Inspiring

Answered

How to remove all hidden features in a layout?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 2, 2024
3 replies
1053 views

Actually, I don't know the specific term to be able to ask the question but here goes...

There may be a point in the building of a design that I want to "flatten" all of the elements to a single layer and get rid of all of the live effects and appearances to a level of something like the old Illustrator v.1 format. I might start over with making compounds and groups from its foundation. Flatten is not the solution...it just sounds like an approach.

Thanks,

MJackson

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer mjackson8300235139681

I am not sure if I have all of the answers to this question, but the responses definitely helped.

M

mjackson8300235139681AuthorCorrect answer

Inspiring

I am not sure if I have all of the answers to this question, but the responses definitely helped.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

You may want to provide two sample files. One with the objects that are "live" and another one that shows how you want it after flattening all objects to their basic appearance.

Then one may think about possible ways to do it.

M

mjackson8300235139681Author

Inspiring

Hi Kurt,

The attachment is a mockup of one of the images in use. The artwork is supplied in .AI format with everything in black and open/compoud paths (not really white as seen in the lower left). The user imports the file into their plotter, CNC, plasma, or laser cutter software and cuts or engraves the artwork. If there happens to be a hidden/stacked element, the machines would try to cut twice. With few exceptions, they wouldn't want or need live elements.

Kurt Gold

Community Expert

Thanks, mjackson, but I'm afraid that just posting a .png won't help to get an appropriate solution.

I thought you may provide a sample Illustrator file that shows what you actually have and then explaining what you want instead.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

Expand Appearance expands your effects and brushes, but does not outline strokes.

Expand expands a lot of the live stuff, but does not work with effects.

Flatten transparency can handle everything, but might just sometimes do too much damage.

Pathfinder panel > Merge makes the artwork "flat" (in the sense of removing overlaps), but like all pathfinders does not handle strokes too well.

So what is it that you want?

M

mjackson8300235139681Author

Inspiring

I digitize vector digital images that are used for plotters, cnc routers, laser cutters and so forth. I need to make sure there is no lingering or legacy programming that can "reappear" in a design that is not in the outlines I see. Occasionally, I find two or three elements stacked on top of each other. I can delete the duplicates and save the file, yet when I comee back to the file to fix up a flaw, I might use Mirror Me and end up with all of the elements I thought I deleted. That makes me think there are tidbits of programming that is storing some of the earlier executions. Astute Graphics has a feature in the Vector First Aid section called "Remove All Astute Graphics Active Content". That is possibly part of the issue I am trying to track down and eliminate. It is also the reason I made the post about the shapes with the extra center point when viewed in outline mode. I am looking for vanilla files without any ghosts.

M

mjackson8300235139681Author

Inspiring

At one time, you could save an Illustrator file into an earlier format, possibly all the way down to verson 1.0 or 3.0 and you would get a message that stated saving in an earlier format would cause the loss of some of the features in current versions. I don't know how far I'd have to go, or if it is even necessary if there is a "cleaner" that gets rid of any ghosts. Just asking!

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded