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A
Anonymous
March 19, 2011
Question

Free transform tool fail

  • March 19, 2011
  • 3 replies
  • 43967 views

Hello.

Im really frustrated with how the free transform tool works for me (or in that case, it doesnt work)

I am using Illustrator CS4 on a PC.

Adobe Help for that software states:

  1. Select one or more objects.
  2. Select the Free Transform tool .
  3. Start dragging a corner handle on the bounding box (not a side handle), and then do one of the following:

    • Hold down Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac OS) until the selection is at the desired level of distortion

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/8761/ilus02.jpg

First of all Im unable to select anything with the free transform tool, so I use the regular selection tool first to select my object.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5449/ilus03.jpg

As you can see after selecting the object I have selected the free transformation tool, grabbed the corner and pressed Control Key on my keyboard (tried both keys as well). The transformation tool refuses to work as it does in Photoshop.

  • I have tried to reset my keybindings to Illustrator default.
  • I have tried first clicking the corner, holding it and then pressing down the CTRL without moving the mouse as was stated on some other forums googled with this issue.
  • I have tried setting my keyboard to American US in Windows.
  • As you can see the object is a very simple rectangle, its not a part of any type of group.
  • Im working on a european version of CS4 Master Collection bought in London UK.
  • I have tried this on a US version that I have at work, it has the same issue.
  • I have seen and followed the instruction from various YouTUbe movies and the tool simply wont comply to my commands.
  • I am pissed.
  • Halp pleez?
This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

A
Anonymous
March 20, 2011

I'm having a related problem...

Now what i want to do is import a graphic and then apply it to a perspective grid like shown in the image below

http://i52.tinypic.com/2rnfr04.png

The problem is, when i try to stretch it to the right form using the Free Transform tool, using the Ctrl key, it will show me the outline the way i want to stretch it, but when i release the mouse button, it does not transform the image at all.

http://i55.tinypic.com/5vwuoi.pngWhat am i doing wrong here? I've tried to use different file formats already and some other things that weren't successful.....

Any help with this would be much appreciated.

_scott__
_scott__
Legend
March 20, 2011

Placed raster images will not distort with the Free Transform Tool.

    W
    Wade_Zimmerman1
    Inspiring
    March 20, 2011

    Scott you might be onto something perhaps the OP has actually an raster file or rsterized art that they are tryig to transform. They don't say so but you can never tell.

    Jacob Bugge
    Community Expert
    Jacob BuggeCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 19, 2011

    WMAZUR,

    It may be worth trying to Move the folder with Illy closed (reversible), or it may be enough to just press Ctrl+Alt+Shift/Cmd+Option+Shift during startup (irreversible destruction of some preference settings).

    It may be noted that the Free Transform Tool should work even with Edges (and Bounding Box) hidden.

    W
    Wade_Zimmerman1
    Inspiring
    March 19, 2011

    First of all it does not look like you have the bounding box showing. View>Show/Hide Bounding box Command (Control) Shift B

    On the Mac the control key does nothing for you in Illustrator except show a contextual menu in combination with other keys nothing.

    Back to the chase click on a corner with the cursor do not mouse up keep the mouse down, now hold the command key (Mac) or control (pc only) down and start dragging.

    That is you click hold the mouse down and then while holding the mouse down press the command key then without release the mouse down you drag..

    http://mysite.verizon.net/wzphoto/FreeTrans.mov

    if you also hold the command/option/shift keys after clicking and holding it will give you a perspective like distortion.

    on the pc side that would be control/alt/shift.

    This is not intuitive so you have read what I wrote and listen to the video carefully or it will not work.

      A
      Anonymous
      March 19, 2011

      If you read what I wrote in my first post carefuly, you will find that I already did exactly what you wrote in your post.

      Thanks for answering anyway.

      R
      raytron
      Participant
      April 15, 2011

      I'll try this again. You clearly from your first post are not doing tbis correctly.

      First you click on a corner anchor, nothing will seemingly happen, that is the corner anchor willn not highlight.

      Tht is normal keep the mouse down while mouse is in the down position press the command key down and hold it down while mouse and command are in the down position start dragging the mouse now it will transform.

      inyour first post you say you cannot selectnthe corner anchor so you selected it with the direct select tool that is incorrect the  corner anchor never actually gets selected it is simply being use as a point of control.

      good luck


      I haven't seriously used Illustrator in over a year and got free transform to work from your instructions here.  Thanks!

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