5 Replies Latest reply: May 26, 2014 5:26 AM by Jacob Bugge

Using expand appearance option

brushwipe May 26, 2014 12:32 AM

Hi, I am new to Illustrator CC ( I last used it on an iMac way back in 1994 - OS.9 as it was then). I work almost exclusively in Photoshop & Muse but I am trying to work through an Illustrator tutorial about creating buttons. Here are the instructions verbatim so far:

Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and click on your artboard. Enter 93 in the width box and 32 in the height box then click OK. This will create a 93 by 32px shape. Fill it with R=0 G=182 B=241 then go to Effect > Stylize > Rounded Corners. Enter a 17px radius then click OK.

Now, your shape should look like the following image. Select it and hit Control + C then hit Control + F. This will add a copy in front. Have a quick look in your Layers panel (Window > Layers) and make sure that you have the two shapes created so far.

Select the copy made in the previous step and go to Object > Expand Appearance. Select the resulting shape and go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Enter a -1px Offset then click OK. Fill the resulting shape with white then reselect the expanded, blue shape and delete it.

Seems all very straightforward but Control+F places a duplicate on the same layer (I think!). Why not Control+J?
Which selection tool is not specified.
Using either selection tool and Object>Expand Appearance results in a greyed out option. Expand ... is active but when selected nothing happens.

Where am I going wrong or is the tutorial inaccurate?

1. Re: Using expand appearance option

Monika Gause May 26, 2014 1:30 AM (in response to brushwipe)

Please link the tutorial. Please show a screenshot of what you expect and what instead happens.

Control-F places the content of the clipboard in front of what's selected. If nothing is selected, it places in front.
Control-J joins paths.

There are a lot of expand commands in Illustrator, which one to take depends on the situation. If an effect is applied, Expand appearance should do the job.

You should mind that not every tutorial on the Internet is written by someone who actually knows more than you do.
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2. Re: Using expand appearance option

Jacob Bugge May 26, 2014 1:54 AM (in response to brushwipe)

brushwipe,

1) as Monika said.

When you expand the inner shape you may as well start by expanding the outer shape and then just use Object>Path>Offset Path and recolour the inner path and be done with it.

If you wish to keep the tutorial mess:

2) the (normal) Selection Tool (black arrow), but there is no need to use it before Object>Expand Appearance because the copy is selected already.

3) When you have clicked Object>Expand Appearance, you should see the double Anchor Points at the rounded corners. If that does not work, and you have followed the step carefully, something is wrong with the preferences or something.
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3. Re: Using expand appearance option

brushwipe May 26, 2014 3:41 AM (in response to Monika Gause)

Thanks, Sound advice. I have decided to do it all in Photoshop. Life's too short :-)
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4. Re: Using expand appearance option

brushwipe May 26, 2014 3:50 AM (in response to Jacob Bugge)

Thanks to you and Monica for your time Jacob, After your comments I don't trust this tutorial but I will come back to Illustrator when time permits. I'm carrying on with the buttons in Photoshop.
The tutorial is here in case you are interested:
http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-how-to-create-a-simple-web-button-set-using -the-appearance-panel--vector-…
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5. Re: Using expand appearance option

Jacob Bugge May 26, 2014 5:26 AM (in response to brushwipe)

For my part you are welcome, brushwipe.

It is quite easy with the help of Illy. You may try it when you get started again.
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