How to use the Boolean Operations in Amadine for iOS

Learn about the Boolean Operations that merge and break apart overlapping objects.

Amadine has five boolean operations: Union, Subtract, Intersect, Exclude, and Divide.

Let's pay attention to which object's appearance (fill color, etc.) remains for each operation.

As of writing this article, Amadine for iOS was version 1.2.8.

Union

First of all, let’s try the most commonly used Union.

A yellow circle overlaps the green square.

Select the two objects and tap the Union icon in the Path panel.

The two objects have merged, and the overall color has changed yellow.
In other words, the Union creates one merged object with the color (appearance) of the top object among the overlapping ones.
Next, tap the Layers panel icon.

The two objects have been grouped and renamed Compound Group. It looks merged, but you can edit the size and shape of each object before merging.
Next, tap the Path panel icon.

Tap the Expand button, then tap the Layers panel icon.

The two grouped objects are now completely merged into a single object.

Subtract

Now let’s try the Subtract.

Tap the "Expand Boolean" option in the Path panel to turn it ON. With this option ON, the object after Boolean operations will be a single object instead of becoming a Compound Group.
Next, tap the Subtract icon.

As you can see, the yellow circle disappears, and the part of the green square that intersects the circle is also missing.

With this function, you can make a donut.

Place a small gray circle on top of a big yellow one.

When you apply the Subtract to them, it becomes a donut.

Intersect

Next, let’s try Intersect.

Select two objects and tap the Intersect icon.

Only the overlapping parts of the objects are left.
The Intersect creates one object with the color (appearance) of the top object among the overlapping ones.

Exclude

Next, let’s try the Exclude.

The color of the object created by the Exclude depends on the “Expand Boolean” option.

Leave the Expand Boolean option ON.
Select two objects and tap the Exclude icon.

The overlapping part of the objects disappears, and others become a single object.
As you can see, when the Expand Boolean option is ON, the Exclude creates one object with the color (appearance) of the BOTTOM object among the overlapping ones.

Tap the canvas with two fingers to undo it.
Turn off the Expand Boolean option.
Select two objects and tap the Exclude icon.

As you can see, when the Expand Boolean option is OFF, the Exclude creates one object with the color (appearance) of the TOP object among the overlapping ones.

📌NOTE
The color (appearance) of the object created by Exclude inherits the color of the BOTTOM object when Expand Boolean is ON. When it is OFF, it does the color of the TOP object.

In addition, the Exclude has the characteristic that “even overlapping objects disappear and odd overlapping objects remain.”

I haven't used exclusivity very much.
I will add to this when I know when it is useful to use it.

Divide

Let’s try the Divide.

The Divide creates the grouped object, regardless of whether the Expand Boolean option is ON or OFF.

Select two objects and tap the Divide icon.

Opening the Layers panel, you can see that the objects have been broken up and grouped.

Proper use of the Fusion Tool and the Boolean Operations

Amadine has the Fusion Tool that can do the same as the Boolean operations.

The following article introduces the Fusion Tool.

How to use the Fusion tool in Amadine for iOS

However, not all can be the same.

The Fusion Tool can create the same results as Union, Subtract, and Intersect.

However, Exclude and Divide are not available in the Fusion Tool.

When it comes to Union, the Fusion Tool is more intuitive on the canvas.

Regarding Subtract and Intersect, I think the fusion tool is easier to obtain the intended result. However, the Fusion Tool leaves behind unnecessary objects. So in some cases, Boolean Operations may be easier to manipulate.

Of the Exclude and Divide that are unavailable with the Fusion Tool, you may often use Divide.

Comparing the results of each Boolean operation, you can see that Subtract, Intersect, and Exclude are part of the result of Divide.