Working on a 3 color screen-printed design. The logotype is a standard font converted to paths. I have applied the CS5 "warp" tool effect to give it a nice smooth "arc". It is just the way I want it.

Now I need to convert it so the actual lines follow the the newly formed arc. For some reason the wireframe of the letters continue to stay in the original non-warped positions. When I proceed to try and ko the logo from one of the color layers, it ko's the original formation of the letters and not the warp view.

If you need to try it yourself because I did not explain it well enough, here are the steps:

1. Choose a thick font like impact. Type in 4 cap letter forms.
2. Convert to path
3. Effect palette > warp > arc (choose any number you like just make sure it moves the forms to a new visual position from the original baseline.
4. On another layer above the warped fonts, make a solid square that covers the letters.
5. Select all then Pathfinder > Minus back
6. See! It KO's the original baseline not the visual warp position.
7. Pull hair out!

The only thing I can think of doing is rasterizing the warp and then autotracing the warped font. But that will make too many new points that will take away from the simple smooth lines created by the warp effect.

Totally frustrated and the project is due tomorrow. Help!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2012 07:52PM by weapon.

weapon, I believe you want to use the Expand Appearance command after the warp is set the way you like. It's under the Object menu. Best of luck with the deadline.

Expand Appearance worked in a sense but is converts it to a box. No longer an outline that I can add a stroke to. Check it out in wireframe view (command Y).

So I am still looking for the solution.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2012 08:45PM by weapon.

?? Perhaps I misunderstood what you need to do. I just went through the steps to check and indeed Expand Appearance makes the warped letters into shapes that can be stroked, filled, or knocked out of another shape—and yes, they show up just that way even in Outline mode, which is what I think you mean by wireframe. Nothing is converted into a box.

These are the steps for what I thought you wanted to do:
1. Set type as desired.
2. Change type to paths using "Create Outlines"
3. Apply whatever warp effect is desired.
4. Expand appearance.

The warped letter shapes can now be stroked, filled, stylized, knocked out of other shapes, ungrouped, and so on. However, if you want the whole word to become a clipping mask, you may need to make it into a compound path first (also from the Object menu).

This seems to fit your original instructions, but if your desired effect is something different, please let us know. Surely someone here will be able to help.

These are the steps for what I thought you wanted to do:
1. Set type as desired.
2. Change type to paths using "Create Outlines"
3. Apply whatever warp effect is desired.
4. Expand appearance.

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The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs [www.fakesteve.net]

Well expand appearance is not working on my end. Something is happening in this one file. If I use the same letter in a new document, it does it just like you guys have said. wierd.

Thanks for the help on this. On to finishing the project.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2012 12:59PM by weapon.