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Known Participant
May 7, 2022
Answered

Rectangle is a shape but star is a path?

  • May 7, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 444 views

Can someone please explain why I dry a rectangle with a stroke and fill color, it stays a "rectangle" as a label in Layers but when I create a Star Shape and use a stroke and fill, it is labeled as "Path"? Why is that? What does is mean? Does it have different functions than a shape? thanks!

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Correct answer Kurt Gold

Live Shapes are specific objects with specific attributes that can dynamically be modified in the Transform palette. Rectangles, circles, polygons, lines.

 

A star drawn with the Star tool is currently no live shape and you cannot convert it to a live shape. You can however convert some non-live polygons to live shapes, but obviously that is not what you are looking for at the moment. Real stars won't work.

 

In other words: If you are looking for a way that allows you to get a "live star", you may have a look at the Zig Zag effect that is located in the Effect menu. Draw a circle, make Zig Zag and modify it using the Appearance palette.

 

2 replies

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Kurt GoldCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
May 7, 2022

Live Shapes are specific objects with specific attributes that can dynamically be modified in the Transform palette. Rectangles, circles, polygons, lines.

 

A star drawn with the Star tool is currently no live shape and you cannot convert it to a live shape. You can however convert some non-live polygons to live shapes, but obviously that is not what you are looking for at the moment. Real stars won't work.

 

In other words: If you are looking for a way that allows you to get a "live star", you may have a look at the Zig Zag effect that is located in the Effect menu. Draw a circle, make Zig Zag and modify it using the Appearance palette.

 

Kurt Gold
Community Expert
Community Expert
May 7, 2022

The rectangle is a live shape, the star is not a live shape.

 

That's the reason.

 

Known Participant
May 7, 2022

What is the distinction between a live shape and one that isn't? I'm trying to go back and edit my star now and the anchor points are missing. Is there a way to get them back?