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

[martink64224338]

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.  

[Anna Lander]

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

2. Are the items separate objects or a group?

[martink64224338]

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.

[martink64224338 · Accepted solution]

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!

[Ares Hovhannesyan]

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.

[bretwoodh77667362]

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.

[tqrtuomo]

@ 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.