::HELP:: How do you join segments into whole objects? 1

[micray83]

I forgot how to join pen segments together and group them into one whole object. I am tracing a logo and I need to fill it in with color. Everytime I hit CTRL+J (join) it says, "To join, you must select two open endpoints . . ." Am I using the right tool for this? Someone please refresh my memory. Thank you.

 

[carlow]

hi micray83,

You select with the direct selection tool (white arrow) or the lasso tool the two points you want to join then you hit the key combination you already used.

carlow

 

[micray83]

Thanks for the help but that did not work. Click on the snap shot below. See how it's all scattered? It's because none of the lines are connected. Will someone please explain how I can connect them and fill the U and the K in with a solid blue?

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/micray83/detail?.dir=909e&.dnm=9d3c.jpg

Thank you

::micray::

 

[itchybug]

micray:

1. Make a copy of the paths;
2. Start a new layer; Paste;
3. Remove fills and strokes;
4. Draw a rectangle that's larger than the artwork, fill it with any color;
5. From the Pathfinder palette flyout, under Pathfinder Options, make sure to click on "Divide and Outline will remove unpainted artwork";
6. Select all, then in the Pathfinder palette click on "Divide";
7. With the group select tool, select only the rectangle outline, and delete it;
8. You should now have complete closed paths, already filled and everything.

There are also Illustrator scripts available to do this, you can search on Google for Illustrator Scripts.

HTH

Bert

Bert Philippus -

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[micray83]

This is so frustrating! Why the flip won't it JOIN??? What is the reason? Does anybody know?

I got the join function to work on most of the broken segments, but there are three more left that won't join for some teeth-gritting reason.

I added four more slides at the end. They show how I got join to work for most of the segments. But there are a few like the one at the bottom right corner of the U that refuse to JOIN!!! I want to punch it right now.

See slideshow below:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/micray83/slideshow?.dir=/909e&.src=ph

::micray::

 

[micray83]

Well I solved my problem by deleting the segments and just drawing new lines w/ the pen. Though I wish someone could tell me why the join function only works some of the time. It's a simple tool. How hard could it be for the program to connect two stupid segements together???

Anybody care to solve this mystery? How about I upload the .ai file so someone could have a wack at it?

::micray::

 

[itchybug]

Upload as a pdf, I'll take a look.

The reason your join tool is finicky is probably due to one of the following:

1. You're selecting more than just one anchor at the end of a path; sometimes there can be 2 anchors very close together or even on top of each other at the end of a path;

2. You're trying to join paths that are parts of different groups (or compounds).

HTH

Bert

Bert Philippus -

http://www.itchybug.com