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omarf67542332
Participating Frequently
Oct 17, 2024 9:37 AM UTC
Answered

Automatic path/line in the center of the letter

hi all,

I would like to know if it’s possible in Illustrator to create a perfectly equidistant centerline from the entire edge of a letter, for example.

 

The one you see in the attached image was done manually

 

Thank you.

 

Monika Gause
Monika GauseCorrect answer
Community Expert
Oct 17, 2024 10:27 AM UTC

Several have tried, but in the end it will fail with complex shapes such as letters.

 

Check out this: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/new-year-new-strokes/m-p/12629248 

7 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 17, 2024 6:34 PM UTC

And just to be a bit fair and realistic: The New Year Strokes approach was by no means provided to create the centerlines of (outlined) type objects / calligraphic type objects.

 

It was rather meant to recreate (single) stroked paths out of outlined stroked paths, as can be seen in floorplans, technical drawings or network maps, for example.

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Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 17, 2024 6:39 PM UTC

That's why I wrote that it will fail with complex shapes.

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Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 17, 2024 1:44 PM UTC

Omar,

 

In addition to what Monika said, one complication often encountered as in your case is that  parts of your centre lines where they cross each other are without guides in the letter shapes because the corresponding parts of the original (grey filled) paths have been lost by uniting them.

 

If you could go back to those original paths, it would be much easier (albeit non automatic), using a bit of preparation and then a 1 step Blend (maybe with a bit of adjustment), especially because your centre lines do not extend into the rounded end parts.

 

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Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
Oct 17, 2024 10:13 AM UTC

The long answer is no.

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omarf67542332
Participating Frequently
Oct 17, 2024 10:19 AM UTC

no 3rd part script or plug-in?

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Monika Gause
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
Oct 17, 2024 10:27 AM UTC

Several have tried, but in the end it will fail with complex shapes such as letters.

 

Check out this: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/new-year-new-strokes/m-p/12629248 

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