Resizing Groups (how can i keep the relation between the objects???)

[gingeb]

Hi guys,

i am getting desparate about this problem, have tried everything, and searched everywhere, but no solution. Hope you can help me out.

I am designing vector graphics / characters.
Once i finish one character, i group all different layers of it, and should then be able to play around with the size of it.
E.g. I made one little character at a size of 800 x 600px, and now i want to resize him for a poster of the size of 100 x 100 cm, which is so much bigger. There is the problem, if i resize it to the size i want, suddenly all the parts that i grouped don't have the right proportions towards each others any more, what's going wrong here??

Please help me, how could i convert the group maybe into curves, or something else? Isn't the advantage of vector programs that i can resize my artwork at any time?? Why then is this not working, i never had a problem with the resizing and proportions in Freehand...(but i prefer Illustrator)

I am thankful for each kindof help!!

Ginge

 

[gingeb]

I am adding 2 images for your imagination. I just drew a test character for this forum, so don't wonder about the little man....)

Here is the first picture, that shows until which points all goes well with the resizing issue:

http://www.oh-yoko.com/shue-cane/26589941/resizingIssue_allgood.jpg

and then, the 5th time of resizing the problem starts: See here:

http://www.oh-yoko.com/shue-cane/26589941/resizingIssue_nowbad.jpg

Please let me know if you got an idea or solution!!

THANKS SO MUCH!

 

[MarcusStringer]

The first one I did, I didn't have the "scale strokes etc" ticked on in the scale window so it came out like yours.

When I did it again, it came out okay,

Unless I'm doing something wrong??

Marcus

http://www.midlandtypesetters.com.au

 

[gingeb]

hi marcus,
thanks a lot for your reply.

Actually i was resizing with 'Transform Each', so it didn't have the 'scale strokes & effects' option. But now after reading your reply, i tried the 'scale' option, but the 'scale strokes & effects' was already clicked, and still it doesn't change about my picture falling apart. From the 5th resizing again the same thing (i resized every time 200 %)

Did you resize about 50% or 100%? Looks like it, would you mind to try to resize each of them every time at 200 %, and tell me if yours is working then too?

Would be very thankful, hope to hear from You! Thanks in advance.

Ginge

 

[blueark]

Is your stroke going over 1000pt? That's the limit for Illustrator, so that might be messing things up a little. Try expanding the problem objects (Object > Expand...)

 

[gingeb]

Hi blueark,

well, the shadow of the face, that's the main problem when resizing it, but this one doesn't have a stroke, it's only a fill.....i assume you meant the strength of the stroke (1000 pt) right? If yes, then i can say no it's not that strength, a lot less actually.

Do you have a different idea what this could be? Let me know if you want me to upload the file, so you can check it yourself. (I use Illustrator CS2)

Thanks in advance, i hope we'll find it out

gingeb

 

[gingeb]

Actually my idea for a solution is something like converting it to curves like we're doing it with text. I mean when i write a text, and i have it the way i want it, then i convert it to curves, and still, i can resize the font in my final composition without loss of quality, right? So how can i find a workaround, and do the same thing for my grouped characters, to simply say 'convert group/objects to curves', but then still have the chance to not lose quality when resizing it to poster size...??

 

[blueark]

The reason I mentioned strokes was that the black outline seems to change from sharp to rounded between the last two sizes (look at the black outline where it comes in beside the eyes). This might be fixed by changing the Mitre limit, but whether or not this will fix your problem, I don't know.

Did you try expanding your group? Object > Expand... and make sure "Stroke" is checked. It could be seen as the equivalent of convert to outlines. Failing that, maybe you could upload the file?

 

[gingeb]

Hi blueark,

thanks again for your quick reply!
The 'expanding appearance' option did work, and after i did that, i resized it hugely, like 600 % and it looks gooood!!! This is so great thank You.

Now only one thing left, that still doesn't work:

Now that i could resize it, i would like to put it in my new document, the big poster size, e.g. 200 x 200 cm, but it keeps giving me the following message when i try to move the huge character drawing into the new document:

"Can't paste the objects. The requested transformation would make some objects fall completely off the drawing area"

Does this mean my new document size is too small or too big??

THANKS

gingeb

 

[blueark]

Probably too small (or maybe your artwork is too big), but I wouldn't worry about it. Set it up at a fraction of what you need and inform your printer that you need it enlarged. For example, set it up at half size, and ask your printer to enlarge it 200%, or quarter size and 400%... you get the idea. This is quite normal in large format printing, as many page layout applications, such as QuarkXPress, are unable to go this big.

 

[gingeb]

hey just found out, it was indeed waaaaay to big, it didn't need to much of resizing, so it's perfect now!!

Really you were such a big help! Thank You!!!