Can't position illustrator shape precisely.

Am trying to position a shape precisely at position zero on the canvas. I enter "0" in the x-position field, and Illustrator jumps it to -.5 pixel location. It won't even let me manually position it at zero - jumps it to + or - .5 pixel point. Don't believe this is a "snapping" issue. It feels like the doc. has it's own grid that isn't necessarily alligned to the ruler readings, and the doc is alligning objects to the nearest pixel point.
I need to be able to position items precisely to the last pixel. How can I make this happen? Help!

It wasn't that I couldn't calculate or account for the stroke. Illustrator simply wouldn't let me place the object where I knew I wanted to. Obviously, I have to be able to use my x and y data field to precisely position my objects sometimes. Seems like those fields are based on the ruler and NOT the pixel grid. Guess I'll just leave pixel grid align off at all times. And, yes, then I will always position strokes outside or inside.

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After using an ExtendScript (via ESTK) Illustrator becomes corrupted and "Can't open illustration."

Hey, thanks for reading.
I'm having a strange problem with Illustrator CS5 and ESTK CS5. I'm new to writing ExtendScripts, so I haven't a clue what could be going wrong here but here's the skinny:
I've written the following code, which is very specialized to the exact document I'm working with. Using the ExtendScript Toolkit, the script goes through the following loops:
The primary problem:
For some reason, running this script causes Illustrator to become somehow corrupted. I can continue working with the document as long as it is open, but if I try to close it and re-open it, I get the infuriatingly unhelpful error dialog "Can't open illustration." With no extra details.
The same error comes up if I try to open any other .ai files. Shutting down and rebooting doesn't fix the problem. I have to completely uninstall Illustrator, then re-install it before it will work again. And even then, if I try to open the ExtendScript-corrupted file the whole Illustrator app gets corrupted and needs to be reinstalled.
Oh, also Illustrator itself shows up as "(Not responding)" while the script is running, but the ESTK console clearly shows that the script is chugging along as expected.
Specifics about the script:
There are 4 "Buttons" on the document, and a library full of nearly-identical symbols in the Library (different colored backgrounds for the buttons).
The script cycles through every symbol in the library, replacing and deleting instances of the previous symbol.
Then, for each symbol, it cycles through an array (technically an object-literal) of { language-code: "string" } pairs, and saves a .png of each artboard for each word.
What follows is a pared-down version of the full script:
(I tried to add a few $.sleep(10); calls, hoping that maybe just a brief slowdown in the processes might help. It didn't.)
This script (in its original form) outputs a ton of files very, very quickly.
Script Example
var folder = Folder.selectDialog();                     // Ask for a folder choice.
var aDoc = app.activeDocument;                        // Declare an active Document reference.
var textLayer = aDoc.layers.getByName('text');   // Get the text layer, for moving it back/forward
var textFrms = aDoc.textFrames;                       // Get all text frames, for language swap
var allSymbols = aDoc.symbols;                         // Get array of all symbols in the symbol library
var allSymbolItems = aDoc.symbolItems;            // Get an array of all symbol instances in the active document
var helpTextArray =
    en: "help",
    az: "Kömək",
    cs: "Nápověda",
    da: "Hjælp",
    de: "hilfe",
    el: "Bοήθεια",
    en: "help",
    es: "ayuda",
        * There's normally 3 arrays with many more languages / translations
if( aDoc &&                                      // We have an activeDocument
     folder &&                                    // and we have a selected output folder
     allSymbols.length > 0 &&             // We've got symbols
     allSymbolItems.length > 0 &&      // and we've got symbol instances "symbolItems"
     textFrms.length > 0 ) {                 // and we've got textFrames to manipulate.
    // For each symbol in our symbol library...
    for(var i = 0; i < allSymbols.length; i++) {
        // Run through all instances of symbols (symbolItems), and replace with a different symbol.
        for(var ii = 0; ii < allSymbolItems.length; ii++) {
            // Move text layer out of the line of fire.
            $.writeln('Move text to back');
            textLayer.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.SENDTOBACK);
            var currObj = allSymbolItems[ii];
            var newObj = aDoc.symbolItems.add(aDoc.symbols[i]);
