Offset Path in an Action Question
I have an action that performs several steps on a selected object, namely removing rounded edges, changing the stroke to a specific color, and setting the line width to a specific measurement. What I would like to add to this Action is a final step where the Offset Path is invoked (easily done) and then the original object is deleted (I'm stumped). When using Offset Path, both the original path and the new offset path are selected, so I can't just add a delete step. While this might be better suited for a script, I'd really rather keep it as a function key enabled script. Any guidance will be appreciated.
Gary
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I know that, its just a little tedious. It would be nice if they made it a little more accessible like the scripting languages in a lot of 3d packages.
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Offset Paths in Actions problem...
Hi guys!
I work in the printing industry and am trying to create an action that would automatically create a trap and pullback for a certain item. The action has been created and works well except for one thing.
When I record the step where I offset a path by a negative amount (in this case -.0035), the action will work every time UNTIL I quit Illustrator and reopen. It will instead offset that path by positive .0035. I checked the action steps in TextEditor and it registers that I want it offset -.0035, but the step inside the Actions panel says .0035.
The total action is to change the color from MYK to K set to darken, then offset -.0035. Then, it's to change that offset path from K to MY and then offset again to -.0065. That offset path is changed from MY back to MYK and set to normal. So I basically end up with 3 layers of the object each set to a different color and smaller than the previous.The entire action script is posted below.
Has anyone else experienced this? I'm a novice when it comes to creating actions so please feel free to let me know if I've missed a step or done something wrong. Thanks so much!
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/name [ 6
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/value 0Hi Sudheer,
I think I am using the same method. the follwing seeting have been maintained for that action.
Form name - SCMG_SMART_FORM_CASE
Processing Class - CL_SAMPLE_PROCESSING_CLASS_PPF
Processing Method - COPY_1_OF_EXEC_SMART_FORM
Archive Mode - 1 Mail Only.
Still the problem exist.
Please help me resolve this issue.
Best regards,
Raghu ram -
I've got a path I want to offset to the inside of the shape. When I try and give the offset path a negative value I still get an offset on both sides of the original path. When I try the negative offset on a simple path like a circle or rectangle, it works as expected. Why am I getting an offset on both side of my shape? I've tried to delete the positive offset path but I can't seem to delete it. Using CS 5 on Windows 7
Carlos,
add arrow heads to the path to see where it's open
At least in 10, to not just get the start/end Anchor Point pointed out you will have to add arrows at both ends; if the path is closed, the arrows will be at different Anchor Points, and if the path is open, they will be at the same (presuming one path only, not only in appearance). -
How do I thin a font in CS6? I tried a negative number in offset path and it didn't work.
Hi!
first time here. I posted this question in community guidelines by mistake, oops.
Any help would be appreciated!
I tried this with outlining the font and also without. The negative number in offset path doesn't thin, however if I do a preview and put in a positive number it does add onto the width of the font.
Thanks,
maryannI am going to share with you the secret to using type with appearance. After setting type change the fill to none(characheter level), then add a fill(type level). This way you do nto have 2 fills fighting with each other.
Below I did not follow my advice to better explain what is happening, but I chose a different color fill. Even though I only have one fill, there is a black stroke coming from the character level.
To salvage your existing type, double click so you select all the type with the |-Beam, your appearance palette will now say characters, and delete that fill.
When you oultined your fonts, most likley the same thing happened, but a battle battle between the path and group level. -
Using Illustrator CC (18.1.1 64bit)
When I create any object the object size is indicated in two editable boxes in the "Shape" section along the top bar (if you stretch out the Illustrator program window it will appear alongside the alignment buttons and the X/Y position boxes). The size of the object is for example, 200 x 100mm.
If you then use Object > Path > Offset Path and do say 5mm, the boxes should read as 190mm then 90mm. However it says 90mm then 190mm. It has now switched the dimensions around. When you edit them by say changing the 90 to 80mm (which is shown in the with dimension box), it changes the height of the object but remains written in the width dimension box.
There is clearly a bug here, however in the W: and H: boxes (to the right of the X: and Y: boxes, it is shown correctly.
So this problem is only apparent with the Shape section of the top command bar. It only seems to occur with the offset path command.My plotter won't be happy with that solution when he starts cutting vinyl...
But for designing no problem.
