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Inspiring
April 14, 2022
Question

line to curve

  • April 14, 2022
  • 5 replies
  • 5387 views

Is there an easy way to convert a line segment to a curve that imitates what I did in this example? I'd like to select the line segment at the end of the spoke, then convert it to a semi-circle. If I drag the corner widgets in, I can imitate the round ends, but there are always to point stacked on top of each other as seen in the second screen grab. Some of the CNC software choke when two points are directly on top of each other. 

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5 replies

Jacob Bugge
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 15, 2022

Mike,

 

Some of the complications presented are that in some cases you start out with rectangular ends (constant width spokes) simply requiring half a circle, in other cases the angles are sharp (widening spokes), in still other cases the ends are skewed (as in your attached link here https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/line-to-curve/m-p/12881267?attachment-id=105756 ).

 

While we wait for a serious solution or for the end of time, whichever occurs first:

 

How about this cheat for the rectangular end case presuming at least one of the spoke sets is horizontal or vertical (as in all yous samples shown)?

 

1) Select your (rectangular end) spokes, then Object>Path>Offset path inwards (negative offset) by half the spoke width less a (moderately) wee bit and with Miter Joins, see below for elaboration on the meaning of wee;

2) In the Transform panel add the spoke width to the W value (for a horizontal spoke set) or to the H value (for a vertical spoke set) and hold Ctrl/Cmd and press Enter;

3) Object>Path>Offset path outwards (positive offset) by the same number as in 1) but with Round Joins.

 

Elaboration on the meaning of wee:

 

Wee could be moderately wee (such as 0.5pt), which leads to dual Anchor Points at the tips, close but not coincident with a distance of about two wees as a straight segment, which again leads to narrowing of each rounding by about a wee.

 

Or wee could be seriously wee leading to very close to coincident points, or even to some single Anchor Points, and to possible real weirdnesses (or would that be weeirdnesses?).

 

mrjacksonAuthor
Inspiring
April 15, 2022

I used to beta test and work with the programmers at Gerber Scientific that made the Omega software that drove all of their plotters, printers, and CNC routers. And, I used their programs for decades, learning it in and out. I would always tell them things I needed the software to do, and if it seemed worthwhile, was always impressed that they not only added the feature but took it a lot farther. The Make Curve feature was in the program almost from the beginning and I used it almost every day, and I am sure that if people here saw it in action, they'd want it. This is much the same as the question I asked the other day about a simple repeat feature that program has, but seems much more klunky in Illustrator. Another example is the way they did outlines (offest path). The original set of shapes were grouped when the outlines were produced, and all of the resulting outlines were created in a seperate group. Double clicking on the outline brought up the original outline commands, allowing me to make a change and redo it. At least at my developmental stage of learning Illustrator 2022, it appears you have to play tricks with Illustrator to get there. 

 

As long as Illustrator has been around, and with all of its power, some basic features I took for granted are missing. Conversely, Illustrator has a ton of features that I never dreamed of back then, and would have loved to have them in the Omega software. 

 

I've found it interesting that the Illustrator Design team doesn't comminicate more with the Photoshop Design team more than they do. Photoshop has "scrubby sliders" all over the place, where Illustrator lacks them, yet Illustrator will let you use the up and down arrows in place of the scrubby sliders. On balance, I think I prefer the Illustrator version. 

 

Thanks again for all of the help and suggestions. I tried the simplify command some last night and it might do the job of stripping out the overlapping points. 

 

Mike Jackson, Jackson Hole, WY

 

Monika Gause
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 16, 2022
quote

Another example is the way they did outlines (offest path). The original set of shapes were grouped when the outlines were produced, and all of the resulting outlines were created in a seperate group. Double clicking on the outline brought up the original outline commands, allowing me to make a change and redo it. At least at my developmental stage of learning Illustrator 2022, it appears you have to play tricks with Illustrator to get there. 

 

By @mrjackson

 

Offset path can be applied as an effect.

So what you can do: either group the original elements or use the layer they are on

In the appearance panel apply a new stroke to the group or layer

Apply Offset path to it.

 

I wouldn't call this a trick.

Inspiring
April 15, 2022

Kind of?

 

Brad @ Roaring Mouse
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2022

Rather than try to convert the end to a rounded shape now, it's better to start that way from the ground up.

The easiest way is to simply create your shape with 3 strokes, give the strokes a rounded cap and a width of "whatever" to get the shape you want, then convert that to outlines (and then Unite in Pathfinder).

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2022

Brad,

 

No doubt, that may be a very good idea.

 

But what would you recommend in case you already have to process files with (possibly many) given objects that are not going to be created from the ground up again?

 

mrjacksonAuthor
Inspiring
April 14, 2022

Brad, as Kurt said...making these things from scratch is a piece of cake. I know how to do it, but I am trying to make it work with existing images that had a lot of the parts that would need adjusting. 

 

Of course, I have the other software that does a lot of things Illustrator appears to be lacking, and I could make and edit the files on the PC and move them over as Illustrator files via the network. 

 

A lot of the questions I have been asking on this forum is me just trying to make sure I am not missing a feature already in Illustrator. It has been a long time since I used Illustrator to any degree and it is so much more powerful than it was. 

 

Either way, I  APPRECIATE every person that is trying to help me!  MJ

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2022

Can you perhaps share a sample Illustrator file with at least one sample object that is going to be modified?

 

mrjacksonAuthor
Inspiring
April 14, 2022

Hopefully, the file will open. In the other software, I simply selected any or all of the line segments at the end of the spokes, and with one "make curve" command, created the perfectly rouned ends. I don't know if Illustrator will do this?

 

If I were to do the Widget thing, the results give me stacked points at the high point of the curve, and it shortens the strokes of the spokes. 

mrjacksonAuthor
Inspiring
April 14, 2022

In case the Illustrator file didn't upload, this is a clear screen grab of it.

Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2022

Select with the hollow arrow tool, this will add corners to your controls at the top.

 

mrjacksonAuthor
Inspiring
April 14, 2022

Mike...my second example illustrates what you are saying, BUT if I drag the widgets all the way in, it creates a curve with two stacked points. See the example. This is not the solution I need. Thanks!

Mike_Gondek10189183
Community Expert
Community Expert
April 14, 2022

To understand what is going on drag it in wards only part of the way, and you will see from the start you get 2 points (left), until they eventually overlap on top of each other. Instead use Effects >> Stylize >> Round Corners, then expand appearance (right). Your CNC should like that.