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Pathfinder Palette “Unite” and “Expand” to create a single Object
In Illustrator CS3, when I had several objects that I wanted united as a single object, I used to go to the Pathfinder palette, click the “unite” button which would then enable the “expand” button thus making 1 whole object. The only way this trick would work is if all the objects were ungrouped, so I always made sure they weren’t grouped.
Now, for some reason, in Illustrator CS4, when I have several, ungrouped objects such as a star and a square, I click “unite” in the pathfinder palette, and to my repeated frustration, Illustrator doesn’t create a single object. All I get is a grouped object that I can double-click into isolation mode or ungroup and be right back where I started (with separate a star and a square). I’m finding that clicking “unite” does not enable the “expand” button in the Pathfinder Palette.
I tried to manually expand by clicking “unite” and then going to tab object>expand, but this doesn’t do it. I still only have a grouped object.
What am I doing wrong??!!!
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2 Replies
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Try clicking unite without hitting alt/option at the same time. CS4 went back to the way it was in older versions of Illustrator, when no alt pressing was needed.
D.
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If you read the little balloon help that pops up when you hover over the button it says “Alt-click to create a compound shape.”
In CS4 it immediately creates and expands the object(s) if you click on the button. You have to Alt click it to get a compound shape (editable).
In previous versions it used to be the other way around. I guess they re-invented the wheel.
If it doesn’t work like this for you, then you prolly have an open object. Maybe even 2 anchors laying on top of each other which are not connected to fool you as if you had a closed object.
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