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Question

Direct selection tool / Command (to scale) / Alt (to dupe) isn't working

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
December 1, 2022
3 replies
1658 views

I'm attempting to scale an object in this manner (as I've done thousands of times before), but it isn't working: I have a vector object selected (direct select tool activated) I hold my command key to activate scaling, and hold my option key to activate duplication, and the dupe isn't working. (same goes for doing it with text). It scales, but it doesn't duplicate while scaling. If I choose the scaling tool and hold option it duplicates, but I shouldn't have to switch tools unless they dropped that feature.

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Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

I think I misremembered, as Kurt said, Bounding Boxes were introduced in Illustrator 8 (1998). You needed a transform tool to rotate, scale, and when combined with the alt/option key you would get duplicates during transforming. Actually the same as now, but now you can rotate/scale using the bounding box.

L

lmmura615Author

Known Participant

Right. 1998 was just the other day, I'm sure of it. haha
At any rate, neither of the selection tools using the apparently antiquated bounding box (haha) to either scale or rotate whilst holding the alt key is duplicating. I've searched for anything on the web that shows that's a possibility, and not finding anything which makes me question my sanity. My motor memory automatically went to do this task. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it SHOULD be a thing if it is not.
Back on my head.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Yes, I remember doing that, duplicating with the Alt key when rotating, scaling without switching to the Rotate/Scale tool. But as far as I can tell that worked a long time ago.

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

Yes, I remember doing that, duplicating with the Alt key when rotating, scaling without switching to the Rotate/Scale tool. But as far as I can tell that worked a long time ago.

By @Ton Frederiks

I'm sure too that it's been this way for many versions. I wonder if forum searches could pinpoint the change.

barbara_a7746676

Community Expert

Select the object, switch to the Scale tool (S), hold down left mouse button outside the shape at about a 45 degree angle.

Start dragging a little. Without releaasing the mouse, hold down Command and Option and continue dragging.

By default, the object scales from the center, but that depends on the setting of the Reference Point.

L

lmmura615Author

Known Participant

Thanks, @barbara_a7746676 , but you're missing the point. I have no problem with switching to the tool to do the task, but I was attempting to use the keyboard shortcuts to duplicate as I scale WITHOUT having to switch to the tool — as I stated in my comment.

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lmmura615Author

Known Participant

I realize that because my profile says that I'm a community beginner, that does not mean that I am an Adobe beginner and especially not an Illustrator beginner. I've been using Illustrator since 88v. I've only recently HAD to join the community due to all of the stupid things that have been going wrong with the products since it went to subscription-based.

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