Draw concentric shapes by clicking on center point of existing shape

[rcraighead]

CC 2015.3.1

Mac OS X 10.11.6

I have done this for years: I'll create a shape, say a rectangle, then draw a circle in its exact center by clicking the center point and option-dragging with the ellipse tool. That doesn't work in CC 2015 because AI wrongly assumes I want to move the rectangle instead! Is there a simple way around this "false intelligence" now built into AI?

[Monika Gause]

You can hide those Widgets by clicking on this button in the control panel:

[rcraighead]

Thanks, Monika. I realize I can hide them but I use it for reference when adding the new object. Hiding it would take away the simple centering ability.

Maybe I misunderstand. I don't see the button in control panel. What tool do you have active?

[John Mensinger · Accepted solution]

Yeah, I made a custom keyboard shortcut for Object > Shape > Expand Shape, which quickly does away with the Live Shapes behaviors when they're unwanted.

[rcraighead]

Thanks, John. And when DO you want Live Shape behavior? I'm old-school and don't get it. To me they just add another needless level of complexity to Illustrator.

[John Mensinger]

And when DO you want Live Shape behavior? I'm old-school and don't get it.

Understood. Can say the same here.

I wouldn't say I ever want it either, but there are certainly some circumstances in which it makes no immediate or material difference.

[Kurt Gold]

It may be worth to debate if there should be an option to turn on or off drawing live shapes or plain old-school paths by default. At the same time I can remember that there were countless complaints about the nonexistence of live shapes in the past two decades. Not just a few users seem to consider them as desired.

Apart from that, I don't get your statement that "Hiding it would take away the simple centering ability". Does that mean that in CC 2015 you have no tangible and smart guides sensitive center point as soon as you turn off the Shape widget in the Control bar? In CC 2017 you surely have one.

Are you referring to something different?

[rcraighead]

In CC 2015 I don't see the button Monika refers to (I may just not have the right tool selected). I'm not sure that is the same as turning OFF center point in "Attributes". That still does not work unless I also "Expand Shape".

Yes, I could use Smart Guides, but again, not unless I "Expand Shape".

[Kurt Gold]

Well, then I conclude the button is just not there in CC 2015. Probably it was introduced in CC 2017. Not sure.

Expanding the shape would then be the way to go in CC 2015, indeed.

[rcraighead]

Thanks, Kurt. I've been looking for a compelling reason to update to 2017. Not sure I've found it yet.

[Monika Gause]

The button is there when one of the shape tools is selected.

As for the complaints about missing live shapes: there has been at least one each week.

[rcraighead]

Don't see the icon in CC 2015. Perhaps I'm blind.

[DougKatz]

In CC 2017 on Sierra, the button Monika refers to (which I only found because she pointed it out) is an alternative to a second solution (which may already be common knowledge):

You can retain a live shape's live status (should you want to) and drag or option-drag a second shape from the center of the live shape (instead of moving it) by hiding the bounding box (shift-command-B). This is true whether you have Show Corner Widget on or off in the View menu. When this is set to Show in the View menu, clicking Monika's button hides both  corner widgets and bounding boxes. When set to Hide, the button hides bounding boxes.

[rcraighead]

Thank you, Doug. That works in CC2015 as well! Good solution.

[CarlosCanto]

The Hide Shape Widget Button is there on Windows CC2015.3.0, same place as CC2017 right next to the Align buttons.

Another alternative, after drawing the first shape, hit Ctrl+Shift+A to Deselect, that will allow you to draw a second shape centered on the first.

[rcraighead]

I finally see it! Thanks for the "Align" reference.

[Kurt Gold]

It is always the same: I can't go to bed without being nitpicking at least once a day.

As far as I can see, in Illustrator CC 2017 Carlos' brilliant "Align" reference does only apply if you have at least two live shapes selected with the Selection tool. Selecting just one live shape with the Selection tool won't show the Shape Widget button in the Control bar. You will then have to select any of the tools that produce live shapes to see it.

If your selection contains live shapes and dead shapes, you won't see it at all. If you select a live circle shape and a live rectangle shape with the Selection tool at the same time, no Shape Widget button will be there in the Control bar and selecting a live shape tool won't show it either.

Was that nitpicking enough? If not, I could continue …

[DougKatz]

We should be grateful for your analysis. I certainly am. We should also note that, under every circumstance you tested, a simple command-shift-B will allow our OP to do exactly what he wishes. And not only that, shift-command-B will too!

[CarlosCanto]

Was that nitpicking enough? If not, I could continue …

LOL!! no, please continue..

all that is great Kurt, but Ray is not selecting anything, he's drawing a shape, so only that one shape will be selected right after drawing.

[CarlosCanto]

forgot to mention that the button does show on the control bar when you're drawing a shape, but it indeed disappear when you grab a selection tool.

[Kurt Gold]

Yes, but then the damn button is next to the Ellipse height field or the Corner Radius field or something else, depending on what live shape you are drawing. Not just the Align buttons, as you taught. It is a swinging affair …