Add to length of line with FX

[sPretzel]

Hi,

Is there a way to add/subtract to the length of a line segment while retaining the original length? That would probably be through FX but I can't figure out a good way. I would also like to retain the stroke character of the line.

This is for CS4.

Thanks.

[Kurt Gold]

Can you post a sketch that may explain what you're looking for?

[Jacob Bugge]

s, I am still pondering over the FX part.

[michelew83603738]

Sorry, but I am confused. How can you add or subtract from a line segment and still have it be the original length. I think that I am missing something. Can you please further explain what you are trying to achieve. I am sure that it somehow got lost as you wrote it.

[sPretzel]

michelew83603738: using FX in the Appearance panel would allow to keep the original object intact.

I found a solution, I think. I ended up using FX Convert to Shape. By setting Extra Height to zero in Convert to Rectangle, I am able to retain the stroke of the object (it is not converted to a filled object in PDF). And I add or subtract to the line's length by an amount set in Extra Width. I suppose that the line is now two line segments on top of each other since it is a rectangle but for my purposes, that should do the job.

[Jacob Bugge]

s,

You found the solution indeed, and now I know what FX is.

What you have now is the original path/rectangle that is invisible, and then the FX as the appearance of the desired shape. You can see the original if you hover over it with the mouse.

As you know, you can remove the FX in the Appearance palette by clicking the Reduce to Basic Appearance to get back to the original shape. And then you can start over and give it another apparent shape.

And of course replace the original by the appearance with Object>Expand Appearance.

[sPretzel]

Hi Jacob. I didn't realise you didn't know what I was referring to with FX. I thought it was well-known since Illustrator itself abbreviates it with "fx" in the Appearance panel.

Yes, what you say sums it up. I am wary of FX because some of the effects convert strokes to filled objects when saving as PDF. But in this case, it looks as though the stroke (I assume of the rectangle, not the line segment) remains a stroke.

[Jacob Bugge]

s, I was (mis)led by the capitals, the immediate association being FH (Freehand), further to not FH but something similar.

Outlining strokes will always hit the whole path.

[sPretzel]

Outlining strokes will always hit the whole path.

By @Jacob Bugge

What do you mean? I checked in this particular case and the stroke of the rectangle remains a stroke in the PDF.

[Jacob Bugge]

Sorry s,

I meant that IF Outlining strokes hits, it will hit the whole path, not just the line segment.

[Bill Silbert]

If there were a way to do whatever it is you're actually looking to do then it's highly unlikely that a version as old as CS4 would be able to do it.

[Egor Chistyakov]

Perhaps Astute Graphics’ AG Architect is what you need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GvlKT3Nwh4

[Monika Gause]

... but probably not with version CS4