What am I missing with the Blend tool here?

[Howard_F]

I've watched tutorials on YT on this but still get the results shown here. They are not Compound Paths and I've tried each stroke Grouped and Ungrouped. Why is there not a smooth transition using Specified Steps? I also can't find any stray or duplicated points.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Howard_F,

Thanks for reaching out. Would you mind sharing some more details, like the exact version of the OS/Illustrator, a link to the tutorial, and the exact details of your workflow, including a screen recording of the problem (https://adobe.ly/3LGXVGm), so we can better assist you?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,

Anubhav

[Howard_F]

Thank you Anubhav

Mac OS 14.5, Illustrator 28.6, the other information of the process I'm trying to replicate is shown here (this tute is not mine) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyLYWdxgsY8

It seems simple enough....

[Gerrys]

Hi apart from my response  below acknowledging this specific issue I have a more recent problem

Trying to make a blend and the tool is malfunctioning according to my experience. I go to options add my instructions on my prefered choice and go to make. You can see below screenshot that regardless of my selected option the tool adds a third or middle stroke even when I instruct to make it smooth colour.  I always add the caveat that it might be my inexperience (I am now using the APP for over 5 years) so would appreciate either guidance on where I am going wrong or some help to fix the issue. 

[Monika Gause]

Can you please share that file? Change the extension to PDF and then you can upload it. 

"Smooth color" is just a name for an option. Ist calculates the number of steps based on color values. But if the objects are not simple paths or if the colors are not simple, then Smooth color will not produce that smooth in-between.

[Gerrys]

Monika I have been using blend tool for some considerable time so I get the methoud fully! and I understand the subtle but totally different approaches of multiple lines versus sold colour. It is the first time I have encounter this issue. As it happens I went back to the file after making my post here and managed to successully make a blend with 140 steps but on asking the tool to create a smoth colour blend it just added one additional line like the screen shot demonstrates. But thank you as always for reappraising me of the tools purpose. 😉 I will once I can make a file in PDF format and post here. Kind regards.

[Monika Gause]

One of your shapes has a lot of corners, the other one is round. That requires additional things to do. Please share the file (change the extension to PDF to do so)

[Howard_F]

Thank you Monica.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Thank you! That was interesting. I was first not believing what I'm seeing, but then it could be fixed.

The paths were still grouped.

One of them needs the path direction reversed. And then you need to select corresponding points on both and use the bland tool in a specific way.

https://youtu.be/GgLA2RyRHVg

[Howard_F]

Thank you Monika. I must learn German.

[Monika Gause]

While it's always nice to speak additional languages, it's not necessary just because of Illutrator. I'm currently writing something in German and have the interface set accordingly. Sorry for that. Here is a translation chart: https://www.vektorgarten.de/illustrator-polyglott.html

My YouTube channel is mostly in English.

[Howard_F]

Thank you Monika, as always. That is some list....!

[kphotopage]

Personally, I have never had much luck with Blends when there were not matching number of anchors.

Here is another method to recreate if anyone is interested.

I started with a rectangle. Then Object>Path>Offset. I used 10pt

I gave that new rectangle corner radius of 6pt

Again Object>Path>Offset.

That gave me 6 closed paths. Group.

Next, Line tool, create 6 vertical lines, 10pt spacing. Group.

Rotate that group angle 45

Put together, Rectangles and rotated Group.

Then Object>Live Paint, Strokes. I random color as I work.

Expand Live Paint and Ungroup

Object>Select same Stroke color and Object>Path>Join.

Do for each color

Lastly, (White arrow) I select the corner anchor at that miter, and gave it a radius.

I used 30,24,18,12 and 6pt. This gives the appearance of a blend.

Fun to do.

K

[Monika Gause]

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@kphotopage  schrieb:

Personally, I have never had much luck with Blends when there were not matching number of anchors.

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Most of the time the method with selecting corresponding points works pretty well.

[Howard_F]

Yes, thank kphoto, good workaround.

[Gerrys]

Hi I have experienced this frequently. It is frustrating I know. I found that it was related to anchor points and wheter or not there was an out of place corner point. Since I am self taught some here dont like that I believed it was something I was doing and persevered. And believe me it took some doing. I found work arounds like expanding and then manually fixing the crooked strokes. I read the response from Monika and will investigate.