Outline Stroke does not seem to do anything

[Katherine5C20]

Hi, I followed instructions given on tutorials and in previous posts to change the stroke (which is the needle image) into an outlined shape that I could fill with a gradient, but as you can see from the screenshot, it looks exactly the same before as after I apply the fx. I expected the outer edge to become a path/outlined, but it still appears to have the line in the centre of the stroke and act like a stroke, I cannot select the outer edge. I tried both using the menu at the top in object>path>outlinestroke and also using the properties panel on the right under additional options... >fx.  I am using Windows 10 and dowloaded AI just this week. 

Also, I did try converting the needle image (which is made of a stroke) to a fill, like, I remember doing on Flash years ago in order to achieve the same thing. But it filled the image including the eye of the needle so I gave up on that as I didn't know a way around that. 

Please can you help with either of these issues so I can proceed! Thank you very much

[Monika Gause]

Don't use the effect. It won't change the object, that is the whole point of an effect.

So if there is an effect applied, delete it from the object.

[Katherine5C20]

Hi, I am not sure I see how this answer is helping me with what I need to do... I can remove the outline stroke effect no problem and put it back on fine if I needed to.

I asked for help to do a task which is to outline a stroke and/or make it become a filled shape/object that I can fill and won't distort when I alter the scale. Please can you help with this? Thanks

[Monika Gause]

Object > Path > Outline stroke

will outline strokes.

If that doesn't work, please show a screenshot of the complete object plus the appearance panel plus the layers panel (search the object in the layer with the command in the layer panel menu)

[Srishti Bali]

Hi there,

Sorry about the delay. I am hopeful that the issue was fixed. If not, please try the suggestions shard on this page (https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/resolve-slow-performance-and-unexpected-behaviors-in-illu...) and let us know how it goes. 

Feel free to let us know if you still need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Regards,

Srishti