            var symbolColor = aDoc.symbols[i].name;
            // Add the new / replacement symbol.
            newObj.left = currObj.left;
            newObj.top = currObj.top;
            newObj.width = currObj.width;
            newObj.height = currObj.height;
            // Remove the old symbol.
            currObj.remove();
            // Bring text back up to the front.
            $.writeln('Bring text to front');
            textLayer.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.BRINGTOFRONT);
            redraw();
            $.sleep(10)
        // Run through each language and each buttonText and save a copy.
        var currArray = helpTextArray;
        var currArrayName = "help";
        for(currLang in currArray) {
            switchText(currLang, currArray);
            $.sleep(10)
            // Run function to save .pngs of each artboard
            exportAll(currLang, symbolColor, currArrayName);
        } // end for (currLang in currArray)
    } // end symbols.length
} // end if
function switchText(lang, array) {
    //var textFrms = activeDocument.textFrames;
    var newText = array[lang];
    newText = (newText === "") ? array["en"] : newText;
    for(var i = 0; i < textFrms.length; i++) {
        var isHorizontal = ( textFrms[i].width > textFrms[i].height );
        var scale = 100;
        var scaleMatrix;
        textFrms[i].contents = newText;
           * There's normally an automatic text-resizer here
    } // for var i
function exportAll(lang, color, buttonText) {
    var artBds = aDoc.artboards;
    var options = new ExportOptionsPNG24();
        options.antiAliasing = true;
        options.transparency = true;
        options.artBoardClipping = true;
    for(var i = 0; i < artBds.length; i++) {
         var currBoard = artBds.setActiveArtboardIndex(i);
         var buttonPosition = artBds[i].name;
         var newFile = new File(folder.fsName+"/"+buttonText+"_"+color+"_"+buttonPosition+"_"+lang+".png");
         aDoc.exportFile(newFile,ExportType.PNG24,options);
         $.writeln('A file was saved with the name:: '+buttonText+'_'+color+'_'+buttonPosition+'_'+lang+'.png');
         $.sleep(10)
function revertToOriginal() {
    $.writeln('Revert');
    // Switch the text back to help.
    switchText("en", helpTextArray);
    // For each symbol instance...
    for(var i = 0; i < allSymbolItems.length; i++) {
        // Move text layer out of the line of fire.
        $.writeln('Move text to back');
        textLayer.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.SENDTOBACK);
        var currObj = allSymbolItems[i];
        // Add in the placeholder since we're reverting.
        var newObj = aDoc.symbolItems.add(aDoc.symbols[0]);
        var symbolColor = aDoc.symbols[0].name;
        // Add the new / replacement symbol.
        newObj.left = currObj.left;
        newObj.top = currObj.top;
        newObj.width = currObj.width;
        newObj.height = currObj.height;
        // Remove the old symbol.
        currObj.remove();
        // Bring text back up to the front.
        $.writeln('Bring text to front');
        textLayer.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.BRINGTOFRONT);
        redraw();
        $.sleep(10)
        $.writeln('REVERT');
revertToOriginal();
Are there best practices that I'm unaware of here that could be causing this corruption?
Does anyone know what could be happening?
The only error I ever get is "Can't open illustration." There's never anything more helpful, so I have no idea what could be going wrong.
If there's any more information that would be of use to anyone I'd be happy to share. This is wasting a lot of my time and making me pull my hair out like crazy,

I have not had the time to look over your script but at a glance there are a few things I would handle differently…
Firstly returning a document to a given state… If you play with this snippet you can see that app.undo() returns to the last called app.redraw() if there is one else it undo's the whole script…
#target illustrator
doSymbols();
function doSymbols() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var sym = doc.symbols[0];
    for ( var i = 0; i < 4; i++ ) {
        var foo = doc.symbolItems.add( sym );
        foo.position = Array( i * 72, -( i * 72 ) );
        app.redraw(); // Comment this out to see…
    app.undo(); // Returns to last redaw state if any…?
Secondly your symbols… You know you can just change the symbol instance's symbol reference…? If they are almost the same particualy size then its an easy swap…?
#target illustrator
doSymbols();
function doSymbols() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var sym = doc.symbols[1]; // Next symbol in the palette
    for ( var i = 0; i < 4; i++ ) {
        doc.symbolItems[i].symbol = sym;
        app.redraw();

How can I make this shape?

