Step & Repeat with Increasing/Decreasing Percentage?

[Guest]

Hi CC,

Is it possible to step and repeat an object so that the scale or position can increase or decrease the value in question?

Like, have a box grow 10% 20% 40% 80% 120% or grow in multiples of a number? It looks as though any pixel or percentage value of step and repeat is flat. Like you can only increase/decrease values by a set value or percentage.

Is there a method or extension to ramp up/down this percentage? Being able to do that would be a real gift.

Thank you for reading.

[Eric Dumas]

Hi,

I don't think you will get this out=of-the-box, but a clever script might do the trick. have you tried to post this in the illustrator scripting forum?

[Guest]

I didn't know there was one, I will check that out.

Thanks guys!

[Jacob Bugge]

For my part you are welcome, soupking.

The scripting forum is here:

Illustrator Scripting

[Jacob Bugge]

soupking,

You may voice the wish here:

https://illustrator.uservoice.com/

By the way, it would be a simpler percentage increase series (doubling the percentage addition) if the fifth had been 160% instead of 120%; I believe it may have been the intended number.

[Jacob Bugge]

soupking,

As I read (past tense) your OP, you are looking for changes that are neither linear (unchanged change as in using Blends) nor exponential (changes that are powers of first change as in using Scales), but customized changes in change (such as the linearly increasing percentage additions listed in the OP).

I am quite sure Carlos or Theunis would have/could soon make a script for such a customized change of change; one of them might spot this thread, but maybe more likely in the scripting forum first mentioned in the first post and linked to in post #5.

[meganchi]

Have you tried using the blend tool, blending a small box to a larger box?

[rcraighead]

This may not be as precise as you need, but you CAN Step-n-Repeat with increasing scale:

1. Choose "Scale" tool.
2. Set an initial "Center of Scale" away from the selection by clicking.
3. Option+Shift-drag to duplicate one object proportionately.
4. Cmd+D to duplicate last step (this will continue to duplicate and scale as many times as you want).

[Guest]

Cool, yeah, not all that precise, but for masks etc. it shouldn't matter. Cool technique, thanks for the GIF grab, I'll have to try that and mod.

[Mike_Gondek]

Look into the transform effect

The effect is also live, so you can edit in the appearance palette to modify the settings anytime.

[Jacob Bugge]

soupking,

Maybe too silly, but for the linearly increasing percentage additions listed in the OP (10% 20% 40% 80%), you may:

0) Create the original size path, then move copies to the right (or whichever direction),

1) Select the first copy and add +10% to the W value in the Transform palette, then copy the addition, and hold Ctrl/Cmd or Constrain Width and Height Proportions to lock proportions and press Enter,

2) Repeat for the second copy, inserting the addition from 1) and change from 10% to 20%,

3) Repeat for the third copy, inserting the addition from 1) and change from 10% to 40%,

4) Repeat for the third copy, inserting the addition from 1) and change from 10% to 80%,

And so on.

Similar procedures may be devised for other custom changes, and scripted.