Expert: Kevin Stohlmeyer - 4/22/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi Kevin,

In Illustrator CS3 I wanted to create a nice, rounded triangle, something in between a triangle and a circle, and I thought that I'd use the Blend Tool with a few steps and then expand it all and pick whichever step I found the nicest.
The problem is, where squares or circles work OK the Blend Tool does not seem to be able to find the center of a triangle. I blend from an equilateral triangle to a circle and expect the result to be symmetrical - it is, but off towards one point of the triangle.
Do you know if there is a way to position, or define, a center in the triangle and make the Blend Tool use it?

Or should I go another way altogether?

Thanks

Evan.

ANSWER: Hi Evan

I have an easier way to round your triangle. Go to Effects>Stylize>Round Corners. This should give you the effect that you are looking for. If you are trying to make the sides rounded try Distort>Bloat.

Either way make sure you use the Effects menu and not Filters. Effects can be edited using the appearance palette and filters are permanent.

Thanks

Kevin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: No, sorry, it does not do it right. The two effects will not work together.
I would rather if there was a way to fix that center so things can latch onto it. Even if it is not easy.  :)

Thanks
Evan.

ANSWER: Hi Evan,

I recreated this effect using the Blend Tool and was able to achieve a center point using the Object>Blend>Create Blend. It does select the exact center of the object. The only other thing I can think of that you can try is to create the triangle using the star tool (3 sided star = triangle).

Otherwise, using the blend command did select the center of both.

Thanks

Kevin



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Kevin,

No such luck here. Neither Polygon nor Star Tool show a center. Only Ellipse and Rectangle (and Rounded Rectangle) do.

I can trick Illustrator into inserting a center point in a triangle by removing a corner anchor from a rectangle and then adjusting the triangle after a previously made equilateral triangle, only, the center point becomes offset towards the top again, like the anchor point selected by the Blend command.

Is there some kind of flush to be performed to get rid of this bug?

Thanks
Evan.

Answer
Hi Evan,

I now understand what is going on and unfortunately, geometry is the issue.

The center of an equilateral triangle is actually where the blend path is aiming towards. It does appear to be higher in the middle, but it is the exact geometric center of the shape.

There is no way to change the center of this and it is not a bug with the application.

Kevin