Use all five SVG boolean operations
Union merges shapes into one outline, subtract keeps the bottom-most shape and cuts away everything above it, intersect keeps only the shared area, exclude removes the overlap, and divide returns every distinct region as one compound path you can break apart with Split Path.
The same boolean operations work across SVG paths and primitives such as rectangles, circles, ellipses, and polygons. Text goes in directly - SVGSketch outlines it on the way in - so badges, icons, and lettering effects need no separate conversion step, whatever font the type is set in.
Build icons and logos from simple pieces
Boolean operations are often faster than node-by-node drawing. Start with circles, rectangles, polygons, or imported paths, overlap them intentionally, and use SVG boolean operations to create complex silhouettes from simple geometry.
This is useful for icon cutouts, logo marks, notification badges, masks, interface symbols, and any artwork where the final outline matters more than the construction shapes.
Keep refining the result as SVG paths
After a boolean operation, the result remains vector artwork that can be selected, styled, exported, and edited further. If the generated outline needs cleanup, switch to the SVG path editor and adjust the nodes directly.
Boolean math runs on polygons, so curves are flattened before the operation and the result is a polyline rather than arcs. It traces the original closely and edits like any other path, but if a shape has to stay mathematically curved, model it directly instead of deriving it from a boolean.
The result inherits fill, stroke, stroke width, gradient and filters from the bottom-most shape in the selection. Dash patterns, endpoint markers, blend mode and element opacity are not carried across.