The Shape Builder tool 
does not give us any new or core features; rather it makes existing features, namely, some of the path operations (also called “Boolean operations “), easier to use. Fortunately, we can show you how to use this tool, without explaining all the path operations. But we compare and contrast them in a separate, more advanced tutorial.
The Shape Builder tool works on freehand paths (below, right) as well as shapes from the toolbox (below, left). And the new shapes it creates — closed paths — may come from the intersection of any combination of traditional shapes or freehand paths.
Shape Builder Tool Options
These videos show how the options work, on the Shape Builder control bar.
Remove Original 1 
The video on the left demonstrates how the button works on the far right of the Shape Builder’s tool control bar. When it’s enabled (clicked on) only the results are displayed, because the original shapes have been removed. If it is disabled, the results are still embedded in the original shapes, and you have to drag the results away from the original. Therefore, if you plan to use Shape Builder more than once, on the same set of original paths, be sure that button is disabled.
Add Shape 
The video above also demonstrates the Add option/button, on the tool controls bar. And so does the video on the right. The original shapes do not have to completely intersect each other. If they are just touching, like the video on the right, that is enough to create new shapes. Also notice how the Remove Original option affects the process. If it is enabled, only the results are produced, and the original lines have been removed. If it is disabled, the original lines remain, and you have to drag the results away, to see them.
On the left, we use the star shape from the previous video, as the first of a 2 step process. In the first step, we left the Remove Original button disabled, so we can use the original shapes again. We find that the Shape Builder tool makes editing symmetrical drawings quick and easy.
Remove Shape 
Using our same hexagonal pattern of small hexagons, and adding a single large hexagon, we are able to remove a smaller diamond shape from each small hexagon. Hhm, did we create a hexagonal sunflower?!
Open Eye 
You may have noticed that when the Shape Builder tool is enabled, everything else on the canvas (that is not selected) becomes pale or faded. The Open Eye button produces a slider bar which controls how faded the rest of the canvas becomes.
If you enjoyed this tutorial, you can find more in the menu at the top of this page, or on the homepage of Inkscape Friends. If you have any questions or comments about this tutorial, please feel free to contact us in Inkscape Friends forum. To learn even more about Inkscape, you might find Inkscape for Artists – Step by Step, to be helpful. It is written for beginners!
- We think the tooltip “Replace Objects” is misleading, because it appears that nothing is “replaced”. Instead, it looks like things are removed. We are calling that button “Remove Original”, because that’s what it appears to do – remove the original shapes. ↩︎
Shape Builder Tool © 2025 by J Brynn is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0