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Extending a line, keeping the angle | But as part of a form!

Jun 8, 2012 6:15 PM

Tags: #cs5 #line #extension #cs6 #angle #extend

http://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/adjust-path-segments.html  SAYS:

 

“Adjust the length or angle of straight segments

1.          With the Direct Selection tool, select an anchor point on the segment you want to adjust.
2.          Drag the anchor point to the desired position. Shift-drag to constrain the adjustment to multiples of 45°.”

 

Question: How do I proceed if I’d like to extend a line on one side by its endpoint, while I want to keep its original angle instead of 45° degrees?

 

And: assuming we’re not working with a standing-alone line, but as part of a construction, as you can see on the screenshot. The point should be move to the intersection on both lines (green and turquois).

 

I thought, maybe working with functions in GRAPHER – but I hope there is an easier way directly in ILLUSTRATOR.

 

Hints would be much appreciated.

 

 

SCREENSHOT_ILLUSTRATOR_EXTENDING_LINE_30.png

1024 Views   8 Replies   Latest reply: emil emil, Jun 8, 2012 11:34 PM
 
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  • [scott w]
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    1. [scott w],
    Jun 8, 2012 6:17 PM   in reply to SPHH
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    I don't understand. Turn on snap to guides smart guides (View Menu) and drag the point to the intersection. It will snap to the green and turquois guides.

     
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  • emil emil
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    2. emil emil,
    Jun 8, 2012 6:21 PM   in reply to SPHH
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    Use the Scale tool with the smart Guides turned on (Ctrl + U). With the Scale tool, first to define the center of scale, click on the anchor point on the other side of the path segment that you want to extend, then click and drag the anchor point at the end you want to extend and watch for the Uniform label displayed when releasing the mouse - this ensures constraining to the original line.

     
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  • SPHH
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    3. SPHH,
    Jun 8, 2012 6:25 PM   in reply to [scott w]
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    Hello Scott,

     

    thank you for your suggestion!

     

    I’m sorry, I drew the green and turquois lines on top of my Screenshot in order to highlight the idea – there is no such guides in my Illustrator document.

     

    But maybe I missed something – that is quite possible.

     

     
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  • emil emil
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    4. emil emil,
    Jun 8, 2012 6:30 PM   in reply to SPHH
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    SPHH wrote:

     

    ...

     

    Question: How do I proceed if I’d like to extend a line on one side by its endpoint, while I want to keep its original angle instead of 45° degrees?

     

    And: assuming we’re not working with a standing-alone line, but as part of a construction, as you can see on the screenshot. The point should be move to the intersection on both lines (green and turquois).

    My previous reply was answering you quoted question, however your example, if I understand it,  has nothing to do with your question. In your screen shot you want to move a point without maintaining the angle of the path segment the point belongs to.

     
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  • SPHH
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    5. SPHH,
    Jun 8, 2012 7:01 PM   in reply to emil emil
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    Hello Emil!

     

    Well, I’m sorry if my explaination is confusing, but I mean actually one and the same thing. Moving the point to the position where he will match in order to complete the lozenge.

     

    If you think about the green and turquois lines just as a mental help (let’s erase them), the two shorter segments leading to the point will align with the longer segments on each side, making the lozenge-form perfect at the end.

     

    But I also understand your point, as my procedure talks about “extending the lines” until they join, while it’s probably more simple to push the point, assisted by some smart guides.

     

    I did not manage to see any guides showing the same angle as the green and turquois lines (my fake-guides) do, when I start to move the point with the direct-selection tool. Do I miss something evident?

     

    Merci!

     
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  • emil emil
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    6. emil emil,
    Jun 8, 2012 7:35 PM   in reply to SPHH
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    Here's how I would do it.

    Untitled.jpg

     
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  • SPHH
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    7. SPHH,
    Jun 8, 2012 8:32 PM   in reply to emil emil
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    Emil, this looks perfect, thank you a lot! I can not wait to give it a try !

     

    May I ask a little detail while performing step nr. 3?:

     

    When it comes to repeat the same drag at the lower part of the lozenge, the whole form is being addressed and scaled from the origine as soon as I start moving the point (it behaves as if the other points would also be selected).

     

    I tryed the following combinations:

    - click on the lowest point down in order to set the origine. Then click/hold on the second point (the one supposed to be dragged), and then drag the point.

    - click on the lowest point down in order to set the origine. Then click/hold shift and then dragged the second point.

    - click on the lowest point down in order to set the origine. Then just click/dragging the second point.

     

    At all three tries, at least 3 sements of the lozenge were moved with the point, even once after deselecting the form. Do I omit any important detail?

     

    Merci

     
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  • emil emil
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    8. emil emil,
    Jun 8, 2012 11:34 PM   in reply to SPHH
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    in all scaling steps before using the Scale tool, use the Direct Selection tool (white pointer) to select just one anchor point that you will be dragging. May be the image wasn't clear enough but only one anchor point is selected before using the Scale tool.

    Fist, pick the Direct Selection tool (A) and click to select one  the anchor points that you want to move. Then pick the Scale tool (S) and to set the center of the scale click with it the anchor point on the opposite side of the path segment, not on the selected anchor point. After you finish scaling the first point, to select the next point, while you are with the Scale tool, hold Ctrl button down to get temporarily the Direct Selection tool. When you release the Ctrl button the Scale tool will be the current tool again.

     
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