Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Because blends are live, you can edit the key objects' shape, color, size, location, or
rotation, and the resulting
in-between
objects will automatically update. You can also
distribute a blend along a custom path (see details later in this chapter).
The simplest way to create a blend is to double-click on the Blend tool to choose a
setting for it, and then select the objects you wish to blend and choose Object>
Blend> Make ( -Option-B/Ctrl-Alt-B). The setting you choose is persistent, so if
you don't first double-click on the tool, your setting for it becomes the last-used
setting. To later adjust settings on an existing blend: select the blend, then double-
click the Blend tool (or choose Objects> Blend> Blend Options).
Another way to create blends between individual paths is to
point map
using the
Blend tool. In the past, the Blend tool was used to achieve smooth transitions
between blended objects. Now that it's been modified, however, it's probably best to
use it for special morphing or twirling effects. To use the
point map
technique, begin
by clicking on an anchor point of one object, and then on an anchor point of another
object. Continue clicking on anchor points of any object you want to include in the
blend. You can also click anywhere on the path of an object to achieve random
blending effects.
To modify a key object before or after making a blend, Direct-Select the key object
first, then use any editing tool (including the Pencil, Smooth, and Path Eraser tools)
to make your changes.
Isolating blending & knockout
Choose Show Options from the Transparency panel pop-up menu to control how
transparency is applied to groups and multiple objects. You get different effects
depending on whether you select individual objects, target groups, or enable/disable
Isolate Blending and/or Knockout Group. If you enable Isolate Blending for a
selected group, then the transparency settings of the objects inside the group only
affect how those objects interact with each other, and transparency isn't applied to
objects underneath the group. With a group or layer targeted, the Knockout Group
option will keep individual objects of a group or layer from applying their
transparency settings to each other where they overlap; for this reason, Illustrator
automatically enables the Knockout Group option for all newly created blends. See
the “Opacity&Blending.ai” ReadMe on
WOW! ONLINE
for examples.
