Fill an object with other objects

[Ewout]

Hi, I'm looking for a way in illustrator (i have CS) to fill an object
(for convenience, let's say a rectangle, but i would like to be able to
do it with other objects aswell) with other objects. So I have drawn a
rectangle, and I want it to be filled with that nice little scribbly I
just drew... I could ofcourse texture-fill it, but that would cut my
scribbly at the sides. So is there a way to fill an object with only
complete objects? I know how to do the trick with text, but can I do the
same with objects?
thanks a lot!

Ewout

[Ewout_Fernhout@adobeforums.com]

Hi, I'm looking for a way in illustrator to fill an object (for convenience, let's say a rectangle, but i would like to be able to do it with other objects aswell) with other objects. So I have drawn a rectangle, and I want it to be filled with that nice little scribbly I just drew... I could ofcourse texture-fill it, but that would cut my scribbly at the sides. So is there a way to fill an object with only complete objects? I know how to do the trick with text, but can I do the same with objects?
thanks a lot!

Ewout

[James_Talmage@adobeforums.com]

"I could ofcourse texture-fill it, but that would cut my scribbly at the sides."

I'm not sure what you mean by "cutting your scribbly at the sides," but if you are talking about a Pattern Swatch, you can control the spacing and masking of the artwork used in a Pattern Swatch by including a no-stroke/no-fill rectangle underneath the artwork. If the rectangle is larger than the artwork, it will add space between the tiles. If it is smaller than the artwork, it will effectively clip/mask it.

All that said (and I don't know how "impossible" this would be to program), wouldn't it be nice if a Symbol Set created by the Symbolism tools could be contained by a closed path?

JET

[Ewout_Fernhout@adobeforums.com]

Ok, the part about "it will effectively clip/mask it" was my problem. I know how to create a pattern swatch, but if I use that to fill my shape, the artwork contained in the pattern will be cut of at places where the width/height is larger than exactly n times the filling object.
Just like with text/word wrap, I would like to be able to let it only tile when an entire object fits in the next tile!

[john_wundes@adobeforums.com]

If you are trying to make an object fit the bounding box of another object, try my javascript here
<http://share.studio.adobe.com/axAssetDetailSubmit.asp?aID=10257&back=http%3A%2F% 2Fshare%2Estudio%2Eadobe%2Ecom%2FaxBrowseSubmit%2E asp%3Fc%3D123>

[James_E._Talmage@adobeforums.com]

Ewout wants to fill a path of any shape with an array of whole objects. That is, unlike in a Pattern Fill, he does not want partial objects to show around the perimeter.

Despite the length of the following workaround, it can be accomplished in just a few seconds. I've just written it out in rather excrutiating detail for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with all the features:

1. Drag a Symbol from the Symbols Palette onto the Artboard.(I used an isometric hex nut that resides in my Symbols palette.) We'll call this the FillObject.

2. Drag the FillObject to the Brushes Palette. In the resulting New Brush dialog, select New Pattern Brush. Click OK.

3. In the resulting BrushOptions dialog, turn on the Approximate Path option. Name the Brush as desired and Click OK.

4. Draw the path you want to fill. (I used a hexagon drawn with the Polygon Tool.) No fill, simple black stroke. We'll call this the Container.

5. Line Tool: Draw a horizontal line just above the shape. Black stroke, no fill. Make the line wider than the Container.

6. Selection Tool: ClickAltShiftDrag a copy of the line straight downward until it is below the Container.

7. Select the two lines. Object>Blend>Make.

8. Object>Blend>BlendOptions. Select Specified Steps. Turn on the Preview checkbox. Adjust the number of steps to your liking. (Until you have as many lines inside the Container as you want rows of fill objects.) Click OK.

9. Object>Blend>Expand.

10. Selection Tool: ShiftClick the Container to add it to the selection.

11. Pathfinder Palette: Click the Outline Pathfinder button. (The paths are now all split where they cross. They have no fill, no stroke, and are grouped.)

12. Click a color in the Swatches Palette to apply a stroke to the selection. (Just so you can see it.)

13. Ungroup.

14. Selection Tool: ClickDrag a selection marquee across the paths which are INSIDE the Container.

15. Edit>Cut (to cut the selection to the clipboard).

16. Selection Tool: ClickDrag a selection marquee around the remaining paths. Delete.

17. Edit>PasteInFront. You should now have an array of horizontal lines which are trimmed to the shape of the Container.

18. Brushes Palette: Click the ObjectBrush to apply it to the selected paths.

19. Stroke Palette: Click the up/down arrows of the Weight setting to adjust the weight of the lines. As you do, the size of the individual FillObjects will change. Adjust the Weight until you have the amount of vertical spacing or overlap you want.

Of course, this is not a "live" fill. That is, you cannot change the shape of the Container and expect the "fill" to change (because it's not really a fill.) However, it DOES have certain nifty "live" aspects:

You can change the horizontal spacing of the FillObjects by DoubleClicking the Brush in the Brushes Palette and changing the Scale, Spacing, or Colorization options. Or, you can change those settings for individual rows of FillObjects by DoubleClicking the Brush listing in the Appearance Palette. You can adjust the size of the FillObjects by adjusting the Weight in the Stroke Palette.

JET

[Kurt_Gold@adobeforums.com]

A similar topic:

-> Kurt Gold "select all smaller objects touching another larger object?" 4/9/04 11:48am </cgi-bin/webx?13@@.2cd121a9/6>