Outline Object, Outline Stroke

[S***@adobeforums.com]

I have been trying to grasp exactly what Effects>Path> Outline Object, and Outline Stroke do. I have created several shapes both with, and without a fill for the stroke of the shapes. Whenever I apply either one of these effects, nothing happens.

Could someone elaborate on this tool, how to use it, and what its function is? I searched the Adobe online help and can't find anything on these two topics.

thanks,
sam

[g***@adobeforums.com]

For exsample. we can stroke a image or a mesh with Outline Object effect. you can try add a Outline Stroke effect and a Roughen effect to a Stroke. then see what happen...

[S***@adobeforums.com]

I understand what you are saying, but whenever I take a vector object, or place a image into my illustrator file and apply Effect>outline object, or outline stroke, nothing ever happens with the vector object. When I apply it to a placed image it just gives me an outline of the object. I need to know how to use the tools. Like what are the rules when using them?

thanks,
sam

[Teri Pettit]

Samuel,

Nothing visible happens because if everything is working right, an outlined stroke looks the same as an unoutlined stroke. But many vector effects act differently when applied to a stroke that has been outlined first. If it has not been outlined, they operate upon the centerline path, and then that path gets stroked, whereas if it has had the Outline Stroke effect applied first, then subsequent vector effects will operate independently upon the two separate edges of the filled shape that was created by outlining the stroke.

For more details and sample art showing how these effects are useful when used in combination with other effects, see the file "Outline Effects demo.ai" in this zipped folder:

ftp://tpettit.best.vwh.net/AI_10_Style_demos.zip