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rghare
Participating Frequently
March 6, 2019
Question

Combining elements in the appearance panel

  • March 6, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 3285 views

I would like to be able to use the pathfinder feature (or something!) in the Appearance panel to add two offset strokes like the two magenta strokes shown in the graphic at the link below. I want it to behave like live type and not have to use the expand appearance entry under the Object menu.

https://hareatlast.weebly.com

Anyone?

Thanks

    2 replies

    Molnfab
    Molnfab
    Inspiring
    May 6, 2019

    I came here with the same/similar question.

    My question is why you're even able to put a pathfinder effect on a fill or stroke in the Appearance panel, when it doesn't do anything? The logical would be it to react with the closest fill or path underneath (and even the result of another pathfinder effect underneath) in the list.

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 6, 2019

      schrieb

    I came here with the same/similar question.

    My question is why you're even able to put a pathfinder effect on a fill or stroke in the Appearance panel, when it doesn't do anything? The logical would be it to react with the closest fill or path underneath (and even the result of another pathfinder effect underneath) in the list.

    Please post a screenshot of your issue.

    Molnfab
    Molnfab
    Inspiring
    May 6, 2019

    Now my Illustrator is in Swedish, so I put in some translations. Also I put the expected result in the bottom.

    Michael Bullo
    Community Expert
    Michael BulloCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 6, 2019

    If you didn't already know you can reorder Strokes and Fills within the Appearance panel. Can you achieve what you need by just dragging one of those pink Strokes below other elements?

    Also I believe what I've built matches your image minus a few effects and is still live text in case it helps.

    R
    rghareAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 6, 2019

    Yes, thanks. I already re-ordered the strokes in my example so that the two magenta strokes could be seen together on top of the other elements. What I would like to achieve is to select the two magenta strokes and add them together like a pathfinder action so that I get an outline of the whole character and its shadow as in the lower “A” of the example. It seems like illustrator should allow me to select both elements in the appearance panel and perform some action. But I haven’t been able so far to do that.

    The difference in in your example is that the stroke on the yellow A is simply hiding behind the black A and that A’s stroke is fully in tact. I need for part of that one to disappear when it (think: pathfinder) adds to the stroke of the yellow A.

    R
    rghareAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 6, 2019

    rghare  schrieb

    Yes you have the look I need. In the past I tried that but ... some background is in order. The stroke in this case is a spot color my vinyl cutter understands as a path to follow. Previously, when I dragged the top stroke to the bottom, like you have, the cutter still “saw” the stroke and cut through it. So I’ve had to copy  the text, paste it in front, turn it to outlines, and unite it. Then I no longer have completely live text. Perhaps it has changed after a few software updates. I will have investigate that tomorrow. Thanks for reminding me. I’ll let you know.

    Before sending it to your plotter you will need to expand all effects. Plotters can't do that.


    This morning I did the experiment. Nothing's changed software update-wise. The plotter sees all of the magenta strokes regardless of the level of stacking whether they have been expanded or not. Expanding the appearance by itself doesn't get me where i want to go. I still need to grab all of the magenta strokes and unite them. That's why I wish as an appearance I could unite the strokes and still have live type. So if no one knows how to do that or whether it's even possible I'll continue with my routine. Thank you Michael and Monika for your inputs.

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