Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Blend Options
To specify options as you blend, use the Blend tool (see the “point map” directions in
the previous section) and press the Option/Alt key as you click the second point. In
Blend Options you can change settings before making the blend. To adjust options on
a completed blend, select it and double-click the Blend tool (or choose Object>
Blend> Blend Options). Opening Blend Options without a blend selected sets the
defaults for creating blends
in this work session
—these options reset each time you
restart the program:
•
Specified Steps
specifies the number of steps between each pair of key objects (the
limit is 1,000). Using fewer steps results in clearly distinguishable objects; a larger
number of steps results in an almost airbrushed effect.
•
Specified Distance
places a specified distance between the objects of the blend.
•
Smooth Color
automatically calculates the ideal number of steps between key objects
in a blend, in order to achieve the smoothest color transition. If objects are the same
color, or are gradients or patterns, this option equally distributes the objects within
the blend, based on their size.
•
Orientation
determines how the individual blend objects rotate as they follow the
path's curves. Align to Page (the default, first icon) prevents objects from rotating as
they're distributed along the path's curve (objects stay “upright” as they blend along
the curve). Align to Path allows blend objects to rotate as they follow along the path.
To insert objects into a blend
Group-Select a key object and Option-drag/Alt-drag to insert a new key object (the
blend will reflow). You can also insert new objects by double-clicking it to enter
isolation mode, or by dragging them into the blend in the Layers panel.
Blends along a path
There are two ways to make blends follow a curved path. The first way is to use the
Direct Selection tool to select the
spine
of a blend (the path automatically created by
the blend) and then use the Add/Delete Anchor Point tools, or any of the following
tools, to curve or edit the path: the Direct Selection, Lasso, Convert Anchor Point,
Pencil, Smooth, or even the Path Eraser tool. As you edit the spine of the blend,
Illustrator automatically redraws the blend objects to align to the edited spine.
Secondly, you can also replace the spine with a customized path. Select both the
customized path and the blend, and choose Object> Blend> Replace Spine. This
command moves the blend to its new spine.
You can also blend between pairs of grouped objects. If you're not getting the results
you expect, try creating your first set of objects and grouping them ( -G/Ctrl-G).
Now copy and paste a duplicate set (or Option/Alt and drag to create a copy of your
group). Select the two sets of grouped objects and blend by choosing Specified Steps
as the blend option. Once the objects are blended, you can rotate and scale them, and
use the Direct Selection tool to edit the objects or the spine. (To experiment with a
pair of grouped blends in this way, find the figures
Blend Tool Tomato Vine
on
WOW! ONLINE
as “AaronMcGarry-blends.ai.”)
