At some point in the continuous learning curve of Illustrator, nearly everyone comes across a particular problem when using the Scale tool. Draw an amorphous shape with the Pen tool and then select it with the Selection tool. Copy your shape (Edit > Copy), and paste it in front of itself – Command + F (Control + F on a PC). Now, with the pasted object still selected, double-click on the Scale tool and in the window that opens, check Preview and select the Non-Uniform button. Now try scaling the shape to a slightly smaller size in a way that the smaller top shape is the same distance from the bigger original shape all the way around. When you give up, hit Cancel.
Years ago, when I first tried to use the Scale tool in this way, it didn’t take me long to understand that I was trying to do the impossible. But there has to be some other method to accomplish what seems to be such a simple task. Actually, in Illustrator CS2, there are two. For the first method, go to Object > Path > Offset Path. Type a negative number to Offset the Path inward, and a positive number to offset it outward. Click OK to see the results. The same task can be accomplished as an effect by going to the Effect menu Path > Offset Path. A similar window opens, like with the other method, but with one huge advantage. You can preview the results. And of course, as an effect, you can change or eliminate the Offset at anytime in the Appearance palette.
Tip provided by Jeff Witchel, Certified Adobe® Training Provider.
Author: jeff witchel
Jeff Witchel graduated from Pratt Institute in 1973 with a B.F.A. (Cum Laude) in Advertising Design and Visual Communications. He has been an award-winning advertising art director, writer, designer, illustrator, and TV producer ever since.
Before starting his own advertising agency in New Jersey, Jeff built his career at top New York ad agencies such as Young & Rubicam, Grey Advertising, and Wells, Rich, Greene. Over the years, he has created award-winning work for many clients including AT&T, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Jell-O Pudding, The Plaza Hotel, and Pfizer. His many prestigious awards include N.Y. Art Directors Club Gold Award, One Show Gold Award, N.J. Art Directors Club Award, multiple Andy Awards, Graphis Annual, numerous readership awards, plus an Emmy Award nomination.
Jeff is a self-taught computer artist with over 19 years of experience. His initial introduction to the computer was with PageMaker, but he switched to Quark 1.0 when it was first introduced in 1987. Having arrived on the desktop publishing scene so early, Jeff became the “go to” guy for answers when others started getting into computer graphics.
As an Adobe Certified Expert, he’s provided online support for Adobe and is now an Adobe Certified Training Provider for both Adobe Illustrator CS2 and Adobe InDesign CS2. Jeff is one of just a handful of Adobe Certified Instructors in the New York metropolitan area. He also is a Quark Certified Expert in QuarkXPress 6 as well as a master of Adobe Photoshop and related applications. He counts among his training clients ad agencies, design studios, magazines, illustrators, and photographers in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.
