can illy users explain this to me

[signguy 55]

So I get this file from a printer, an adobe illustrator file. It has as part of its logo a curved line, nothing fancy.

Yet in illy it shows as straight segments on the final print (print size is 22" x 72"), there's no actual curve to it, just line segments about 3" long that make an eventual curve. In wireframe it shows as just a line, no thickness at all, evidently they just add something to it to make it look bigger on screen.

I have seen this before, is there absolutely no way to take a rectangle and distort it? I could do this in Flexi in literally 10 seconds.

Also, is viewing in wireframe unheard of? Especially when it's going to be cut vinyl why can't they click on it and look at the hundreds of intersecting lines. Am I asking too much?

 

[The Vector Doctor]

sounds like this could have been a CAD file at one time. I get these all of the time. Apparently with some CAD programs curves are not possible but instead are drawn with dozens of straight segments that from far away look like a curve

 

[J Hill Designs]

sounds like the curve somehow made its way into a dxf export as a poly line and not a curve at some point in its lifetime

 

[skyhigh]

I always want to know the "WHY" is this happening thing also......but at the sake of driving yourself nuts, why don't you just recreate that arched line in flexi and export as an ai file, and replace what is there (assuming thats the only problem with the file)

 

[signguy 55]

Yeah, but the whole point is the printer was to send me a file that I didn't have to do anything with. It's not that I can't make an arched line, but evidently most illy users don't know how or the software is not capable of doing it.

 

[The Vector Doctor]

Yeah, but the whole point is the printer was to send me a file that I didn't have to do anything with. It's not that I can't make an arched line, but evidently most illy users don't know how or the software is not capable of doing it.

This is not an Illustrator issue. Curves are easy to draw and automatic. To do what you described does not happen on its' own or likely the fault of the designer

It would be much harder to draw a curve with dozens of straight lines versus just using bezier tools or the arc/circle tool

 

[Salmoneye]

Yep, most illy users don't know how to make a curved line and illy is not capable of doing it. That is why 90% of the shops in the nation that use Adobe only make signage with angular effects. Just think, it will be awesome when the early 80's art rolls around again.

 

[mikey-Oh]

Might be an an envelope distort.
Just have him expand it before sending it.

 

[Salmoneye]

I an drawing a flintstone car right now for an auto dealership.

 

[petesign]

so, if it is a bunch of lines that together form a curve - have you tried Object>Path>Simplify ? Should remove all of the anchor points you tell it to, and just make the curve for you.

 

[James Burke]

so, if it is a bunch of lines that together form a curve - have you tried Object>Path>Simplify ? Should remove all of the anchor points you tell it to, and just make the curve for you.

Either that, or expand the image.

I've also had issues of line segments when exporting from ACAD, and it typically centers around the screen refresh. If you zoom in on a CAD drawing, you will see the segments until you refresh the screen (basically it recalculates points, curves, etc., at that zoom rate).

If you zoom in on the image and then export, it tends to want to export the image just the way it appears on the screen for some reason.

Have them try a doing a refresh (also called re-draw) before exporting and see if that helps.

JB

 

[MikePro]

try using the "simply" feature in illy to round your shapes. might not wind up with the exact curves originally designed, but you'll have a much better production file if you keep playing with the %accuracies adjustments.

added: that's Object > Path > Simplify. I sometimes will also use the Offset path (round) feature and make the shape bigger and then reduce it the same way to have a smoother shape at the same dimensions.

 

[ForgeInc]

Hmmm, I think part of your post may be asking if you can turn a line with a stroke applied into a shape instead.

Yes you can, just hit "outline stroke" under paths menu. this will convert to shapes, which you can then join or distort as needed. But I think the others are right in saying that the path was probably in a cad program at some point.

 

[Techman]

Curved Lines are exported as points instead of arcs.

 

[charissabuskirk]

wireframe it shows as just a line, no thickness at all, evidently they just add something to it to make it look bigger on screen.

I'm not sure if everyone is understanding, and some posted screen shots would be helpful BUT my suggestion would be to flatten the object.

 

[andy]

Yeah, but the whole point is the printer was to send me a file that I didn't have to do anything with. It's not that I can't make an arched line, but evidently most illy users don't know how or the software is not capable of doing it.

Not sure how to do it in Illustrator but in Corel you'd select the Contour tool and simply outline the original vector by half the desired width you want in vinyl.

For example; a final 10mm wide vinyl curve would simply require you to select the original line and contour by 5mm... this draws a continuous perimeter around the single line 5mm from centre in all directions.... giving you the cut path you need for your vinyl cutter.

 

[ucmj22]

can you just redraw it with the bezier tool?

 

[DSC]

Object - Expand Appearance

To just see the lines in Illustrator command (mac) or control +y

 

[Fontgeek]

Yep, most illy users don't know how to make a curved line and illy is not capable of doing it. That is why 90% of the shops in the nation that use Adobe only make signage with angular effects. Just think, it will be awesome when the early 80's art rolls around again.

Actually, Illustrator creates or lets the user create beautiful curves, and yes they can be exported.

What's being described sound like it was either a document that was created in a CAD program, or more likely, it was created using an autotrace program. Most autotrace programs don't recognize curves very well, so they create lots of short, straight lines to approximate the curve.

To convert a line with a brushstroke applied, go to "Expand Appearance" under the "Object" menu in the CS versions of Illustrator, or just plain "Expand" in versions 8, 8.5, and 9. It too will be found in the "Object" menu.

 

[Circleville Signs]

^^^

(someone doesn't have their sarcasm meter fully operational today...)