Forgive me if there is a thread about this already, I looked and couldn't find one.
I'm having real problems with my snapping. When I drag an item up to snap to another one it appears to snap onto it. but when I zoom in it's always a fraction off.
If I then try to type the exact x/y value into the Transform palette e.g. x:100 y:100 it then resets itself to something like x: 100.002 y: 100.16 WHY???
I DON'T have align to pixel grid on.
I use Illustrator for detailed precise artworks which then get output to machinery for product design and label cutting so I need it to be accurate. Other forums on the web show other people having the same issue so what's up??
Is this an Illustrator bug or something I'm doing wrong?
Thanks
Using CS5.5
This happens about 70% of the time, both when I use the Selection Tool or Direct Selection Tool. Usually I select with the Selection tool to select all points, then switch to the direct selection tool so I can drag the whole object by a specific point and snap that point to where I want it.
I have Snap to Point on, but Snap to Grid off and Align to Pixel grid off.
It happens on objects with or without effects, with or without strokes.
The problem is the same with smart guides - the object appears to snap, but when I zoom in it isn't quite on the guide, although with Smart Guides it doesn't happen as often.
As a background I have been using Illustrator for over 10 years and my colleague also has the same problem, it didn't seem to be such an issue on versions pre when 'CS' was introduced
I will start a log of when it happens and exactly what I am doing and what effects etc are present, there maybe a pattern.
Thanks for your reply
C
....also here is another thread, their suggestions don't fix this, it just shows I'm not alone:
http://printplanet.com/forums/adobe/18484-illustrator-snapping-issue
Also I should have said, I'm now working on PC, Windows 7, Illustrator CS5.5, but I switched from a Mac last year and I had the same issues on the Mac CS4.
Grateful for any more suggestions.
C
....and here's a link with people who have the same inaccurate size issue:
http://www.justskins.com/forums/transform-palette-doesnt-show-28318.ht ml
C
In general, AI's snapping behaviour is a well-known case of unreliability. Even assisted by smart guides it doesn't work consistently.
In the past some AI advocates sometimes argued for that behaviour because, after all, AI is supposed to be an "Illustration" programme, not a Cad application.
Well ...
The problem is that Graphic Design spans everything from Artistic Illustration through to product production graphics.
I understand the 'Illustration' vs 'CAD' argument and Adobe maybe shouldn't be trying to make a tool which is 'all things to all men' (or women!), but the reality is that many of us out there have roles like mine which span both of these areas.
One day I'll be using AI for creating the product's logo and illustrating brochures, the next I'll be creating the CAD artworks and cutterguides for pad printing or labels for the product. The latter requires greater accuracy than the former.
Yes I could use a different package e.g. AutoCad, but the point of posting here is to show Adobe where the gaps are so their programs can be improved and we won't move away from their product. Also I enjoy working between programs in the Creative Suite.
Besides, again like many other people in the Design Industry, we already work across many programs (Before posting I counted 12 that I use!) and really don't want another tool when AI is so close!
Maybe there should be 'AdobeCAD' to sit alongside AI then???? ![]()
Any thoughts?
Thanks
C
I understand the 'Illustration' vs 'CAD' argument
Don't buy into the ridiculous defensive sour-grapes reasoning of software devotees. There is no reason why one should not expect snap behaviors to be reliable at all zooms. Other mainstream general purpose vector drawing programs can pull off reliable object snapping. Just because this antequated dog can't doesn't make it justifiable.
JET
Ha Ha @JET
Nice to know there are other people who feel like me!
Sour-grapes arguments are not going to win Adobe any more advocates - I don't get how they benefit from defending this rather than fixing it!
Come on Adobe, tightening up AI's accuracy is surely a good thing for every user regardless of whether they're a fine art illustrator or artworker.
C
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