In response to this I think the answer is to update Doug gave the answer to the problem. This is not the first time this has been posted and the answer I gave originally way back when CS 3 was release was to make an action or write a script.
But since CS4 fixes the problem the better solution is to upgrade and there are other benefits by upgrading to CS 4 as well.
So as far as i can see Doug still has the answer and they should mark it answered ok they don't like that answer then let them make your answer as the right way to go but it has been answered. One way or the other.
But I do think you guys will be happier with CS 4. Even though you have to pay for the upgrade.
Glad to be a hoot! -
Separating strokes & offset paths from text?
I need to outline large titles to be output to a large format inkjet printer with a contour cut on a CNC router. I often need to create strokes then convert them to outlines or sometimes create offset paths so that I can use that layer as a through cut (contour guide/line). Sometimes it involves having a clipped image that is outlined and with an offset path for the cut line which may lie in the middle of the stroke/outline. So there could be several lines around an image. I need to separate all of these lines from each other so that I can put them on their own layers for production purposes. I would also need to separate the outlined stroke if I am clipping an image into the main text. Otherwise the image will clip out to the edge of the stroke. If I can separate all of this I can work much easier in layers. Is there a way to easily separate or disassociate each line from one another? I've tried the release compound paths groups etc. None of these seem to be effective. I have to go through a lot of steps and time to manually do these tasks.
It was suggested that I provide an example to illustrate my question. So here it is. LINK: http://www.sendspace.com/file/7gqfn3
Old habits die hard. Over the past 20+ years I have worked extensively with vector art. Much of it in app called Flexisign. Which has/had great features for working with vectors. This was before layers ever existed. So some of my thinking is still locked into old ways of working with a single layer. But what I liked about it was that I could easily separate, either by ungrouping or un-compounding, do what I needed to do then re-compound etc. Outlines, offset paths, were never locked or permanently attached to another component. Every path created was an actual hard vector line that I could easily manipulate. Strokes did not even exist so they were made with outlines, inlines, etc. In the illustration attached, I could have done all of this in seconds on one layer. Although I could move things forward or backwards and lock colors individually (precursor to layers I guess). I would start with the text and do multiple strokes or outlines as needed then separate them and group or compound as needed. I'm finding it difficult to separate some paths onto it's own so that I can eliminate or alter various paths.
Once I figured out how I could do it Illustrator, it does not appear that complex at all. But it takes a lot more steps than I am accustomed to. And I have to think in terms of layers more often to solve some of these issues. But as you'll see at the end, I still wish I could simply create a path separate it from the the rest of the artwork. I'm thinking that the Offset Path tool would be idea for making my cut line except that I cannot separate it.
Anyway, I created a sample of what I was trying to do. These are the steps I used to make my project. I have not had a chance yet to try out some of the suggestions, but I can see already that they use techniques I have never tried and in some cases even heard of. But wow, I am amazed at the help and suggestions. Thank you all. -
Been offseting paths .25" for a couple of weeks. Now AI has decided to offset the path both .25" and -.25" at the same time. Not good.
My first step would be to trash prefs. Can someone tell me how to save my actions before I trash the prefs. Can someone suggest a different solution to the wonky offset path thing that's going on?
Thanks,
ToniTDToomey wrote:
Worked like a champ. Time to save a coy of current prefs file so I don't lose all my Preferences setting next time I have to take out the trash.
Always a good idea.
I would like the preference to be user defined then after the user defines it once they can restore the preferences automatically to that defined preference and not have to manually do it each time AI requires a clean preference folder. -
Offset Path Script for PS CS5 Possible?
Hey all, my needy self is back to ask if anyone has heard of or attempted a script that will offset a path in the same way Illustrator does. ?
I have a group of images with clipping paths penned too much to the outside of the image edge, which will result in the "halo" effect when pasting into InDesign. Currently, I'm copying the path into Illustrator, using Offset Path with a negative value, then pasting back into PS, deleting old clipping path, and saving.
