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Shape Builder tool extends line past shape when trying to change color

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
September 5, 2020
5 replies
4006 views

I have a maddening issue with Illustrator's shapebuilder tool.

I've created a compound shape with two circles and a tapered line down the middle. I'm attempting to darken the color on the right using the Shape Builder tool. I select the shape, switch to Shape Builder tool, darken the color, click on the right side. When I click on the right side of the shape to change the color, the center line extends out past the shape (see images below). I've tried changing the corner and align stroke settings in hopes it would keep the line from pushing out past the shape. Any help or suggestions would be awesome.

Cap: Buttcap

Corner: Miter join

Align Stroke: Align stroke to center

Stroke: 1 pt

Correct answer tromboniator

You can also play with the miter (mitre) limit in the Stroke panel

Edit: Oops. I missed Larry_G__Schneider's post. Sorry.

tromboniator

Correct answer

Community Expert

You can also play with the miter (mitre) limit in the Stroke panel

Edit: Oops. I missed Larry_G__Schneider's post. Sorry.

J

Jm20202374227Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks for all the suggestions. This is still an issue. Maddening I tell you. Maddening.

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

John,

Have you tried the hopefully non maddening silly way (the one with the original paths and the hard stop gradient)?

Jacob Bugge

Community Expert

John,

A hopefully sufficiently silly way is to:

1) Go back to have the outer shape with the two arcs joined to form one simple closed path with Miter Join for sharp ends or Round Join for round ends as desired, and have the separate tapered/varying width path down the middle with Butt Cap, on top of the closed arc path (or it will become hidden);

2) Apply a Gradient Fill to the outer shape with the desired colour of the left side applied to both end stops, then add two intermediate stops (off the middle), then change the two rightmost stops to the desired colour of the right side, then change the Location of both the intermediate stop to 50%.

If you look closer at the bottom of your first screenshot, you will see that you have two closed stroked paths with Miter Joins, one consisting of the left arc and one instance of the former path in the middle, and one consisting of the right arc and another instance of the former path in the middle, the two Miter Joins giving a forked (snake tounge) appearance.

Also, by its being dragged into the two new closed paths, the tapered/varying width path is multiplied into two, furthermore getting the Stroke property of the arc paths.

J

Jm20202374227Author

Participating Frequently

Update: I just changed the stroke for the line down the center to 0, repeated all the steps mentioned before and it adds a stroke.

J

Jm20202374227Author

Participating Frequently

So, I've found an acceptable workaround. I removed all stroke, used the shape builder tool to change the color, add a tapered straight line down the center. I'm happy with it and continue making my leaf. 🙂

If anyone knows why and how to address why the line straightens and extends out past the shape, that would be awesome.

J

Jm20202374227Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. This is still an issue. I'm attempting to create a coffee cup for my lovely bouquet of vibrant green leaves and the cup does the same thing.

Two circles joined together by two lines. Once the shape builder tool is activated and an alternate color is applied, the lines extend out past the shapes. Holy extended edges, Batman.

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Try Round Cap.

Or when yo want pointed endings, keep the butt cap, connect the top and bottom parts of the shape (which will give it a single color).

Draw a line from top to bottom.

Select the shape and the line and use Object > Live Paint > Make to color the left and right parts

When done, Live Paint > Expand.

J

Jm20202374227Author

Participating Frequently

Hey Ton, Thanks for the response. When I select the shape and line, object, live paint it does the same thing using the shape builder too does. The line changes from tapered to straight and extends a little past the shape.