Cant modify an imported PDF vector file

[rhetth21395950]

Hi !

I grabbed this program a day or two ago and its mostly very user friendly and great.  Understandably i won't get everything perfect and i am having a struggle trying to modify an imported PDF vector file.  I originally created a 3D file in Fusion then created a DWG file from that in Fusion, but the DWG wouldn't upload into Illustrator.  So i then created a PDF in Fusion and imported it into Illustrator, and then created other stuff in Illustrator.  I find i am able to scale the entire PDF component, but not use 'Fill' or move elements within the drawing relative to each other.  I am creating a logo so i don't want to rasterise it, and when i tried 'Image Trace' the quality wasn't quite good enough. 

[Mylenium]

It's probably a whole mess of infinitely nested groups, separate path segements and compound paths. that happens a lot when exporting CAD data. Dig into the layers palette, dissolve the groups and so on, then re-group sensibly in the AI sense. For filling it may be simpler to convert the group to a Live Paint group and fill the areas instead of trying to mend and join the paths the hard way by hand...

Mylenium

[Anna Lander · Accepted solution]

Your imported PDF is in Clipping mask (this happens often when you import non-native vectors in AI). So, you can release it (Ctrl/Cmd+Alt/Opt+7, repeate until all the objects will have their own edges highlighted), ungroup (Ctrl/Cmd + Shift+G) and delete all unnecessary objects.

But there is a sad news for you: each segment of each your object is a separate line, so you need to join them.

there are 2 ways to continue.

1 — connect all segments point by point (I'm not sure thai it's a good way for this case but it might be useful in some further projects):

1. Using Direct Selection Tool (White Arrow) select 2 endpoints from different segments

2. Click Ctrl/Cmd+Alt/Opt+J > Both to place the points at the same place

3. Click Ctrl/Cmd+J to join the segments.

Repeat it for all points. 

This way is long and boring but safe and well-controllable.

2 — follow Mylenium's advice and create a Live Paint Group:

1. Select all the elements of your logo and go to Object > Live Paint > Make

2. Using Live Paint Bucket fill the objects like you wish. Change the Stroke settings if needed.

3. Finally Expand the Live Painting group to get separate editable objects for further work.

[rhetth21395950]

Thanks very much.  I will work on this and report back.

[rhetth21395950]

Hi.  Can you please give me a bit more instruction on how to release it from clipping mask?

I tried highlighting the box the artwork is in within the illustrator file, and pressed Ctrl + Alt, but nothing happenned.  I also went to the layers dropbox and selected the artwork and pressed Ctrl + Alt, but again nothing happenned.

[Anna Lander]

Ctrl+Alt+7, or Object > Clipping Mask > Release, and repeat until you can see the all objects' edges highlighted.

[rhetth21395950]

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be giving me the option.

[Test Screen Name]

Key point: you may get great results, I hope so, but Illustrator is not made or sold as a general PDF editor. Your mileage may vary wildly. It does a perfect job of editing only the PDFs that Illustrator made itself, and which were saved with "preserve editing".

[Anna Lander]

did you open the PDF or place it?
If place, open Links panel, select the PDF and in panel menu choose Embed command. This will make the PDF editable.

[rhetth21395950]

I opened the PDF.  I can't find the "Embed" command.

[Anna Lander]

please, show the screenshot of your original PDF file when it's just opened and with all the content selected.

Yes, when you open PDF, you can't see the "Embed" command, its for placed content only.