How can I make this shape in fireworks:
I want some images in my website to have rounded corners. Im doing this by adding 4 divs with background images and absolutely positioning them, one over each corner of the image. The background images are PNGs with transparent areas. This works as the site's background is a solid color, so the rounded corners dont need to actually be transparent.
The issue im having is that the pixels on the curve need to be semi transparent. Id love to make this shape as a vector but I dont know how.
Thanks

Hi,
There is another simple way to get the shape desired. Create a rounded rectangle that is twice your corner size - both width and height wise. Now adjust the rounded corners to almost make a circle (pull the yellow corner handle towards the center of the side). Now click the corner and you will be able to toggle between the different corner types. You can now either use the shape as it is (if you need it for corners of a sprite rounded rectangle) or you can cut it up to get the desired wedge.
- Anita

Can't save illustration. Can't print illustration. HELP!!!

About a month ago in CS4 I randomly got the message "Can't save illustration. Can't print illustration." I had no changes to software or hardware. After searching to no avail, we decided we would upgrade to CS5 (however CS4 is still on the computer). Now with a new install of CS5, using Illustrator CS5 I'm getting the same error message. Even when there are no fonts present in the file and it is only a basic square the error message still pops up and Illustrator will not save anything to an EPS file.
The ONLY answer I've seen offered from Adobe on this problem is "outline the text", well that's not the problem because as I've said I've tried saving a file with just a simple path and it won't save to EPS.
I really need to save a file as an EPS and send it out to a vendor asap. Does anyone at Adobe have an answer to this problem?!
I'm using:
CS5 Designer Premium
Windows 2007 Professional, 64bit
Quadro FX 2800M
Dell Precision M6500
Thank you,
Jen

I am having the same problem in Illustrator CS5. Saving as .ai without PDF editable doesn't correct the problem. In the file there is outlined text (no fonts) with a gradient added. It file originated as an Illustrator document. I have been able to export as TIFF, etc. I'm getting the same cannot-save-or-print message.
There are no fonts in the file. When I tried to convert this RGB file to CMYK the listing for Convert To CMYK ( Edit/Edit Colors/Convert To CMYK) is grayed out. The 2 colors in the file originated as PMS but have been converted to process, CMYK in the Swatch Options dialog menu. I really need the file as an Illustrator-editable EPS other wise I can convert the TIFF to EPS in Photoshop.
Anyone have any idea about what's going on here or below?
Also,When I successfully save as a PDF the file looks fine reopened in Illustrator
but when it is opened in Acrobat 9 Pro, the gradient is modified unacceptably:
I betting that both problems are related.

Can the position and szing of a control element in a View be controlled from the ViewModel?

Is it possible to change the position of a control, say a label, as a response to some action/operation from the ViewModel? Like if one response to something is true then place the label in the top left corner. If false, place the label
in the lower right corner. I realize you could have a label in each position and just set the visibility. But can the position and sizing of said label be controlled from the View Model? What would be a sample coding of this? would
it be in the xaml or combination of a method in the ViewModel and the xaml?
Rich P

First off Rich, say TextBlock to yourself ten times.
Use a TextBlock rather than a label.
There are a bunch of different ways to do this and the easiest is to have two controls whose text is bound to the one property.
Bind the Visibility of each to another 2 properties in the viewmodel.
Collapse one and Visible the other.
The reason for that is that it's easier.
Technically, you could put one textblock in a grid and use margin to control this. You could animate x y co-ordinates and move the textblock mysteriously across the window if you put your mind to it.
Or you could put it in a row/column "cell" of a grid and change which cell it goes in - but that would involve some mechanism like messaging from the viewmodel to the view and is not really ideal if you can avoid it.
I'd have a pair of textblocks, here's one:
<TextBlock Name="TopLeftMsg"
Text="{Binding Msg}"
Visiblity="{Binding TopLeftVis}"
Both would bind to a public string property msg in the viewmodel.
They each get their own public visibility property and that'd be switched between Visibility.Visible and Visibility.Collapsed.
Sizing of textblocks is best fitted to content because all you see is the text.
Textboxes are arguably different because you can see the things.
Hope that helps.
Recent Technet articles:
Property List Editing;
Dynamic XAML

I can't connect two shapes in Pages for IPAD, why?

