Set circumference of shape or closed path?

[cbraun8675309]

I use illustrator to make a lot of precision templates involving oval and teardrop shapes. In order to set the circumference I use the document info window, objects selection. And it tells you the length of the path around the shape. You have to manually scale the shape up and down to the correct circumference. Usually zooming in really close to get precision adjustments. When I'm making 30 or more shapes this is really time consuming.

Is there an easier way to do this? That would be sweet if there was a way to input a path length or circumference to scale the object to.

TIA for any feedback or insight. 🙂

[Myra Ferguson]

Try Astute Graphic's VectorScribe (it's a plugin for Illustrator) and use Dynamic Shapes:

VectorScribe

[tromboniator]

Myra, as wonderful a tool as it is, it still doesn’t do circumference.

Peter

[Myra Ferguson]

Oh, well. It's been a while since I've used it. I wonder if one of their other tools might work.

[cbraun8675309]

Sweet thank you I'll check it out

[Kurt Gold]

cbraun,

I think your description is pretty clear, but just to be sure that I (or someone else) do not misunderstand your request: Can you post some examples/sketches that show what you are looking for?

[cbraun8675309]

I will add an example as a reply on the bottom

[Mylenium · Accepted solution]

CAD Tools has an info palette that live-updates all info as you go and you can also set it parametrically and have the tool do the math for the scaling. It's a costly plug-in, but if you use it a lot it may be totalyl worth it...

Mylenium

[cbraun8675309]

thanks ill check it out

[Jacob Bugge · Accepted solution]

C,

Whatever Kurt says, I clearly (mis)understand it in a way that makes me suggest the following:

1) Select the object,

2) DoubleClick the Scale Tool or Object>Transform>Scale, then insert the following in the Uniform Scale box: key in the desired circumference multiplied by 100 followed by / and followed by the currecnt circumference from the Document Info window; to multiply by 100 just add 00 after the desired circumference if it is an integer, or move the decimal point two places to the right if there are at least two decimals, or do something in between if it is/has something in between; in other words, you just use the desired circumference and the current one and let Illy (job description Adobe Illustrator) do the calculation (she is always eager to help).

After that you can see the new desired circumference in the Document Info window; and enjoy.

[cbraun8675309]

ahh that works perfect! that will save me a lot of time fidgeting around trying to get them close to perfect with my previous method. I didnt know you could use math operations there, and wouldve never thought of that equation. Thank you 🙂

[Jacob Bugge]

For my part you are welcome, C.

[cbraun8675309]

Example, all of these shapes are labeled in mm and corespond to the circumference of a circle with the specified mm diameter.