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Participating Frequently
February 27, 2011
Question

Changing stroke settings in Illustrator

  • February 27, 2011
  • 2 replies
  • 35123 views

I'm wondering if it is possible to change the stroke settings in Illustrator so that instead of the stroke reducing the size of an image or text with the increase in stroke size...the stroke will instead start at the outer border of an image/text and proceed outward without reducing it's size?

I think this is possible because this is exactly how Photoshop applies strokes to text.  The stroke can keep increasing in size without reducing the size of the original text.

PHOTOSHOP example with 20 point Stroke

ILLUSTRATOR example with 20 point Stroke

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    2 replies

    RockwllAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 2, 2011

    Thanks for all of the feedback people...this one has been

    bothering me for a while.

    Here's what I tried based on the suggestions and it worked perfectly:

    1.  Create text

    2.  Stroke Tab > Add Stroke to text

    3.  Effect > Path > Offset Path (Change Offset Setting to half the points of Stroke...ex. 6 pt Stroke = 3 pt Offset)

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 27, 2011

    Rockwll,

    At least in CS5, you can set the stroke to be centred, inside, or outside, the path. In earlier versions, you may Object>Path>Offset Stroke (you can have the stroke as a separate path or combine it with the original path, in the latter case you may hide the original (always avoid to destroy the original artwork if possible)).

    Inspiring
    February 27, 2011

    Wouldn't it be enough to move the stroke behind the object, using the Appearance panel? I think I did it that way, where applicable.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 28, 2011

    Monika Gause wrote:

    When you have applied the stroke via appearance panel you can apply the effect "Offset Path" to the stroke and that way "align" it to the outside

    Not happening

    Highligting either Type or Stroke in the Appearance panel, still leaves me with a greyed out Object -> Path flyout panel. Only option there is the Clean Up.

    Attaching a screen capture of the file and Appearances panel, etc. You'll also notice that alignment options for the stroke is greyed out...

    Cheers...

    S


    That's why I said: Effect.

    Go to Effect > Path > Offset path.