Distribute objects around another object

[stainey]

Hi,

I am quite new to illustrator and was hoping someone could help me with the following problem.. 

I would like to align these lines around the curved line of the object below. Basically, it is supposed to be a sun and the lines are supposed to be rays. 

I have tried to google how to do this, and I come across the "replace spine" way, but it does not seem to work well here, as I just get something like this..:

Any help would be greately appreciated! 

[femkeblanco · Accepted solution]

1. Select and group your rays (Ctrl + G).
2. Click Effect > Wrap > Arc. Tick "Preview" and change "Bend" until you're happy with the result.
3. Click Object > Expand Appearance.
4. Use the Scale Tool (S) or Free Transform Tool (E) to scale to fit.  

[stainey]

Thank you - this was a great and easy solution!

[Monika Gause]

You could create a brush out of a single stroke (scatter brush) and apply that to a path.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. In addition to the suggestion shared by @Monika Gause and @femkeblanco, you may also check out this youtube tutorial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxV1xlcUKNQ) on how to distribute objects around a circle (Sun or clock). I hope it helps.

Let us know if you need any further assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Thanks & Regards,

Anshul Saini

[Jacob Bugge]

stainey,

To use the Blend way (replace spine), you can:

1) Create the sun disc as a fill/no stroke path,

2) Offset the path by the desired distance from the disc to the midpoint of the rays (you can switch to stroke/nofill to better see what you are doing), then cut it at the top Anchor Point,

3) Create a vertical stroke/nofill line with the desired length/height and move a copy to the right,

4) Select the lines from 3) and set the Blend Options to Specified Steps with the desired number of lines round the dicc less 1, then make the Blend,

5) Select the Blend and the offset path and replace the Spine.

That ought to give you the full number of the rays round the disc, with the last one on top of the first one at the top; you can expand the Blend an delete the top one.

If you only wish to have a partial disc with rays above it, use a smaller part of the circle and fewer lines, adapted to yjr desired appearance.