Merging layers causes effect to affect all layers.

[T Macker]

So I have an illustration which uses 4 layers. Pretty simple. One layer has the elements (brush strokes) with a guassian blur on them. If I flatten the file, the blur effect is taken on to all elements of all layers. I end up with a blurry mess. I've converted strokes to paths, tried to merge or flatten just those elements on that layer, and still am getting this problem. I've done this in the past no problem. Something new to IL V:24.0.3 perhaps? I still also have problems with the pressure sensitivity brush settings, but have found quitting IL, then re-starting holding the shift+alt+command keys re-sets prefs and then it works again for a few documents. So is the new IL buggy? LOL! I know, that's a gimme with Adobe. But has anyone else experienced this? Also I notice the small radio button on this layer in question is a solid gray color, not a circle like the others.

[Simmer1]

Try Expanding the brush strokes before flattening the image:

Select them and go Object > Expand Appearance

[T Macker]

Thanks Simmer1. I went back in and discovered that very fix. So far, so good.  Of course I'll have to save an editble version for just in case, but beggars cannot be choosers, LOL! Thanks again!

[Simmer1]

Hi T_Macker,

Glad we could help!!!

Sim

[T Macker]

So, I may have solved my own problem. I select all of the brush strokes on the layer which has the Gaussian blur effect applied, and then "expand appearence". After doing this I am able to group all layers and not get the blur effect on all. I will do further testing to see if all effects, strokes, fills and etc. scale properly.

[Monika Gause]

If you apply an effect to a layer (instead of indivdual objects) the effect will of course affect all the objects on that layer.

[T Macker]

This was a case where individual elements were given the effect of the guassian blur. All of these elements were on the same layer. When I would group elements selected from the various layers, ALL of the artwork from ALL of the layers took on the effect of the layer in which those blurred elements were. I have other elements on other layers with an effect of "multiply" and that did NOT affect any other elemenst in the illustration with that effect. Only the Guassian Blur seemed to affect all. See above, expanding the strokes, and then grouping all desired elements from multiple layers seemed to work.

[T Macker]

So now that I've converted the strokes to paths, they are combined into a box of some sort. Uneditable, cannot ungroup, cannot select individual strokes or shapes. I can change their blend mode, and that's about it. Is this the NEW Illustrator? Have they become rasterized? That's almost what it appears like. This is not like what the old IL would do. I may have to drop back a couple versions to be able to get my work done.

[Monika Gause]

Please show the file.

[T Macker]

The shading and highlights are what is not working. I know this is a jpeg. I got to go to work.

[Monika Gause]

Without seeing the layer panel and the appearances of the objects and without knowing what exactly you combined, everything will just be like stabbing in the dark.

[T Macker]

yea, so I've lost all the layers now. so this whole incident is over. you can look at the file and see the 'group' or whatever it is, collection of highlights, and some shading. so, I'm going to have to re-create those effects anyway. They were brush strokes, some white, some gray in color. then I blurred them Gaussian. Originally when I did that, the entire image, ALL layers would blur. I figured out to expand those brush strokes, then if I grouped all layers, the image stayed as it was supposed to. Then I wanted some of the strokes to be set to 'multiply', and of course because of the white highlight, I could not do that. But I can no longer un-group them or separate them. Like I said, I don't know of a way to fix this now, so I'll re-do it. I've buggered up the whole file now, so separate layers like I said. I've only had this new IL version for a day or two. So far I hate it. I'm not the reading or reference type, I just want to go and do my thing, so when stuff gets changed up, it leaves me behind. Like PS has done the last few versions. I'm still PO'd about the brushes/to erasers fiasco. I just pay the rent and move on.

LOL! This program tells me the Adobe CC file type is not supported for upload. So there's that. Thanks for trying to help, I do appreciate your time.

[Lukas Engqvist]

Perhapps you want to export teh file to another file type. PDF, JPG or PNG (which you could have done without flattening your work file.)

[Monika Gause]

There hasn't been any change in how appearances work since they have been introduced to Illustrator, which was in Illustrator 10 (or maybe even version 9) - 2 decades ago.

As Lukas already mentioned, you need to learn how to use them. If you don't want to read documentation or watch videos, then search an Adobe ACE that can teach you in person. Yes, it's *that* important.

https://learning.adobe.com/ace-finder.html

[Lukas Engqvist]

The filled radiobutton is to tell you that the layer has an appearance.It is not the strokes that have the effect but the layer. This means that the correct behaviour is that anything on that layer should also have that effect applied. You can have an effect (or appearance) on an object, group, sublayer or layer. If you group the strokes you can move the effect to the group. But Why do you want to flatten? You should really get to master appearance to master Illustrator, or you will think illustrator is buggy where it is not look into https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/appearance-attributes.html#targeting_items_for_appearance_... and there are plenty videos on appearance in illustrator if you want to dig deeper.

[T Macker]

!