new to AI 9 - drawing a quarter circle

[paysley]

I know this probably sounds like a silly question to you all - But I'm a new user of Illustrator and I'm having a little difficulty drawing a quarter circle. This is my problem - I draw a circle, then using the direct selection tool, I click on the circle to show the anchor points. When I click one anchor point, ½ the circle deletes leaving me with a ½ circle - fine! When I try to delete another anchor point, I get a shape looking similar to a banana or half moon with a closed anchor point along the line not on the outside (does that make sense)? All I want is to be able to get a quarter of a circle!! But everytime I try to delete points, this is what I end up with. I'm sure it's something really simple that I'm doing wrong. But I have tried a dozen times to no avail!

Please can someone explain to me how I go about doing this? I'm so frustrated ... thanks!

 

[dimoj]

Hi

Once you have your half circle then just use the rectangle tool to draw a rectangle over the portion of the half circle that you want to get rid of. Now make sure sure both objects are selected and then alt-click on the SUBTRACT FROM SHAPE BUTTON in the pathfinder pallete.

 

[dimoj]

Just an addition to my above post, I just noticed you are using I9 and my instructions were for 10. I've only used 9 a little and it was a long time ago so I can't remember if the pathfinder palette was the same. I think in 9 maybe you just click on SUBTRACT FROM SHAPE or MINUS FRONT (I'm not sure if the alt-click to expand worked in that version)

Good luck

 

[RickWolff]

In AI 9, while clicking on the Pathfinder buttons, the alt (option) button doesn't help or hurt.