Combining/Dividing Shapes: Example

The following example shows the impact of each of the options in the Combine/Divide Shapes menu.

Original shape:

Chosen option Result
Unite

Note that the new shape gets the color of the front/top shape.

Intersect As there is no part where all three objects are stacked on each other, the intersection is empty and all shapes are removed.
Exclude
Minus front
Minus back
Divide

Once divided, you can for example move the different parts apart.