Create blends, Create a blend with the blend tool, Create a blend with the make blend command – Adobe Illustrator CS4 User Manual
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USING ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR CS4
Reshaping objects
Example of using a blend to distribute color smoothly between two objects
The following rules apply to blended objects and their associated colors:
•
You cannot blend between mesh objects.
•
If you blend between one object painted with a process color and another object painted with a spot color, the
blended shapes are painted with a blended process color. If you blend between two different spot colors, process
colors are used to paint the intermediate steps. If, however, you
blend between tints of the same spot color, the steps
are all painted with percentages of the spot color.
•
If you blend between two patterned objects, the blended steps will only use the fill of the object on the topmost layer.
•
If you blend between objects that have blending modes specified with the Transparency panel, the blended steps
will only use the blending mode of the top object.
•
If you blend between objects with multiple appearance attributes (effects, fills, or strokes), Illustrator attempts to
blend the options.
•
If you blend between two instances of the same symbol, blended steps will be instances of that symbol. If, however,
you blend between two instances of different symbols, the blended steps will not be symbol instances.
•
By default, blends are created as knockout transparency groups, so that if any of the steps consist of overlapping
transparent objects, these objects will not show through each other. You can change this setting by selecting the
blend and deselecting Knockout Group in the Transparency panel.
Create blends
The Blend tool and Make Blend command let you create blends, which are a series of intermediate objects and colors
between two or more selected objects.
Create a blend with the Blend tool
1
Select the Blend tool
.
2
Do one of the following:
•
To blend in sequential order with no rotation, click anywhere on each object, but avoid anchor points.
•
To blend to a specific anchor point on an object, click the anchor point with the Blend tool. When the pointer is
over an anchor point, the pointer changes from a white square to transparent with a black dot in its center.
•
To blend open paths, select an endpoint on each path.
3
When you are finished adding objects to the blend, click the Blend tool again.
By default, Illustrator calculates the optimum number of steps to create a smooth color transition. To control the
number of steps or distance between steps, set blending options. (See “
246.)
Create a blend with the Make Blend command
1
Select the objects you want to blend.