Help with envelope distort

[tomfindlay]

Hi, I'm trying to create an envelope distort with top object, despite my top object being a single path, I'm being given the message - This path requires a selection of multiple objects. The top object must be a single path or mesh, or a symbol containing a single path or mesh. Does anyone have ant ideas to get around this?

[Doug A Roberts]

What's your 'bottom' object? Do you have both 'top' and 'bottom' objects selected?

[tomfindlay]

Top layer is a single pathed shaped, bottom object is various objects, but these are grouped together. Both top and bottom are selected.

[Doug A Roberts]

Can we see a screenshot of these, selected and with the layers panel open?

[tomfindlay]

Unfortunately I cannot show a screenshot. I have however put everything onto the same layer. I've tried with in a different document with an open path on top and a single shape below, this time I'm given the error - the operation cannot complete because of an unknown error illustrator [3]

[Monika Gause]

Can you at least show a screenshot of the layers panel with the list of objects?

[Anna Lander]

The top object must be a closed path. Is it so?
If content is sensitive, could you please to try the operation with abstract content (e.g. a random shape on top and a random group below) and make a screenshot with it and with expanded Layer panel?

[Guest]

i m facing this same issue

[Monika Gause]

Please show a screenshot of your selected objects. And please show the layers panel with those objects visible in it.

[skilled_contributor5E1E]

finally got solution i am also having same issue but fixed text layer bottom of a object layer 

[Joseph5E4A · Accepted solution]

Bless your soul! I was going crazy trying to figure it out. I could draw a rectangle and put a simple word like 'the' and it would display the error message. After reading your response, I sent the text to the back and brought the shape forward and it did the trick. Thank you!

[alystas]

Thank you Joseph for explaining what he meant. And OP m_az. Worked for me, too. 

[vm.digitalart]

Thank you very much, it worked after reading your comment

[Nuria31613538vpg4]

what was the solution?

[Monika Gause]

---

@Nuria31613538vpg4  schrieb:

what was the solution?

---

THe shape you want to use as the envelope needs to be in front. If that doesn't solve your issue, please post screenshots.

[Balan30925173cwqd]

thank you so much

[Letter33699017wzy4]

It really works, thank you so much.

[VCS-Marketing]

Hi, I'm having this problem and unfortunately this didn't solve it for me. Here is a screenshot of my items, with the shape on top and text below:

[Monika Gause]

Please open that layer, so what we can see what the path is. Maybe it's still grouped or a compound path.

[VCS-Marketing]

The shape (Z) started with text which I outlined, does that not work for this purpose?

[Monika Gause]

It's still grouped. You need to ungroup it. And then release the compound path. Object > Compound path > Release

[VCS-Marketing]

Oh thanks so much! Now it works! It worked wrong lol, but it still worked! 🙂

[Monika Gause]

THat shape will cause issues as an envelope. Here's a video about meshes and everything also applies to envelopes: https://youtu.be/aIqGHoLPuuE If you first convert your shape into a mesh you can create better envelopes later on.

[mokiu81354942]

YESSSSSSSS MONIKA YESSSSS!!! this detail cannot be skippppeedd. genius !!! i screamed when it worked. i was shamefully on day 2 of trying 😞

[barbara_a]

Which version of Illustrator are you using? With the current version it should work.

Are any of the objects locked?

Is the top object one single path? If you're not sure, try selecting the top object and choosing Object > Path > Join. Or, with the Direct Selection tool, select two anchor points that you think may not be joined and choose the Join command.