I need to join lots of different shapes to make one

[alexinessex]

Hi

You were all fab with a question I had a while ago and now have another.

I need to join about ten different shapes that make up one shape, so a vinyl printer can cut it out, as lots of different shapes next to each other confuse the cutter.

But I cant seem to join any of the paths/parts, either all at once or even two and then just keep adding one at a time.

I have tried using the "join" and "pathfinder" methods. :-(

Hope someone can advise please.

Kind regards

 

[apepp]

...you'll be best to post a link to a screen shot as it can be very difficult to problem solve something you can't see, illustrator files can be complicated structures meaning not one method will fix all...

...better still would be to post a link to download the problem .ai file or pdf unless the artwork is of a sensitive nature...

andrew

 

[apepp]

...without seeing the artwork, the best guess answer is to use the pathfinder function "unite", but using the pathfinder functions can result in a different structure affecting appearance if your not careful, which is why it would be best to see the artwork in question before saying do this or do that...

andrew

 

[apepp]

...the other problem is not knowing how or who created the artwork and whether it was done in a weird way or not, meaning that the correct functions to use may not work simply because the underlying structure is not correct to begin with...

andrew

 

[alexinessex]

Sorry to be dim, how do I attach a file from my desktop please? I clicked the paper clip to browse to the file and it does not click

Kind regards

 

[apepp]

...you need actual web space to upload the file to, not part of tek-tips, and then paste the link to a message on this board, the attachment option (step 3) requires a full URL address to that image somewhere on the net...

...plenty of free image hosting sites out there:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en-us&q=free+image+hosting&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

andrew

 

[apepp]

for very large files you can upload to sendspace.com for free, up to 300mb:

http://www.sendspace.com/

then copy and paste the download link generated into a message on tek-tips

...you can optionally send what you upload to your own email address, then the download link will sent to your email address, but not required...

andrew

 

[alexinessex]

Hi

Thanks all. Here is the link to the file.

Many Kind thanks

http://free.mailbigfile.com/e5f70d2764a4690ee44d9f46ca00193d/listFiles.php

 

[apepp]

...OK, have downloaded this file with a football graphic, so essentially you need the whole thing as one continuous shape...

...the "unite" function does work up to a point, however some areas need to over lap better for the pathfinder to work properly...

...here attached PDF file which i have tried to work on, it is now one complete path when viewed as outlines in illustrator (view > preview), some of the areas are very thin still, so not sure what you want to do with those areas:

http://www.zen63258.zen.co.uk/tek/ball.pdf

andrew

 

[apepp]

...sorry, meant (view >outline) in above message, not (view > preview)...

...this display mode (view >outline) will show you the vector line makeup...

andrew

 

[alexinessex]

Hi

Thanks so very much! Its great!

So I know for the future... where is "unite" option please, as I dont seem to have it in my pathfinder options.

Kind regards

 

[apepp]

...its the top row, first on the left, called "unite" in cs4, and "add to shape area" in lower versions of illustrator...

andrew

 

[alexinessex]

Hi

Thanks for that I used "offset path" to thicken it all up a little.

Many, many thanks again

Kind regards