you want to be removed to the top of the stack. To learn more about how to layer objects, see Layer, group, lock, and pin elements.
   - Exclude Paths: Creates a shape that excludes the overlapping area between the shapes.
   - Envelop Paths: Creates a shape that wraps around the source shape. Perfect for creating interesting titles or having sound effects burst out of balloons.

## See also

Fill elements with color, halftone or an image

Resize and rotate elements

Position and align elements