Maintaining aspect ratio when resizing objects in Illustrator?

[signmeup]

How do I set the program to keep objects the same aspect ratio when I re-size them? It irritates me to have to use the shift key to do this. I would rather set it so the shift key let me distort the object and just click and drag would leave the object the shape it is....if that makes any sense.

 

[Locals Find!]

I too would also like to know if this is possible. Never thought about doing it any other way till I started using corel where you dont' have to hold the shift key.

 

[John Butto]

Use Window/Transform or Scale tool option/shift on a Mac

 

[Mike F]

In Corel (and Photoshop as far as I remember), when you have an object selected, there should be somewhere on the screen where it tells you the size of the object and it lets you edit the size by inputting the desired size. Next to this, there's a lock icon you can toggle between locked and unlocked, locked maintains the aspect ratio. I would imagine there's something similar in Illustrator, I think even GIMP and Inkscape have that feature.

 

[signmeup]

Use Window/Transform or Scale tool option/shift on a Mac

Thanks John but no Mac here.

 

[signmeup]

In Corel (and Photoshop as far as I remember), when you have an object selected, there should be somewhere on the screen where it tells you the size of the object and it lets you edit the size by inputting the desired size. Next to this, there's a lock icon you can toggle between locked and unlocked, locked maintains the aspect ratio. I would imagine there's something similar in Illustrator, I think even GIMP and Inkscape have that feature.

Thanks Mike. Doesn't seem to make a difference though.

 

[Locals Find!]

In Corel (and Photoshop as far as I remember), when you have an object selected, there should be somewhere on the screen where it tells you the size of the object and it lets you edit the size by inputting the desired size. Next to this, there's a lock icon you can toggle between locked and unlocked, locked maintains the aspect ratio. I would imagine there's something similar in Illustrator, I think even GIMP and Inkscape have that feature.

That only works when your adjusting the image by a known measurement. If your just eyeballing adjustments to make it look right in your design. Its a bit of a pain to have to hold the shift key every time you resize something. Its a needless extra step in illustrator that Corel managed to get rid of.

That is why Pat's question is really good.

 

[signmeup]

. Its a needless extra step in illustrator that Corel managed to get rid of.

That is why Pat's question is really good.

Corel didn't get rid of it... It's an extra step in Corel to defeat the locked aspect ratio. You hold Alt and drag the shape to distort it. If you hold Shift it re-sizes around the objects centre... but constrained. This is how I would like to set up Illustrator.

 

[RandyToons]

Well...Here are your options. Hold Shift Key or r click and choose transform or window/transform for the docker. Or...use Coreldraw =) Have fun!

 

[Border]

That only works when your adjusting the image by a known measurement. If your just eyeballing adjustments to make it look right in your design. Its a bit of a pain to have to hold the shift key every time you resize something. Its a needless extra step in illustrator that Corel managed to get rid of.

That is why Pat's question is really good.

Pat who???

Signlab keeps it auto-locked as well. It get's confusing jumping between programs. Thank goodness for expletives, cuz I think that's about all you can do is cuss about it! Minus well get used to it.

 

[CheapVehicleWrap]

Pat who???

Yeah. Is Pat a male or female?

 

[signmeup]

You guys talkin to me!? lol.

I find this feature very annoying also - it's the opposite of common sense and how every other program does it.

(If you're female... I think I love you.)

 

[HaroldDesign]

I rely heavily on shortcut keys in Illy, so I never noticed. Now that it's been brought up - I hate it. It's the exact opposite of what it should be.

 

[signmeup]

Well...Here are your options. Hold Shift Key or r click and choose transform or window/transform for the docker. Or...use Coreldraw =) Have fun!

Kinda looking that way. Unfortunately, I have to use Illustrator more and more often because I am doing more printed work through a sub who needs Illustrator files.

 

[signmeup]

I rely heavily on shortcut keys in Illy, so I never noticed. Now that it's been brought up - I hate it. It's the exact opposite of what it should be.

I agree. How often do you want to screw up the proportions of a shape or font while re-sizing it? "Never" comes to mind. The default should be click and drag. Or at the very least... let me choose the default.

 

[Circleville Signs]

I'm just not sure I understand why holding the shift key down is so troublesome?

 

[signmeup]

I'm just not sure I understand why holding the shift key down is so troublesome?

From post #12:

"- it's the opposite of common sense and how every other program does it."

 

[signmeup]

Exactly. I can't think of many occasions when I want to stretch shapes inaccurately.

I think we should start a petition. Or a riot. One of them anyway.

Can we rape and pillage?

 

[Circleville Signs]

I guess I have used adobe programs for so long that NOT holding the shift key down seems like the opposite of common sense

 

[signmeup]

I guess I have used adobe programs for so long that NOT holding the shift key down seems like the opposite of common sense

Strong, the brainwashing in this one is... Hmmmm? :Big Laugh

 

[oldgoatroper]

I'm just not sure I understand why holding the shift key down is so troublesome?

Very productive people always find extra steps (however small) to be pain-in-the-butt...

 

[omgsideburns]

boohoo..

 

[signmeup]

Certainly.

Wrap it up with some tar and feather festivities.

I prefer truck bedliner and feathers but tar will work.

 

[signmeup]

boohoo..

See post #25