object>expand is not working

[kenneyc67494462]

I am applying a transform/rotation effect to a layer group to create a mandalla type image, in Illustrator 25.3.1

I have created boxes rotated 120 degreees copied twice in the effect/tranform dialog. The layer will not expand down to become 6 seperate shapes. Appling the expand creates nested groupings of each of the two shapes, but does NOT convert the affect versions into shapes. The affect stays applied to the group.

Expand appearance is not available.

[tromboniator]

Please supply screenshots of your process, including the Layers panel and Appearance panel with the relevant objects disclosed and selected. A "layer group" is not something that falls within the usual Illustrator lexicon, so it's not clear to me what your situation is.

Thanks,
Peter

[innovative_adventurer5D56]

if you have created madala, you have applied the transform on the layer! so to expand it you should target layer, (click on the circle right to the layer, then expand.

[Monika Gause]

For effects, use "Expand Appearance"

[KShinabery212]

Interesting.... it works for me.

Can you send a screen shot or video capture of what you are doing?

[John Mensinger]

Expand appearance is not available.

If one or more groups are selected, (the Appearance panel will read: 'Mixed Appearance'), Expand Appearance will be unavailable.

[kenneyc67494462]

So many responses!! thank you.

I completed the original document by hand, rotating each shape by hand. There were only three iterations of it, and sent it off.

I created a new document and went through the operation with two simple shapes and I couldn't recreate the circumstances. I think there was something in that scene that I am unaware of. It was a fairly simple compound shape. If it happens again I will try to be more aware and update this thread. 

thanks so much for listening

🙂

[kenneyc67494462]

here is a scene where the "expand appearance" is not available. 

I have eight rectangles rotated around a ninth rectangle eleven times. no matter how I work it I can not convert this transform into vector shapes. "Expand"  is available, using Expand just groups the master shape into a nested group.

[Ton Frederiks]

Looks like the effect is applied to the layer. Can you click on the circle next to the layer name and see if Expand Appearance is available?

[Kurt Gold · Accepted solution]

I can reproduce the issue when applying effects to sublayers (as you did in your example). The Expand Appearance command is not available anymore when one is trying to expand the layer appearance. This definitely used to work in older Illustrator versions.

I'd say it is a bug in some of the recent versions of Illustrator. It still works fine with effects applied to main layers or groups.

A workaround to expand the appearance is to use the Flatten Transparency command (possibly with some unwanted side effects).

[kenneyc67494462]

thanks Kurt for verifying that!!! I have been doing this operation for years. I took a break from the art during the quarantine....and when I dove back into it this does not work. At least I am not crazy...

I wonder if they are going to fix this. My single largest issue with the subscription system is the constant changing of the program. I used to use the same version photoshop and illustrator for years and years at a stretch.