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T
T Macker
Known Participant
February 22, 2020
Question

Merging layers causes effect to affect all layers.

  • February 22, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 2803 views

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.

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3 replies

Lukas Engqvist
Community Expert
Lukas EngqvistCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 25, 2020

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_attributes and there are plenty videos on appearance in illustrator if you want to dig deeper.

T
T MackerAuthor
Known Participant
February 28, 2020

!

T
T MackerAuthor
Known Participant
February 22, 2020

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
Community Expert
Monika GauseCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 22, 2020

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

    Monika Gause
    Community Expert
    Monika GauseCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 24, 2020

    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.


    Please show the file.

    Simmer1
    Community Expert
    Simmer1Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 22, 2020

    Try Expanding the brush strokes before flattening the image:

    Select them and go Object > Expand Appearance

      T
      T MackerAuthor
      Known Participant
      February 22, 2020

      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
      Community Expert
      Simmer1Community Expert
      Community Expert
      February 22, 2020

      Hi T_Macker,

       

      Glad we could help!!!

       

      Sim

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