Blend tool issues

[wearenotyou]

I made two shapes and then used the offset path to make each shape have an inner shape so that I can blend them with a highlight and shadow and give them a slightly 3d look. One shape blends perfectly while the other gives me some awkward lines and does not follow the path.

please help! I'm not sure why it's doing this

[Monika Gause]

Please select an equal number of opposite points on those shapes with the direct selection tool (but not all the points)

Then use the blend tool and click on one point on one path and the corresponding point on the other path (both must have been selected on the first step)

[wearenotyou]

Thank you for the response... I tried what you sadi and the same thing in the end

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Can you provide the file?

[wearenotyou]

Dropbox - Untitled-1.ai - Simplify your life

Here is the file 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Thanks.

The outer Path appears to be »badly formed«, several »points« are actually two points.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

The inner path has 14 points, the outer one 20 (see screenshots), so some cleaning up might be called for to get a better Blend result.

[Monika Gause]

Please select some more points along the path.

[rcraighead]

It probably has to do with the "Rounded Corner" feature. It may be introducing additional points.

Have you tried simply assigning a line gradient to your artwork? This would accomplish the same effect with less hassle. Although when "Apply Gradient Across Stroke" is chosen "Align Stroke to Inside" is disabled, this can be overcome by assigning an "Offset Path" effect to the stroke.

You could then save this as a "Graphic Style" and draw any shape with the same effect.

[wearenotyou]

thank you for this info! I will give it a try but really want to figure out why this blend tool performs like this sometimes

[Myra Ferguson]

If the blend doesn't work, you could try achieving a similar effect with an inner glow by

• Making the shape and its offset path one shape by going to Window > Pathfinder and clicking Unite
• Going to the Appearance panel and clicking Add New Effect
• Selecting Stylize > Inner Glow...
• Changing the blend mode to Multiply in the dialog
• Selecting a similar gray in the dialog

[wearenotyou]

interesting... let me find these hidden points and see if that helps! thank you for your help and will keep you posted on the outcome

[wearenotyou]

Is there a way to see or find these overlapping points?

[c.pfaffenbichler]