I was writing a document in Pages for IPAD and i try to make an organichart, but i can't connect two shapes (two squares) with the "connecting line", i try many times in different ways, but never work. So i decide to try to connect two shape in Keynote for IPAD and in work perfectly.
What i'm doing wrong in Pages for IPAD?
thanks in advance
Juan Pablo

I found the option that you mention!, and it works!! thank you very much!
BUT..... i have to change it manually for each object, either when insert the object or copy/paste the object!
is there any way to set it before I insert and object?
thanks again
Juan Pablo.

Hello! I understand I can download Adobe Illustrator CS2 for free but I don't know where to

Hello! I understand I can download Adobe Illustrator CS2 for free but I don't know where to. Can somebody help me out with this? Thank you very much.

Hello Stanislav,
to my knowledge these downloads in Download Acrobat 7 and CS2 products is subject to certain conditions, for example: "The serial numbers provided as a part of the download may only be used by customers who legitimately purchased CS2 or Acrobat 7 and need to maintain their current use of these products."
Hans-Günter

Error Message:Can't print illustration. Color Management systems inconsistent.

I am getting this error message, "Can't print illustration. Color management systems are inconsistent." I just upgraded to CS5(from CS2) on a Dell Studio using an Epson WorkForce 1100 or an Epson Sylus NX400. I am a rank amateur in AI & have no idea how to fix this. I do not seem to have the option to turn off color management in either of my printers to default to AI. All I am trying to print are some labels using regular fonts and a few smoke brushes for color. These are not wildly colorful or complicated. I KNOW I should be using a Mac but I do not have one...sigh...
Thanks for ANY help.
Marion.

not sure I understand the core problem...but what happens if you Save As "Adobe PDF" and Convert to your Print Space there in Output (then print from Acrobat or place in InDesign, heck maybe even open the .pdf in Ai and try again):

How can I change the shape of a photo in iPhoto?

Can I change the shape of a picture to an oval?

No. You'd need an external editor for that kind of stuff:
In order of price here are some suggestions:
Seashore (free)
The Gimp (free)
Graphic Coverter ($45 approx)
Acorn ($50 approx)
Pixelmator ($50 approx)
Photoshop Elements ($75 approx)
There are many, many other options. Search on MacUpdate or the App Store.
You can set Photoshop (or any image editor) as an external editor in iPhoto. (Preferences -> General -> Edit Photo: Choose from the Drop Down Menu.) This way, when you double click a pic to edit in iPhoto it will open automatically in Photoshop or your Image Editor, and when you save it it's sent back to iPhoto automatically. This is the only way that edits made in another application will be displayed in iPhoto.
Of course, you may not want to change the shape of a photo which would distort it. You may want to print it in an oval shape but undistorted. I'd use a page layout app like Pages for that,

I can't get Illustrator CC to launch

I can't get Illustrator to launch. It just bounces in the dock. I've also tried launching straight out of the Application folder, the same thing. I also tried updating it through the App Manager, and this hasn't made any difference.
Thanks

Hi sianimartini,
Which OS are you using? Do you have any previous version Adobe installed on your machine?
Regards,
Romit Sinha

Illustrator Can't Save Illustration

I am using Illustrator 10 and I get a message that says "Can't save illustration" sometimes. This does not happen all the time. I can save the file as an EPS file when I can't save it as an illustrator file. Today I got another message after trying to click save when the can't save illustration message appeared. This message said that "You are saving this document in Adobe Illustrator 1.0/1.1 format. Saving this document in an older format may disable some editing features when the document is read back in. I was trying to save it in Illustrator 10 as an Illustrator 10 file. The only versions of Illustrator that have been on my computer are Illustrator 9,10 and CS. I did try uninstalling everything and just installing 10, but the problem still persists. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Diane

Diane,
The issue may have a number of causes:
If it is corrupted preferences, you may may try to
Move the folder. The strangeness of Illy versions may indicate something like that.
It may also be something about fonts, in which case removing type should change it, or that the artwork extends outside the workspace.
Can you save to PDF, keeping Illustrator editing capabilities?

