creating an oulinepath from a dotted line

[Jimme_Woudstra@adobeforums.com]

Can somebody help me by telling me how to create an oulinepath from a dotted line? I prefere not to trace the line with the pen tool, if you know what I mean.

Thanx in advance!

[Doug_Katz@adobeforums.com]

I assume you mean by an "outlinepath" a series of individual, editable dots (ellipses).

Select the line. Object>Flatten Transparency. Object>Ungroup. Object>Compound path>Release.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

How was the dotted line created? If it's a line with a style applied to it to create the dots all you need to do is apply a solid stroke to it. But I'm guessing your problem is deeper than that.

Was this dotted line made by just lining up bunch of independent dots? If so, it's probably best just to trace it, if it isn't too complex. If it's a pretty complex shape I've got an idea, but it will only work if each dot is an independent object.

Select all the dots
Use Transform each to increase the size of each dot until they all overlap.
Use the Pathfinder Add to make a single object out of all of them.
If the path is closed you can select the inner part of the compound shape and delete it.
Play with the Object/Path/Simplify settings until you get something pretty close to what you want.

It's not perfect, and will probably require some more manual fudging. Hopefully someone else will have a better idea.

[Ray Craighead]

If you are wanting to convert a dashed line to editable objects, first set the line to 99% opacity, then "Object>Flatten Transparency". You'll end up with editable objects. Others have shared this trick in the past. It's not new with me.

[hitpawz@adobeforums.com]

Using this trick, you'll have about a 3% shift in your color that you should be aware of.

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

99% transparency is not needed.

As Doug mentioned

Object>Flatten transparency with convert all strokes to outlines checked.

You will need to ungroup and also need to release a compound path.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

99% transparency is not needed for that operation if he has "Outline all paths" checked.

[Ray Craighead]

I found it did a cleaner job by choosing 99% opacity. Fewer points and no extra objects (at least in AI10).

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

99% transparency is not needed for that operation if he has "Outline all
paths" checked.




I assume you mean "Convert all Strokes to Outlines".

"with convert all strokes to outlines checked"

Did I not cover that?

[hitpawz@adobeforums.com]

I'll try to keep the theme of USEFUL responses going here.

If I keep the raster/vector slider all the way to the right (vector) then I see no difference with 99% opacity and no transparency.

[jonf@adobeforums.com]

"I assume you mean "Convert all Strokes to Outlines"."

Um ... yeah. Not sure where I got that phrase from.

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

If I keep the raster/vector slider all the way to the right (vector) then
I see no difference with 99% opacity and no transparency.




Did you notice the color tint shift?

Oh wait, you posted the color shift yourself so you must be seeing a difference.

You are correct in that the shapes of the elements are no different.

I may not be "useful";) but, my post was not meant as a jab at you hitpawz. (this post was though in a friendly manner XD) It was meant for clarification on the convert all strokes to outlines checkbox. And if there was really a Outline all paths checkbox that has eluded me all this time.

[hitpawz@adobeforums.com]

I removed what I posted, it wasn't warranted. I certainly didn't think it was directed at me and I apologize.

I only noticed the color shift because I checked out of curiosity. I couldn't see it visually. In RGB, the color went from 0,0,0 to 3,3,3.