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How to create a vector glow around object

[Illustrator] -  
4K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  miktoxic 
#1 ·
I have an object in illustrator that I placed in from photoshop and converted to paths. I am trying to make a glow around the object but I want it to be a vector glow, not raster, so I don't want to use the effects. I found a tutorial online that basically states to copy and paste the image multiple times, changing the stroke on each image. However, I am not even able to change the stroke on the object. If anyone can help, I would appreciate it, having spent way too many hours on this problem.....
 
#7 ·
wormil, yes I meant glow, not shadow. I was able to use the object--path--offset path command to create a nice outline around the entire object, proportional around the entire perimeter, however the outline doesn't fade away as a glow would do as it extends from the object.

stitchesprint, I am new to this, but I was under the impression that vector art is preferred, and I don't really know anything about separations. (I will be outsourcing the printing of (mostly) plastisol transfers.) I also like vector as it permits me to resize without loss of resolution.

Catbox, thanks for the links, I had already looked at the vectortuts video and others on lynda.com.

211chucky, thanks for the suggestion. It is actually an object created by using the path tool to trace in photoshop (and then placed into AI) that I am trying to apply a glow to, not text.
 
#8 ·
make a compound path using the stroke you already have. make another stroke to the area that you want the color to fade to by using object>offset path.

lock the image that the stroke is surrounding so it's not affected. using direct selection tool select inner stroke and fill the area with a color. using the direct selection tool select the outer stroke and fill with a different color. different colors so you can see the difference of the two.

holding down shift key select the inner object, then the outer object. go to pathfinder window and click on 'subtract from' this will give you a an object area that you can now fill with a gradient.
 
#10 ·
i'm not sure because i'm not a printer or separator but either way it will have to be separated in either case.

as stated above you can do designs in either format. the difference being is that when doing raster images you have to make sure that you set your file up to at least 300 dpi at the print size (or larger). you can always size down from that point on but trying to go larger after the fact you will lose image quality and the image will appear pixelated. in vector you don't have to worry about that. that's why some people prefer to work with vector files.

but your printer should be able to handle both. if not, get another printer.

here i just looked this up:

Vector Gradient Fills pg 2: Production Graphics with Wendy Peck at webreference.com
 
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