Adobe Illustrator - arrowhead and scale

Author

arrowhead and scale

pluton

2006-04-25, 6:22 pm

Hi all,

a quick question. Let's say I am drawing a diagram with a bunch of
arrows, all of the same size. Let's say that after a while, I figured
out the respective arrwoheads are all to big with respect to the size
of the whole diagram. Is there a way to select all the arrowheads and
reduced them to the proper size using the scale tool without moving
them somewhere. Just because, if I select them one by one using the
shift option (in windows, it adds the selected object to the already
selected objects) and then use the scale tool, they will be reduced to
the proper size but also moved to another location because of the whole
shrink of the final square of selection (the one including all the
selected arrowheads). It looks like it is possible to perform sucha
thing with a filter but I am not sure of it.

By the way, is there a way with Illustrator to add an arrowhead exactly
at the end of a line and not somewhere in between as it is by default ?

thank you,

Pluton

iehsmith

2006-04-25, 6:22 pm

On 4/25/06 12:09 PM, pluton commented:

> Hi all,
>
> a quick question. Let's say I am drawing a diagram with a bunch of
> arrows, all of the same size. Let's say that after a while, I figured
> out the respective arrwoheads are all to big with respect to the size
> of the whole diagram. Is there a way to select all the arrowheads and
> reduced them to the proper size using the scale tool without moving
> them somewhere. Just because, if I select them one by one using the
> shift option (in windows, it adds the selected object to the already
> selected objects) and then use the scale tool, they will be reduced to
> the proper size but also moved to another location because of the whole
> shrink of the final square of selection (the one including all the
> selected arrowheads). It looks like it is possible to perform sucha
> thing with a filter but I am not sure of it.
>
> By the way, is there a way with Illustrator to add an arrowhead exactly
> at the end of a line and not somewhere in between as it is by default ?
>
> thank you,
>
> Pluton

(I'm only using 9.0.2, so things might be different for you.)

If you used Effect>Stylize>Add Arowheads INSTEAD of Filter>... then you
don't have to keep selecting Add arrowheads. Just apply it to one stroke,
make sure Arrowhead is highlighted in the Appearance menu, and continue.

Also, if you used the Effect arrowheads they remain editable by
double-clicking arrowheads in the Appearance menu.

It's easier to work in this kind of scenatio if you've kept your
lines/arrows on a separate layer from everything else. If you haven't, use
your layers palette to select and drag those part to a separate layer, then
lock all other layers.

Assumptions for this to work:
You used Filter arrowheads.
Your arrowheads are the same color and are all applied to the End of a
stroke; or all applied to the Start of the stroke.
That you have not expanded/outlined your stroked paths into filled objects,
and they are the same stroke width.

Use the Group Select arrow to select 1 of your arrowheads, Edit>Select>Same
fill color; only your arrowheads should be selected, then just delete them.
Select All to select your stroke paths, then Effect>Stylize Add arrowhead
with preview checked to get your new scale.

Having used an Effect instead of Filter, when you're confident you won't
want to change it, you should Expand Appearance.

I hope I've stated this in an understandable way.

inez

pluton

2006-04-27, 6:17 am

> If you used Effect>Stylize>Add Arowheads INSTEAD of Filter>... then you
> don't have to keep selecting Add arrowheads. Just apply it to one stroke,
> make sure Arrowhead is highlighted in the Appearance menu, and continue.

this thing is new to me and works perfectly.

> Also, if you used the Effect arrowheads they remain editable by
> double-clicking arrowheads in the Appearance menu.

I still do not know how to go through this. I do not know what the
Appearance menu is.

> It's easier to work in this kind of scenatio if you've kept your
> lines/arrows on a separate layer from everything else. If you haven't, use
> your layers palette to select and drag those part to a separate layer, then
> lock all other layers.

I have to work on layers. I know it is available but I do not know how
to use them.

> Assumptions for this to work:
> You used Filter arrowheads.
> Your arrowheads are the same color and are all applied to the End of a
> stroke; or all applied to the Start of the stroke.
> That you have not expanded/outlined your stroked paths into filled objects,
> and they are the same stroke width.
>
> Use the Group Select arrow to select 1 of your arrowheads, Edit>Select>Same
> fill color; only your arrowheads should be selected, then just delete them.
> Select All to select your stroke paths, then Effect>Stylize Add arrowhead
> with preview checked to get your new scale.

