How to find new positions for divided circle to create 80px gaps

[Guest]

I divided the circle below using the following steps:

1. made a perfect circle

2. created two lines at 75 and 105° rotation

3. used the pathfinder divide tool to separate the circle.

I want to know (how to calculate) the positions I would have to move each part of the circle to create an 80px gap. I would like to move each of them by an equal distance to create the 80px gap, as in the image. How can I find the new positions?

[Monika Gause]

I would create a helper object: a rectangle that has a width of 80 px. Align it at the top and then align the rightmost part with it.

Repeat for the left side.

[Jeff Witchel, ACI]

If I'm understanding your question correctly:

After dividing up your circle into parts, select one of the parts you wish to move with the Selection tool. Then double-click on the Selection tool and enter your distance and angle in the Move dialog window and press OK.

Hope this helps!

[Jacob Bugge]

clepperiousity,

You may:

1) Select the two lines at 75 and 105° rotation, then move a copy 309.096px down,

2) In the Transform palette set the lower central Reference Point and set a sufficient W or H value and Ctrl/CmdEnter to keep proportions,

3) Cut the new lines where they cross the circle, then apply Dashes.

309.096px = 80px/sin(15°)

[Guest]

How did you arrive at sin(15°), especially 15°?

[Jacob Bugge]

clepperiousity,

105° and 75° are 15° on either side of vertical (90°). The rest is triginometry. You can do it in the same way for any (other) angle.

I would use the downward move as in post #3 because it is just one. It should be with a - of course, unless you have something older than CS5 or unreversed the Y axis.

[Blyskawica]

You know the distance and angles you want the lower pieces to move, so you can do this without much math.

In Illustrator's prefs (Command-K), set the cursor key distance to 80 px and set the constrain angle to 195 degrees (105 + 90). Select the left-hand piece and press the right-arrow key once to move it. Then change the constrain angle to -15 degrees and do the same for the right-hand piece.

[Jacob Bugge]

clepperiousity,

Or you may move each line out by 82.822px (two moves + and -) instead of 1) in my post #3.

82.822px = 80px/cos(15°)