uses, techniques and tips for the ShapePainter/Eraser tools

[angelize]

I think the shape painter (originally introduced as the Shapebuilder) and the eraser tool are very useful and seldom discussed. I'm including both tools in this thread because if you have a version that has both tools you will find they are very much interconected. And if I'm not mistaken other tools in the current version 9 programs are also based on the shapepainter and eraser tools, or at least the same technology behind them.

One of the ways they work together is in how they change a vector shape. The shape painter adds to a shape and the eraser subtracts from it. One tip that I use often is holding the shift key to switch from one to the other.

So how have you used these tools in creative ways? What's your favourite feature of these tools?