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S
sPretzel
Inspiring
November 15, 2019
Answered

Selecting/modifying multiple instances of character

  • November 15, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 763 views

Hi,

I have a type object to which I have added other things (extra fill, stroke, FX etc.). When I look at its appearance in the Appearance panel, I would like to get to the basic character's fill and stroke and set their properties. In the Appearance panel, under Type, I can do that by clicking on Characters. However, I have multiple instances of such type objects. If I select two such type objects at once and click on Characters in Appearance, it only makes live the properties for the last item I selected in the selection. Is there a way to access (select and modify) all of them at once?

Thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer rcraighead

I don't know if that's possible. I DO know you can add Graphic Styles below the currently applied style by Option-clicking the Graphic Style. I use this to add a stroke to multiple objects that use different styles. Maybe that can help in some way.

 

Because Graphic Styles do not contain "Character-Level" appearance data I often edit text styles with NO character fill/stroke, then use Graphic Styles.

 

2 replies

meganchi
meganchi
Brainiac
November 15, 2019

Create you appearance the exact way you want it to look on a character or word. Now, select the character or word, drag and drop it into your graphic styles panel.

 

Next, select all other copy that you wish to apply that exact style to, then select the style you just saved in the graphic styles panel.

 

If you need to make any changes, then, select only one text, make the modifications, save another graphic style and apply it to your other text.

    S
    sPretzelAuthor
    Inspiring
    November 16, 2019

    rcraighead and meganchi. Thanks for your replies. I am aware of Graphic Styles but have been reluctant to using it, mainly because of the quirck you mention in that once you make a change to the Graphic Style, it does not propagate to the objects bearing that style. In order for changes to take effect, you have to create a new style and reapply it to the objects. It's kind of a half-baked style unlike styles in InDesign. I will play more with it and perhaps I can get over my inexperience with it. It is not quite logical that Characters cannot be selected evenly (only the highest level can be) in Appearance panel.

    S
    sPretzelAuthor
    Inspiring
    November 16, 2019

    I tried a couple of things with Graphic Styles and it doesn't work all the way.

    -Create type with Type Tool and type a few characters. Leave everything as default (black fill).

    -Add an extra red stroke to the type just created. Move the stroke from under Type to under Characters in Appearance Panel.

    -With that type selected, move it and drop it in Graphic Styles.

    -Now create a new type with Type Tool and type a few characters. Make its fill blue.

    -Apply the Graphic Style just created to this new type. This brings the red stroke to the type object but the character fill remains blue (the Graphic Style's character fill should be black)!

     

    If that's how Graphic Styles work, then it does not do the job for me.

     

    rcraighead
    rcraigheadCorrect answer
    Brainiac
    November 15, 2019

    I don't know if that's possible. I DO know you can add Graphic Styles below the currently applied style by Option-clicking the Graphic Style. I use this to add a stroke to multiple objects that use different styles. Maybe that can help in some way.

     

    Because Graphic Styles do not contain "Character-Level" appearance data I often edit text styles with NO character fill/stroke, then use Graphic Styles.

     

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