Merge Polygons operates on two or more objects that overlap. Select the objects you want to merge, then click the Layout >Merge Polygons drop-down menu to select the operation:
- Union joins the objects into one object. See Uniting Objects.
- Intersection creates a new object from the intersection of the objects. See Creating Objects from Intersections.
- Subtract takes the object that was selected first as the positive object, then subtracts from it any overlapping areas on the other selected objects. See Subtracting Objects.
Union and Intersection operations support using selected objects on multiple layers, and each layer object is operated on separately. However, Subtraction is only allowed if the selected objects are on the same layer. Selected objects may be negative objects.
- If only negative objects are selected, the merge operation is performed the same as with positive objects, but the resulting objects remain negative objects.
- If both negative objects and positive objects are selected:
- Complete the union/intersection/subtraction operation on the positive objects
- Always union the negative objects
- Subtract the negative object result on the positive object result