AI trouble

[Chris B]

the problem:

for the gladdy mascot i scanned an initial drawing, imported it into AI and drew the oulines using splines.

does anyone know how to combine single splines to complete shapes?
(do i make any sense?)

If you're trying to do what I think, use Pathfinder...it's boolean operations.

You can subtract, merge, add, etc.

If you're using I10, make sure you click the expand button after you do a pathfinder operation, especially if you're doing a lot of them.

[Chris B]

i was hoping for you to reply, actually.
you know your way around that prog

using AI8 and i tried bolean but it didn't work

<irc>/me knows his Illustrator </irc>

Show me what you're trying to do?

[Chris B]

as you can see i've got a number of lines (i call them splines = not closed)
i put two of them in different layers here, so that they are shown in different colours. my question is: how can i create a closed shape with the yellow and red splines as outlines?

Ah...you can't do pathfinder operations on open paths.

Unless it's absolutely necessary, ALWAYS close your paths in illustrator. For what you're doing.

Also, if you try to unite those two as one object through pathfinder, you're going to lose the line in the middle of the two.

Here's a visual aid...



The top is with them as two seperate, closed paths, and the bottom is when both are merged into one object. Also notice that you have to do a little extra work to get the same effect with the closed paths, but closed paths are much better in the end.

This help?

[Chris B]

Unless it's absolutely necessary, ALWAYS close your paths in illustrator.

i've realised that yesterday and redrew the whole thing using layers. you can see the result in 2dart

thanks anyways

Welcome!

Layers aren't really necessary unless you have groups of things that you need to be able to control without other shazbot getting in the way.

Just overlapping objects is the best, especially for simple things.

[Chris B]

just finsihed another one

i prefer layers so i can lock parts of the drawing away or hide them, that's often quite helpful.

you might be able to help me with another problem, actualy.

everytime i miss a pivot that i want to select by clicking a milimeter next to it i get an error message. i tried to switch it off, but couldn't find the option
does it exsist? i find that error message really frustrating not to say completely annoying

thanks ahead

I don't know anyway to turn off the errors.

I know it is annoying, especially since it can be really hard sometimes to click the right spot.

Just have to keep hitting okay and trying again.

[Chris B]

hmpf...how can one program that. don't they use their own programs?

Maybe they figure the frustration over the errors will cause you to be more precise in the future?

I 'unno...

[Chris B]

the thing is, i am working as precise as possible allready. they can't really expect me to take 5 seconds to aim at a pivot each time, now can they?

It's been that way for as long as I remember.

Just one of Illustrators little quirks.

:shrugs:

[Chris B]

ah well...we can't help it...

thanks for your help.

laters

Welcome