Keyboard increments for pattern making

[ann136]

Hello!

I'm trying to create a pattern on illustrator and i've been following a tutorial on Skillshare. However, the part where it says to hit Com K and change keyboard increments is not working for me. I am having problems with this as when I try to change the increment to 2100px and hit ok, the program makes a noise suggesting that it did not take my input and changes my 2100px to 1296px.Is there a reason why it's not taking the 2100px? It is the size of my art board so I need the objects to move by that amount to make the continuous pattern.

Thanks in advance for your help

Anne

[michelew83603738]

Are you entering "px" after the numerical amount?

[ann136]

I've tried entering just 2100, 2100px and 2100pt and it makes the same sound every time and it automatically changes the number to 1296. When I used 1050, which is half the number I actually need, it worked just fine. It seems to have an issue with the 2100. I'm not sure why though, since it is the size of my art board.

[michelew83603738 · Accepted solution]

I don't think it has anything to do with the size of your artboard. This is the amount of space that the arrow key will move it. Perhaps it is the maximum amount that it will allow an object to be moved. I tried to find documentation on the maximum amount, but couldn't. Perhaps that amount that it goes to of 1296 px is it.

[Ray Yorkshire]

Can't  imagine why they need to use keyboard increments that large to make  a pattern

Anyway I too hit a limit at 1296 px  or 18 in.

Maybe set it to 210px  and hold down Shift key  as you click the arrow key, to make it move times 10.

[ann136]

It was the size of the art board that illustrator gave me when I created a new project. It's my first time using it so I didn't know it would have a limit for the keyboard increment. I needed it to copy the parts that 'fell out' of the pattern on one side to be matched exactly on the opposite side to create a continuous pattern. I solved it by using 1050px increment and moving the objects twice instead of once. I'll use a smaller art board next time.

Thank you both for your help!

[michelew83603738]

Glad you found something that worked out for you. You can always set up the size of the artboard when you define the document in the first place, you aren't limited by the default or suggested sizes. Good luck!