Converting Line Segments to Path 1

[8974ab]

I am using Illustrator 10 and have just traced a fairly simple picture of an "L" shaped metal angle using a combination of straight line segments and arc segments. The end result is that I have a 3D isometric angle made up of arcs and straight lines which meet at the ends but are not really joined as one path.

I now want to shade / fill the different faces of the angle with colour.
I was hoping that it would be easy to join all the segments together into one path, and then simply "fill" each area as required but unfortunately I cannot seem to join these elements to form "fillable" paths.

Any ideas on how I should proceed? Or is it impossible and should have I traced with a different tool that allows me to create closed paths?

 

[itchybug]

ab:

Unfortunately, Illustrator 10 does not have the Live Paint feature, which would have been perfect for your particular needs.

Fortunately, there IS a workaround. Here's one of several variants:

1. On a new layer, draw a rectangle that's a bit larger than your entire drawing. Give it a fill, no stroke;

2. Copy your l-shape, lock the layer it's on, then paste the l-shape onto the new layer with the rectangle. Line it up so the entire shape is within the bounds of the rectangle;

3. Select both the rectangle and the shape, and on the Pathfinder palette, find the "divide" button (I don't remember the exact position of this button in ai10, in CS it's the bottom left one) and hit it;

4. Deselect everything, and with the group select tool click on the rectangle (be careful to ONLY select the outline, none of the contents), delete it;

5. You should now have filled panels for all surfaces of your shape.

Let me know if this doesn't work (it will give you trouble if some of the paths don't quite touch at the ends), then we can explore one or two other ways.

HTH

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[apepp]

...have you tried selecting two end nodes with the direct select tool and using the command/apple + J (either drag over two end points or shift select them), this joins endpoints together.

Using the pen tool may also work, select an endpoint and hover over to another endpoint which you want to join together,the cursor icon should change, then click...

andrew

 

[itchybug]

Andrew:

I suspect it will cause trouble if he/she tries that, because on an isometric shape there are going to be at least several paths that are shared by different surfaces.

Bert

http://www.itchybug.com

 

[apepp]

...yes, very valid point itchbug...

andrew

 

[itchybug]

Try that method I posted, Andrew, it really works quite well as long as there are no gaps between the path endings.

http://www.itchybug.com