Newb Question: How to thin the width of an existing path image

[Julie5E14]

I'm fairly new to illustrator (PS being my stronger application). Can someone please tell me or share a video link instructing the best way to thin the width of an existing path? I'm working off an existing .svg file of a bow and my boss would like me to make the line width the same as the balloon string (pictured below). I tried to recreate but it looked pretty jagged even trying out the curve tool. 

.svg

Image:

[Anna Lander]

It's quite simple.

Select the object. Find the Stroke panel in the Window menu or the Stroke option in the Properties panel. In the Width field choose the needed width and other properties (color, dash. caps, etc.)

[Julie5E14]

Even if the path itself is not a stroke? I tried adding a white stroke within the path which achieved the look I wanted but I can apply it to the card image as the white stroke with be viewable in front of the other layers.

[Anna Lander]

No, if the path is not a stroke, this way does not work. You can try to use the Offset Path option (Object > Path > Offset Path) with the negative value, but the result depends on the path type. If it's a united shape, the knot will look a bit odd. 

Could you please share the bow? You can put it to any web storage (google disc, cloud, etc.) and share the link.

[Jacob Bugge]

Julie,

I am afraid the only simple way you can make it look right is to scale uniformly down to obtain the same width (scaling from current bow width to the baloon string width), which is obviously unwanted.

This is owing to the inconvenient fact that the shape of the bow is determined by the width, most notably the centre part which will inevitably become lower because the knot/winding is tight.

[Julie5E14]

If I scale the bow down the width will still be thicker than the balloon string unfortunately. Looking for a way to edit the bow .svg separately in illustrator to narrow the width then drop the layer back into PS. Attached the bow .svg image as I see it in Ai and the file for reference.

[Anna Lander]

Sorry, I could be a bit inattentive. 

What kind of shape is the bow? Is it a line with a certain width, a united shape, or a group of shapes (I mean, all loops, tails, and knot details are separate shapes)?

The best way would be if you could share the SVG file, then we could see what to suggest to you.

[Julie5E14]

The bow is made of a group of different shapes (paths) put together. I attached the .svg file as well in case I'm not describing it well enough. They are technically "shapes" but I'm not sure how it was originally created.

[Anna Lander]

Ok, great!
Then you can use the Offset Path option (see my previous answer).
But I would suggest the following way:

1. Scale the bow to the needed size;

2. Use Object > Path > Offset Path and in the dialogue window set the negative value (e.g. -1pt). Find the best one for your purposes.

3. Tweak the corners, they will be a bit distorted after the Offset operation.

[Julie5E14]

Thanks for the instructions! I appreciate your help. I just tried that out but unfortunately nothing changed. I even tested using -50pt as the value and it remained the same. 😞

[Anna Lander]

The point is if your offset is too big, the program can not set it. And the second moment: the new shape has the same color as the original one, so you can just not see the result.

Here is a quick sketch of the process. I decreased the bow size, and my offset was just -0,5 pt. If need, you can set even smaller value. Finally you will have to delete the original path and correct the shape.

[Julie5E14]

Thank you so much! Can you please share that final .svg with me in case mine comes out looking like a Cronenberg version of the bow lol?

[Anna Lander]

Actually, as for me, the fastest way is to redraw the bow with the Pen tool as a stroked path and set the needed stroke 🙂
The knot can be drawn a 3 short lines, and the loops are not too complex.

[Julie5E14]

I tried but I'm so new to Ai that I can't even accomplish this quickly.

[Anna Lander]

Yes, it might be a bit difficult for a novice. 

The consolation is that a Pen tool works in AI the same way as in Photoshop! 🙂

[Anna Lander]

As I said, in this certain case I think that redrawing is the best and easiest way. So I did it, and you can adjust the stroke width as you need 🙂 

[Julie5E14]

Not great but it will have to do for now:

[Anna Lander]

You can use my file, I drew it according to the original shape! 🙂

[Julie5E14]

Thank you, Anna!! 🙂