Expert: Amy - 12/17/2004

Question
I have Illustrator 8 on a PC, but I had this problem in Illustrator CS and on a Mac too.

I have sucessfully blended one shape to another.

What I can not figure out, is a way to then distribute the various shapes in the blend, so that the *edges* are an equal distance from one another, rather than just the centers.  

Answer
There's a way to do that, Scott.

First you have to create your blend.

Then select Object > Expand

Then ungroup that collection of shapes - you may need to use the ungroup command a few times.

Then choose Window > Show Align (Shift + F7) and you'll see the Align Window.  On the little flyout menu in its top righthand corner, select "Show Options" and two more buttons appear on the bottom.

With the spacing set to Auto, select all your shapes, hit the Distribute Spacing Button (Horizontal Distribute Space)and they'll all spread out equidistant from each others' edges.

Now to make them a specified distance from each other, you need to type your measurement in the Distribute Spacing box, select all the shapes, then with them all selected, click on the first shape in the line a second time.  (Nothing happens visually but you are giving the application some data with this second click). Then hit the Distribute Spacing Button and all the shapes will spread out according to your measurement.

Incidentally, this click-and-reclick method is the way you get objects to align with another object that you want to remain stationary, so you might be familiar with it already.

Hope this is what you needed!
Amy Pace