Blend problems with Adobe Tutorial

[J_Couch@adobeforums.com]

I'm having a blending problem with one of the Illustrator tutorials. Instead of creating such a lengthy note here, I've explained my problem on my personal website. Please go to:

<http://myweb.cableone.net/jlcouch>

for a detailed explanation of my problem.

Thanks for any assistance.

[Harron_K._Appleman@adobeforums.com]

J,

Can you upload the .ai file in question (preferably zipped) to your Web space and post a link here?

More users will be able to help if you make it a version 10 file.

=-= Harron =-=

[Philip_Peterson@adobeforums.com]

Try clicking on the same point in each blend object and see if that fixes it.

[J_Couch@adobeforums.com]

I've recreated the drawing, saving it four times in each stage of the drawing. I've tried using the line tool instead of the pen, creating the horizontal line first, arranging the lines in every stacking order possible. One thing really seems strange also. If I rotate the completed drawing 180 degrees, the last blend will change from the last section to the first section. If I rotate it 90 degrees, the bad section will show up in the middle of the blend. Really Strange!!! Philip, I'll try it. Maybe clicking on the beginning of each line or the end. I'd really like to figure this out because I'm wanting to do this effect on a brochure that needs to be finished by tomorrow.

Anyway, the four drawings are now zipped and on my website at the bottom of the page.

again.........[url]http://myweb.cableone.net/jlcouch[/url]

[Harron_K._Appleman@adobeforums.com]

J,

Philip is right.

If you select your blend and go to Object | Blend | Blend Options, select Specified Steps, and intentionally use a low number, like 10, you'll see what's going on.

I started with your Blend4.ai file, released the blend, then remade the blend, clicking on the same endpoint on each line, and the result was perfect.

I also noticed that your lines have fills, which might be adding unnecessary complexity to the blends.

=-= Harron =-=

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

Object>Blend>Blend options> Orientation = Align to path

(not align to page)

Try making the blend now.

[B. Philippus]

Part of the problem is, that you've got the last line just past 90 degrees. I rotated it back 0.1 degree and it came up fine. Past 90 degrees and the blend tool will look at it as "almost all the way upside down...".

[James_Talmage@adobeforums.com]

J,

There are 2 ways you can "correct" your step 4: One is to directSelect the top line (you can directSelect key objects of a live blend) and then click its left endpoint with the Pen tool. This reverses the path's direction and the blend redraws correctly. The other way is to directSelect the top path and nudge it to the right with the arrow key. This would not seem like it should make a difference, but it does, and the reason why is what follows:

You were performing a Blend operation for each pair of lines. That is not necessary. You can select all the paths and blend them in one step. The way you are doing it is this: You are creating a Blend between two paths; then selecting that Blend and another path and Blending those; then selecting that Blend and another line, Blending those; and so on. You are building more complexity than necessary, and, to make a long story short, that is what is causing the strange behavior you are seeing.

Start over. Select all 9 lines and perform one Blend. then you will see that there is no circular spine path linking the middles of the key lines when you select the Blend.

JET