Thanks in advance for any help!Apparently people doing CNC milling have need for such things too:
e.g. http://www.cnczone.com/forums/coding/73975-offset_algorithm.html https://github.com/Heeks/libarea/blob/master/kurve/offset.cpp
These might be a clearer place to start:
http://cagd.cs.byu.edu/~557/text/ch8.pdf
http://www.cis.usouthal.edu/~hain/general/Publications/Bezier/Bezier%20Offset%20Curves.pdf
http://www.cis.usouthal.edu/~hain/general/Publications/Bezier/BezierFlattening.pdf
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/408457/outline-of-cubic-bezier-curve-stroke -
How do you offset path like the Object/path/offset path?
I can't seem to find this in the Action suite, is there an easy way to do this or do I need to use TransformArt?
Great! I am almost there, thank you Mr. Peterson.
Please help me with 1 more thing, I need to get the action name for PlayActionEvent.
I tried "OffsetPath", "Offset Path", "adobe_offsetPath" and they don't work.
Here is the file with decoded stuffs:
/version 2
/name [ 8
436c697070696e67
/isOpen 1
/actionCount 1
/action-1 {
/name [ 10
4f 66 66 73 65 74 50 61 74 68 "OffsetPath"
/keyIndex 0
/colorIndex 0
/isOpen 1
/eventCount 1
/event-1 {
/internalName (ai_plugin_offset)
/localizedName [ 11
4f 66 66 73 65 74 20 50 61 74 68 "Offset Path"
/isOpen 0
/isOn 1
/hasDialog 1
/showDialog 0
/parameterCount 3
/parameter-1 {
/key 1868985204 = 6F 66 73 74 'ofst'
/showInPalette -1
/type (unit real)
/value 2.1599998474
/unit 5 92 47 62 68
/parameter-2 {
/key 1835627634 = 6D 69 74 72 'mitr'
/showInPalette -1
/type (real)
/value 4.0
/parameter-3 {
/key 1785623664 = 6a 6e 74 70 'jntp'
/showInPalette -1
/type (enumerated)
/name [ 5
4d 69 74 65 72 "Miter"
/value 2 -
I have a plugin for illustrator called Cutting Master 2 that is used to with a craftrobo. This will take an image and cut it out so there is no border. Well, the tutorial show how to do this with text. But, I need to do it with an image that has a transparent background. It shows going to object > Path > Offset Path (this will be the cut line). This works with plain text. But, it's not an option with an image that was imported. This is a picture of the Capitol Building so trying to trace it is out of the question. Anyone know of a tutorial on how I would do this to a image that has a transparent background?
Well if he image has a transparent background and the contour is sufficiently accurate for your needs then go back to Photoshop or open it in Photoshop.
Then command/control click on the icon i the layers panel to turn it into a selection, make sure there are no pixels in the transparent portion of the document.
Then go to the Path Panel from the flyout select make path and save the path. You can select the path and copy and paste or you can go to file>Export>Paths to Illustrator that will get you your vector path.
But before exporting that path I would make certain that I zoom in and see that the path is accurate enough and make adjustments as need if any. -
Use Relative Path for Photoshop Action?
I have a Photoshop Action that is programmed to open an existing file located in a specific directory. The path to this directory is an absolute path, i.e.:
C:\Program Files\Photoshop Actions\filename.jpg
As long as the Action can find the file in the specified absolute path, everything works fine.
My problem is that if someone tries to run this Action on a different computer (like a Mac), the path specified in the action does not exist and the Action will not work.
The simple solution to this would be to make the action open the file located at a relative path. This way no matter what computer the action is run on, it will always be able to find the file.
Unfortunately, I don't think Photoshop Actions allow relative paths. Does anyone know if using a relative path in an action is possible?
Failing this, how would I use a Photoshop Script to somehow direct the Action to find the correct location of the file? Or is there a better solution?The idea that I use in the xtools installer and else where is this:
1) Convert the action file to XML.
2) Package the XML file and the apps/ActionFileFromXML script with your stuff.
3) An installer script will do a 'replace' (or whatever) on the XML file so that the paths are converted to whatever is needed.
4) The new XML is saved and then converted to a .atn file which is then loaded.
There is an xtools forum at ps-scripts.com that may have some info in addition to the PDF file that comes with the package.
-X -
Offset path has a math error at 4 decimal places
I have Illustrator CC 2014 running in Mac OS X 10.9.3, and discovered tonight while making a test pattern that if I do an offset path of -0.0005" it doesn't calculate the size of the resulting objects correctly. If I do +0.0005" it works fine, if I do -0.0015" it works fine. I obviously haven't tested exhaustively, but there is definitely a reproducible error there. It's not even off consistently in the width and height. The sizes listed refer to the size of the individual squares in the 4x4 grid of filled rectangles.