I am lost here.
>
> Having used an Effect instead of Filter, when you're confident you won't
> want to change it, you should Expand Appearance.

I got this one.

Thanks,

I think I have to work on the Layer thing,

Pluton

iehsmith

2006-04-27, 10:19 pm

On 4/27/06 4:19 AM, pluton commented:

>
> this thing is new to me and works perfectly.
>
>
> I still do not know how to go through this. I do not know what the
> Appearance menu is.

Select Show Appearance from your Window menu. If the only option is Hide
Appearance the palette is somewhere on your desktop.

>
> I have to work on layers. I know it is available but I do not know how
> to use them.

Layers, just as with Photoshop, are invaluable in Illustrator. Holding your
mouse over (not clicking) icon buttons at the bottom of the Layers palette
to see what they do. The right pointing arrow at the left of layer items
expands the list of items in the layer or group. Clicking a radio button
actually selects an item, entire group, or entire layer for
moving/editing/deleting/copying. If you just highlight an item or group you
can drag it up or down in the layer order. There is also a flyout menu arrow
at the top right of the palette that offers you more option. Most of it is
very simple and intuitive and you really need to get familiar with it and
use it.

>
> I am lost here.

First, where do you stand as far as the above assumptions?

>
> I got this one.

Good! :)

pluton

2006-05-01, 10:37 pm

> Layers, just as with Photoshop, are invaluable in Illustrator. Holding your
> mouse over (not clicking) icon buttons at the bottom of the Layers palette
> to see what they do. The right pointing arrow at the left of layer items
> expands the list of items in the layer or group. Clicking a radio button
> actually selects an item, entire group, or entire layer for
> moving/editing/deleting/copying. If you just highlight an item or group you
> can drag it up or down in the layer order. There is also a flyout menu arrow
> at the top right of the palette that offers you more option. Most of it is
> very simple and intuitive and you really need to get familiar with it and
> use it.

I do not know if it is doable but I am thinking about putting all my
arrowheads in the same layer in such a way I can reduce their size by
just one click without modifying their location. What I am doing now,
is selecting all the arrowheads as objects, but when I want to rescale
them all at once, they move somewhereelse, not very far from their
initial position. I have to relocate all of them one by one and it is
very anoying...

Pluton

iehsmith

2006-05-02, 6:20 pm

On 5/1/06 5:42 PM, pluton commented:

>
> I do not know if it is doable but I am thinking about putting all my
> arrowheads in the same layer in such a way I can reduce their size by
> just one click without modifying their location. What I am doing now,
> is selecting all the arrowheads as objects, but when I want to rescale
> them all at once, they move somewhereelse, not very far from their
> initial position. I have to relocate all of them one by one and it is
> very anoying...
>
> Pluton

You might go back and reread my first post.
Since you used Filter arrowheads, move the lines WITH arrowheads to separate
layer.
Lock all other layers.
Use the Group Select tool to select one arrowhead, the Edit>Select>Same fill
color. This should select all the arrowheads without the lines or anything
else.
Delete the arrowheads.
Now select your lines and apply arrowheads from Effects>Stylize>Add
Arrowheads. Use the preview to help you decide scale.
Remember that they are remain editable in the Appearance palette, and when
your absolutely done, Object>Expand Appeareance.

pluton

2006-05-03, 6:18 pm

> You might go back and reread my first post.
> Since you used Filter arrowheads, move the lines WITH arrowheads to separate
> layer.
> Lock all other layers.
> Use the Group Select tool to select one arrowhead, the Edit>Select>Same fill
> color. This should select all the arrowheads without the lines or anything
> else.
> Delete the arrowheads.
> Now select your lines and apply arrowheads from Effects>Stylize>Add
> Arrowheads. Use the preview to help you decide scale.
> Remember that they are remain editable in the Appearance palette, and when
> your absolutely done, Object>Expand Appeareance.

It looks much clearer to me now.
I'll try as soon as I can.

Pluton

iehsmith

2006-05-03, 6:18 pm

On 5/3/06 6:49 AM, pluton commented:

>
> It looks much clearer to me now.
> I'll try as soon as I can.
>
> Pluton

You're doing fine. I'm self-taught and come across all this stuff by trial
and LOTS or errors;)

inez