Can i install Illustrator CC with Photoshop CS6 and Indesign CS5.5 or can i have some problems of compability? I use Windows 7. Thank u...

Can i install Illustrator CC with Photoshop CS6 and Indesign CS5.5 or can i have some problems of compability? I use Windows 7. Thank u...

Generally this should work, but of course there may be occasional compatibility issues across the different programs and their different versions.
Mylenium

Can't open illustration. cs4(eng)--- cc(eng)

The AI files that I made with illustrator cs4(english ver.) is not open after I upgrade to Illustrator cc(english ver.) the file is totally broken.
( error message : can't open illustration )
So I uninstall CC and reinstall to CC(korean ver.) . Then all files are open.
what is the problem..... I used to work with english ver. so korean ver. is uneasy. ( translation is so weird !!!)
clearly!
cs4(eng.)------->cc(eng) ------>X (can't open illustration)
cs4(eng.)------->cc(korean.)--------> O
I want to work wit english version!
please help me.!

iag,
You may start looking at recovery methods as the ones described in these links (although the cases dealt with differ form yours, you may do something similar):
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator-files.html
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/opening-illustrator-file-get-error.html
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/enable-content-recovery-mode-illustrator.html
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/
It is difficult work, but it may be worth it.
Working with the code, one specific way is to create a new empty document and create some very simple artwork in a copy of it (to see where the actual contents go), then move code from the corrupt file into the empty document and see what may be recovered that way.
Hopefully, this will appear less woolly once you start on it.
Edit: almost an hour after midnight here so I have to attend to other duties. The very best of luck.

Can't open illustration. This illustration contains an illegal operand

I opened a file i was working on for some days now, and i got this MSG??
Can’t open illustration. This illustration contains an illegal operand.
((( /Real (xmlnode-nodevalue) ,
%_(width) /String (xmlnode-nodename) ,
%_; (width) ,
%_/XMLNode :
%_/Dictionary :
%_; (xmlnode-attributes) ,
%_/Array :
%_; (xmlnode-children) ,
%_2 /Int (xmlnode-nodetype) ,
%_32262.3633 /Real (xmlnode-nodevalue) ,
%_(hei %0JG1> 1b^UA3&!$E2)
ANY HELP PLZ
I use illustrator CS6
OSX 10.9.1

n.zeineddine,
The message means that the file has been corrupted.
Unless someone recognizes the actual error in the code, it may be difficult.
One firct thing to try is to create a new document and File>Place the corrupt file in it, if possible, and see how much artwork is rescued that simple way.
Or you could go the longer way of rebuilding, if possible.
There are some instructions to follow,
http://daxxter.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/how-to-recover-a-corrupted-illustrator-ai-file/
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50031.html
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/500/cpsid_50032.html
http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/kb/troubleshoot-damaged-illustrator-files.html
You you can try/buy a ready made solution,
http://www.recoverytoolbox.com/buy_illustrator.html
http://markzware.com/adobe-software/fix-illustrator-file-unknown-error-occurred-pdf2dtp-fi le-recovery/

Can't save illustration

After I saved my file once, then I noticed the disclaimer of - can't save illustration in Adobe Illustrator when saving it again. What seems to be the problem about this?

Can you please provide more exact detail, as this could be a number of things, and your post could be interpreted in a number of different ways as to exactly when the message is coming up. Also what version and platform are you using.
After you save once, the save command is greyed out and you should not be able to save again. If you have trouble saving try resetting your prefs, doing any dot update to your version, and temporartily removing any nonstandard plug ins.

Can't position illustrator shape precisely.

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