© 2010 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Chapter 4

Transforming and Distorting Objects

Objectives

• Transform objects• Offset and outline paths• Create compound paths• Work with the Pathfinder panel• Create clipping masks

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Transform Objects

• Defining the Transform Tools– Transformation occurs when an object’s size, shape, or

position is changed on artboard – Tools panel contains five transform tools:

• Rotate• Scale• Reflect• Shear• Free Transform

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Transform Objects

• Defining the point of origin– All transformations executed in relation to a fixed

point and called point of origin – Default point of origin is object’s center point– You can change center point to another point on

the object or somewhere else on the artboard

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Transform Objects

• Four basic methods for transforming objects:• Click a transform tool, then click and drag

anywhere on artboard• Double-click transform tool, which opens

tool’s dialog box

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Transform Objects

• Four basic methods for transforming objects:• Click a transform tool, then click artboard to

define point of origin• Click transform tool, press [Alt](Win) or

[option](Mac), then click artboard and tool's dialog box opens

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Transform Objects

The Reflect Tool flips an image

All transformations are executed from a point of origin

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Transform Objects

• Use the Transform Again command– Repeat a transformation again quickly with

the Transform Again command– Quickest way to use Transform Again

command is to press [Ctrl][D](Win) or [D](Mac)

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Transform Objects

• Using the Transform Each command– Command allows you to transform multiple

objects individually– Transform Each dialog box offers options to

move, scale, rotation, or reflect an object among others

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Transform Objects

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Before After

The eight squares are rotated on their own center points

Transform Objects

• Using the Free Transform Tool– The Free Transform Tool applies an eight-

handled bounding box to a selected image• Move handles to scale and shear object• Click and drag outside the object to rotate

the object

© 2010 Delmar Cengage Learning

Transform Objects

• Using the Free Transform Tool– Moving handles in conjunction with keyboard

commands allows you to distort the object, or distort object in perspective

• Press and hold [Shift][Ctrl](Win) or [Shift](Mac) to distort image

• Press and hold [Shift][Alt][Ctrl](Win) or [Shift][option](Mac) while dragging to distort in perspective

© 2010 Delmar Cengage Learning

Transform Objects

• Transform panel displays information about size, orientation, and location of one or more selected objects– Type new values directly into the Transform panel to

modify selected objects– You can identify the reference point on the bounding

box from which the object will be transformed

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Transform Objects

Use the Free Transform Tool to distort objects in perspective

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Transform Objects

Height text box

Sheartext box

Widthtext box

Rotate text box

Transform panel list arrow

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Offset and Outline Path Command

• Offset Path command creates a copy of a selected path set off by a specific distance– Useful when working with closed paths –

making concentric shapes or making many copies of a path at a regular distance from original

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Offset and Outline Path Command

– When you offset a closed path:• Positive value creates larger copy outside

original• Negative value creates a smaller copy

inside original

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Offset and Outline Path Command

Concentric circles produced by the Scale tool

Concentric circles produced by the Offset Path command

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Offset and Outline Path Command

• Outline Stroke command converts a stroke path into a closed path the same width as original stroke path

• Useful for applying gradient to a stroke

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Offset and Outline Path Command

The Outline Stroke command converts a stroked path to a closed object

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Create Compound Paths

• Compound path - used to make ‘hole’ or ‘holes’ in an object– Select the object in back and the object in front

and apply the Make Compound Path command – If you move the front object independently, it yields

interesting results which Illustrator calls compound shapes

© 2010 Delmar Cengage Learning

Create Compound Paths

• Defining a compound path – When two or more objects are compounded, Illustrator

defines them as one object– Compound paths function as groups

• Select and manipulate an individual element with Direct Selection tool

• Cannot change appearance attributes independently

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Create Compound Paths

• Releasing a compound path – Apply the Release Compound Path command

to return objects to original composition

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Create Compound Paths

The letter D is an example of a compound path

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Create Compound Paths

Manipulating compound paths can yield interesting effects

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Work with the Pathfinder Panel

• A compound shape is two or more paths combined so that ‘holes’ appear

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Work with the Pathfinder Panel

• Shape modes and Pathfinders are preset operations that help combine paths.

• The Pathfinder panel contains ten buttons for creating compound shapes– Useful for creating complex or irregular

shapes from basic

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Work with the Pathfinder Panel

• You can create a compound shape by overlapping two or more objects, then clicking one of the four shape mode buttons in the top row of the Pathfinder panel.

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Work with the Pathfinder Panel

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Unite

Minus FrontIntersect

Exclude

DivideTrim Merge

Crop

Outline

Minus Back

Work with the Pathfinder PanelNo Filter

Unite

Minus Front

Intersect

Minus Back

Divide

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Work with the Pathfinder Panel

• After applying a shape mode button, the resulting objects in the compound shape can be selected and formatted using the Direct Selection tool.

• You can also press [Alt] (Win) or [option] (Mac) when you click a shape mode button.

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Create Clipping Masks

• A clipping mask can be used as a ‘window’ to see some or all of the objects behind the mask in the stacking order

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Create Clipping Masks

– Apply Make Clipping Mask command• Top object becomes the mask • Objects behind become ‘masked’

– Only parts of masked object seen will be through mask

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Create Clipping MasksFour objects being masked

Black circle becomes mask

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Create Clipping Masks

• Using multiple objects as a clipping mask– Make objects into compound path– Single object can be used as a single mask

• Creating mask effects– Position as many items as you want behind

mask

© 2010 Delmar Cengage Learning

Create Clipping Masks

© 2010 Delmar Cengage Learning