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Inspiring
October 23, 2020
Answered

How to disable having shapes in Illustrator?

  • October 23, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 427 views

I hardly ever benefit from shapes.
All it does is that I have to press Object->Shape->Expand shape every time I want to
1) reset bounding box.
2) change line shape proportionally if I have used line segment tool. Line has no propoer bounding box otherwise.

I understand that in some cases people need to have shape width and height visible as numbers even when shape has been rotated, but for me it is just an hindrance.

Please tell me that there is way to disable document having shapes alltogether.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Kurt Gold

At the moment there is no preference setting that would allow you to always create "flattened" shapes.

 

As a workaround you may consider creating a simple action that expands the live shapes. Assigning a shortcut to the action may simplify the process.

 

3 replies

SorontarAuthor
Inspiring
June 8, 2023

In preferences set  /createLiveShapes 0

SorontarAuthor
Inspiring
June 8, 2023

I have shortcut to expand shapes. Every time I use these geometry tools I have to expand. It mostly annoys with creating lines. I dont remember having ever benefited from having shapes. It is like random extra step. Like for type tool there could be command in menu called 'start typing' and you cannot create any text without it. 

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
October 23, 2020

At the moment there is no preference setting that would allow you to always create "flattened" shapes.

 

As a workaround you may consider creating a simple action that expands the live shapes. Assigning a shortcut to the action may simplify the process.