The black squares are what I'm building. So I didn't have to go one by one and apply offset path, I did three across and then noted that the next row above would be .003 difference, so I could apply a .0015 offset to all items in the row and move it up, then repeat. This works well for a while, but then it starts to get off. It doesn't appear to be cumulative which was my fear. The black squares I checked each one and redid them if they didn't come out right. The blue ones I just did an offset from the previous row. At .015 it should be .065x.065 and they are .065x.0649. That's the behavior I normally see, not a big deal. In that group, all 16 squares were the same, but in the .018 group above it, the first two rows of 4 were .062x.0619 while the 3rd row of 4 were all .062x.062 and then the top row were off again. By the top, the ones that are off are still only off by .0001 when they are off. So that implies that this is at least a rendering thing, it thinks the squares are what they are supposed to be when it applies future offsets.
I'm not sure if my original example is the same though. That was off by .001 in one direction and .0005 in the other which is 5-10X more than these. These are the issue I've always seen that at 1/10,000th of an inch are tiny differences and not really important for what we do. The one I started this thread about is much bigger and a definite problem. I'll post my latest test on that separately. -
How can I delete the image outside of this offset path?
I'm really new to Illustrator, and I'm trying to print an image that will have a CutContour swatch around it, with a bleed outside of the CutContour line. You'll see that I set up the bleed by creating an offset path outside of the CutContour path. However, I would like to delete the rest of the image outside of that, but I'm not sure how to do this. I don't want to print the entire block of the photograph, just the image inside the tracing, leaving the outside white. I thought I could select the offset path and make a Clipping Mask from that but it says it's "too complex" or doesn't do anything at all. I've attached an example since it will probably make more sense to have something to look at in addition to my explanation...
If there are a lot of points in the path you are trying to use as a clipping mask, you could try;
Object > Path > Simplify
Turn on preview, and play with the settings while watching the shape and number of points.
--OB -
Offset Path Leaving Undesired Result
CS5
Mac
The logo you see at the top picture has been made a compound path, this is how the logo normally looks. The bottom logo, is a duplicate of the top with the offset path applied. I am essentially wanting to add a silver shine around the edges by adding 1 px borders using the offset path method, using the stroke option leaves it a little funky so this is why I opted for this method.
Once I use the offset path on my logo it comes out as a big black object instead of keeping the grunge detail, how do I fix this. Joins is Miter, and limit is 4. Let me know any info you need to help understand the problem more
ThanksThe problem with a stroke is that I need to add gradients to each stroke, after I expand the stroke I need to run one fluid gradient across all of the strokes, as if the strokes were all grouped together, but AI wont let me group inside of groups, when I try to group the different strokes this is what It tells me.
Walk me through it from this point:
-I lay my grunge texture over the logo
-opacity mask the grunge and logo
-make logo compound path
Where would I need to insert steps in my creative process to achieve what I'm looking for? Do I simply need to create my "metal shine" effect around the edges before I make the opacity mask with the grunge texture? Or is there another more simple way to do this
Michael -
Offset Path in AI CS4 added overlaping unnecessary anchor points.
Offset Path tool in AI CS4 offen added some unnecessary anchor points, these points were hard to find because they were overlaping. But when these path were used to blend, faulty effect come. I must remove them manually. It never happened in AI CS2.
> You could use a script to find and remove these points (JET?).
A script could search for and remove
coincident points. But in my experience with the problem in CS3, the abberant results of Outline Stroke, Offset Path, etc., are not consistent enough to reliably correct with a script. In some situations, the redundant points do not have identical handles. How would a script know the right handles to retain? In other situations, entirely extra trash paths are created (as when outlining strokes of dashed paths--the supposed justification for the whole train wreck in the first place). How is a script supposed to know which paths are correct?
A proper script solution would be to replace the offset path feature altogether. But that would be a pretty ambitious undertaking.
No, the dang thing just needs to be fixed. Others (assumed to be beta testers) have reported that it was fixed in CS4. If artilu is correct here, that is not the case.
Adobe's history has not been good re fixing such bugs during the lifecycle of a major version.
JET
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