Paths issue after Image Trace/Expand

[cynthiac32060015]

Hi all,

This was a big problem for a while and then fixed itself (which seems to be Illustrator's way), but it's back and I'm hoping not to be dead in the water for days waiting for it to (mysteriously) resolve on its own. (I swear to gouda someone at Adobe is playing with me.)

After using Image Trace/Expand, letters are comprised of 2-3 paths. Letters were written in basic print using a Micron pen.

I click and drag a letter in the phrase I've imported and traced. It appears all is well; the letter looks normal in its new position. But if I hover or use another method to see transparent objects, I can see a path was left behind. In the case of an "o" or letters with similar shapes, 2 visible paths will have moved and one transparent one stayed behind (or, in fewer cases, mysteriously, the transparent one moves).

Moving one of those independent-minded transparent paths can cause a lot of trouble. Move just one and its counterparts -- all the other transparent paths throughout the phrase -- move with it, while the visible paths stay put. When I met with this problem the first time around, deleting the rogue paths seemed a possssible expedient solution. (Hey, <cough> knowledge is power, no matter how you get there....)

It seems to me the obvious answer is that every path in every letter needs to know it's a part of the same letter AND that every letter, all its paths happily joined, needs to know it's separate from every other letter unless it's grouped on purpose. So for example, that transparent inner ring hiding under a second inner ring in the letter "o," and the outside ring with it? They need to know they're meant to be together and that "r" has it's own life. Is there a way for me to manually make that happen when they aren't making nice on their own?

For context, I've been using Image Trace + further editing in this way successfully for a while, so the fundamentals of it (though not much more!) are a well-worn path for me. I presume this problem isn't due to missing some basic step, although I cannot deny the possibility that I might have just figuratively put my keys in the refrigerator on this one. (Menopause people. If you're female, it's coming for you. Like a zombie.) The fact that this randomly happened before, went away for months, and now is back makes me tend to think it's a program glitch, but honestly, ANY suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks for your time!

Cindy

[Monika Gause]

When tracing did you check "Ignore white" in the options?

Also: a screenshot helps a lot. Make sure to include the layers panel.

[cynthiac32060015]

Hi Monika,

Yes re "Ignore White." I'd taken some screen shots yesterday and then decided they might not add anything of value; I was probably wrong! This morning I saw that screen videos can be uploaded and thought that might be even better. I took a few runs at it wanting it to be as short and clear as possible before posting, and just as happened the last time I encountered this issue (except then I was grounded for 4 days before it resolved), everything magically started working normally. (I should be thrilled but I sort of want to bang my head on my desk.)

I'll still be interested to know what causes this and whether there's a workaround since it's bound to happen again (though hopefully I'll get another several-month reprieve); since it looks like I can get away with not giving any more time to it for now, though -- and yes, I may regret this -- I'm going to kick the can down the road for now and get some work done. I'll come back when I feel a bit caught up (and not so tired of thinking about it, honestly) and edit the post to add images if that's allowed after I've put the whole thing on pause.

I so appreciate your willingness to help!  Thank you!!

Cindy

[Monika Gause]

I have never seen that sort of thing happen.

Do you restart the computer regularly? When it's running for days, an application might just hang up and produce all sorts of issues.