My Transform Each does not work (as I thought it should)

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
October 6, 2018
3 replies
10317 views

Hi, I thought I'd found a very useful tool in "Transform Each", which reputedly should transforms individual objects without changing their absolute positions. However, their positions do change. In my case, I had a number of circles along a cross section (could also be multiple symbols on a graph) where I just wanted to make each individual symbol 50% smaller, without changing their positions. Unfortunately, it was just like scaling them down any old way, in that the size of the whole bunch also became 50% smaller... If anyone can help me solve this then that will significantly improve my use of illustrator.

Correct answer martink64224338

OK, it works after I moved all objects out into the primary layer. So, even a "collection into a new layer" prevents the tool. Sorry for wasting anyone's time. "Transform Each" is a great function that I will have much good use of!

bretwoodh77667362

Participating Frequently

I have had the same issue, but found there is another work-around. If you are trying to perform Transform Each on all objects on some sub-layer, you can do this by creating a dummy object in the same layer, then de-selecting it, so all but one object in the layer is selected when transform-each is run. It's a bit awkward, but avoids having to lose the layer structure.

T

tqrtuomo

Known Participant

@ bretwoodh77667362-

Same here, but I just click on the layer (which selects everything in the layer), then deselect the top element in the layer, apply my transform, then select just the top element and re-apply the transform.

All of which seems stupid and unnecessary. Doesn't seem that crazy that I want to apply a transformation to every element in a layer individually, rather than being forced to implement it as a layer attribute. This makes it easier to move elements into/out of a layer or group without having to worry about what attributes might get applied or lost.

Ares Hovhannesyan

Community Expert

Appearance Panel screenshot also would e helpful.

Also there is some restrictions:

You cannot enter a specific width for scaling multiple objects. In Illustrator, you can only scale objects in percentage measurements.

Anna Lander

Inspiring

1. Share please the screenshot of the artwork and the Transform Each dialog window.

2. Are the items separate objects or a group?

martink64224338Author

Participant

Hi Anna, below are two screenshots, where you can see how the whole layer gets as small as the symbols, using the "Transform Each" window. I want the symbols to get smaller but not their positions (like I've done for a selection of individual symbols to the far right in the upper screenshot). The objects are not "grouped" but "collected" into a layer.

martink64224338AuthorCorrect answer

Participant

OK, it works after I moved all objects out into the primary layer. So, even a "collection into a new layer" prevents the tool. Sorry for wasting anyone's time. "Transform Each" is a great function that I will have much good use of!

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