Adobe Illustrator - getting the size of an existing rectangle?

Author

getting the size of an existing rectangle?

yawnmoth

2006-08-09, 6:19 pm

Say I wanted to make a rectangle with rounded corners whose size was
the same as another rectangle. The only difference would be that the
corner radius would be slightly different. How would I go about doing
this?

If I click on the rectangle whose size I'd like to duplicate,
subsequent rectangles I create will use the same swatch, but won't
necessarily be of the same size (unless I just sorta guess and check).

So... any ideas as to how I might go about getting the size of an
existing rectangle?

steggy

2006-08-09, 10:17 pm

yawnmoth wrote:
> Say I wanted to make a rectangle with rounded corners whose size was
> the same as another rectangle. The only difference would be that the
> corner radius would be slightly different. How would I go about doing
> this?

If this is what you mean (I know how hard it is to picture the
difficulties;)):

Copy the original rectangle.
Paste it on Front. so now you have the same rectangels on top of each other.
Alt(Option) - click in the center of the (still selected) top rectangle.
Change the radius of the corners.

>
> If I click on the rectangle whose size I'd like to duplicate,
> subsequent rectangles I create will use the same swatch, but won't
> necessarily be of the same size (unless I just sorta guess and check).
>
> So... any ideas as to how I might go about getting the size of an
> existing rectangle?
>

yawnmoth

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

steggy wrote:
> <snip>
> Copy the original rectangle.
> Paste it on Front. so now you have the same rectangels on top of each other.
> Alt(Option) - click in the center of the (still selected) top rectangle.
> Change the radius of the corners.
I apologize for the delay. Anyway, when I use the right mouse button
in the center of the top rectangle, with Alt held down, nothing
happens. I tried it with the left mouse key, as well, and with the
Direct Selection tool and the normal Selection tool.

I just do not seem to be able to get any sort of porperties window up
where I'd be able to change the corner radius... any ideas?

steggy

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

yawnmoth wrote:
> steggy wrote:
>
>
> I apologize for the delay. Anyway, when I use the right mouse button
> in the center of the top rectangle, with Alt held down, nothing
> happens. I tried it with the left mouse key, as well, and with the
> Direct Selection tool and the normal Selection tool.
>
> I just do not seem to be able to get any sort of porperties window up
> where I'd be able to change the corner radius... any ideas?
>

When I do this I have the Rectangle Tool selected. Maybe there is the
confusion?

So try this:

1. Make a rectangle with rounded corners
2. Stay on the rectangle tool (not the Direct or Regular Select tool,
the Rectangle Tool~ with rounded corners)
3. Alt-click on the center point

Now a box should appear with the dimensions and the corner radius.
Changing the corner radius will create another rectangle with the same
dimensions, straight on top of it but with (of course) another corner
radius. Get rid of the old one.

That should be it!

Did you recieve my mail by the way? I sent you a cool and very easy to
use action for getting one or two or whatever rounded corners instead of
the basic 4.

yawnmoth

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

steggy wrote:
> <snip>
> When I do this I have the Rectangle Tool selected. Maybe there is the
> confusion?

I just tried it with a newly created rectangle and it works just fine.
I guess that's sorta a requirement - that the rectangle you're doing
this on be brand new.

> Did you recieve my mail by the way? I sent you a cool and very easy to
> use action for getting one or two or whatever rounded corners instead of
> the basic 4.
Just got it now - thanks! :)

I'll probably try to use the pen tool, still, for now, though, 'cause
that tool really does seem to be one of Illustrator's most powerful
features - if I ever get good at using it, heh :)

steggy

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

yawnmoth wrote:
> steggy wrote:
>
>
>
> I just tried it with a newly created rectangle and it works just fine.
> I guess that's sorta a requirement - that the rectangle you're doing
> this on be brand new.
>
>
>
> Just got it now - thanks! :)
>
> I'll probably try to use the pen tool, still, for now, though, 'cause
> that tool really does seem to be one of Illustrator's most powerful
> features - if I ever get good at using it, heh :)
>

Not just for Illustrator, also Photoshop is getting hung up on that
pen;) Make sure to get acquianted with Bezier Curves, do a search for
that one.

About your first remark.......I do not understand? If I copy an existing
rounded corner rectangle same thing happens.

Just make sure you have the Rectangle Tool selected and use the Alt key
and click away

yawnmoth

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

steggy wrote:
> <snip>
> About your first remark.......I do not understand? If I copy an existing
> rounded corner rectangle same thing happens.
It does to me, as well - it's just that I'm trying to do it on a
rectangle that I created a while ago - I've since saved the *.ai file,
closed Illustrator and reopened it.

I could recreate the rectangle, but I like the current ones position -
not only in relation to other objects but in relation to other layers.

yawnmoth

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

steggy wrote:
> yawnmoth wrote:
> <snip>
> Not just for Illustrator, also Photoshop is getting hung up on that
> pen;) Make sure to get acquianted with Bezier Curves, do a search for
> that one.
I'll do that - thanks for the tip! :)

steggy

2006-08-15, 6:16 pm

yawnmoth wrote:
> steggy wrote:
>
>
> It does to me, as well - it's just that I'm trying to do it on a
> rectangle that I created a while ago - I've since saved the *.ai file,
> closed Illustrator and reopened it.
>
> I could recreate the rectangle, but I like the current ones position -
> not only in relation to other objects but in relation to other layers.
>

I have no clue what your problem is.

If you open a rectangle (*.ai file) select it with the regular (black)
selection tool. Just select it OK?

Then chose the rectangle tool, Alt-Click and there you go.