Effect: Transform, Rotating Objects

[Printer_Rick]

If I have a square, and use Effect: Transform, Move, I can make as many copies as I want, and it steps whatever distance I specify. If I then apply a rotation, it changes the direction of the Move after the first copy.

I understand why it does this. But is there a way to apply the rotation only to each object without affecting the Move direction?

For example, a 1 inch square, Vertical move 2, angle 5°, 10 copies. The first copy is vertically aligned with the original, the second copy moves from the first at a 5°. Subsequent copies form a curve.

I would like to have the option of keeping all of the copies vertically aligned. I would rather not expand the artwork to use Transform Each.

Thank you.

[Monika Gause]

Please show.

[Printer_Rick]

Sorry, here is image explaining what I mean. I would like all the squares vertically aligned.

[dmanzeno]

Hey Printer Rick,

Sorry, at this point in time it is impossible to rotate, with the transform effect, without getting that unwanted curve. Don't know what you have against expanding your work, but that is how you solve this problem. The easiest solution is to expand your image, select all the square, and center align them. It's that easy. If, for some reason, you want to save the square image with the transform effect attached to it, simply make a copy of it, and set it to the side. That way you can adjust it later if you like.

[Ton Frederiks]

You can apply 2 transform effects.

The first rotates the square 5 degrees.The second creates the copies.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI · Accepted solution]

You could also solve this the Blend tool (w). Here's a video tutorial if you're not familiar with the Blend tool: http://www.jeffwitchel.net/2011/11/blend-tips/

See attached screenshot.

[Katie Houghton]

Jeff is correct. Blend in this case is a good option.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

The Transform Effect is an amazing feature. See video tutorial: http://www.jeffwitchel.net/2016/06/creating-spiraling-dots-in-illustrator/ 

But even the most amazing feature is not always the best answer to a particular problem.

[Ton Frederiks]

It depends on what the final result is supposed to be.

If vertically aligned incrementally rotated squares are wanted, the Blend solution is the best.

But since the transform Each was mentioned in the question (which does not result in varied rotation (unless random is chosen), I wonder if incremental rotation was the purpose.

We will never know until Printer_Rick tells us.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

Agreed!

[Printer_Rick]

Thank you very much for all suggestions. Incremental rotation is correct I will look into it more when time allows.