Blend

The Blend tool allows you to blend paths or object together in three different ways. You can create impressive color blends with multiple steps between objects or paths.

Blend Options

The three blend options are Smooth Color, Specified Steps, and Specified Distance. To call up these options you can double-click on the Blend tool in the toolbar or choose Object > Blend> Blend Options…. You can also access the Blend Options at the bottom of the Properties panel. These options can be set before a blend is created or changed after a blend is created.

Smooth Color

Blending with Smooth Color calculates the number of steps required to make the blend. The steps are calculated to provide the optimum number of steps for a smooth color transition. If the objects contain the same colors, it will give you a stepped appearance much like Specified Steps.

Specified Steps

Blending with Specified Steps controls the number of steps between the start and stop of the blend. The number you enter does not include the first and last objects in the set; enter only the number of steps you want to appear between the first and last objects.

Specified Distance

Blending with Specified Distance controls the distance between the number of steps you enter in the Blend Options dialog box. The Distance Specified is measured from the edge of one object to the corresponding edge on the next object.

Editing the Blend Spine

The spine of the Blend is the invisible line that connects the first and last object together. You can see this spine when you enter into Outline mode. The spine can be edited or moved with the Direct Selection tool, or you can use the Curvature tool to change the length, position, or curve of the spine.

Orientation

Orientation refers to how the objects follow the spine. There are two options in the Blend Options panel. Align to Page (creates an arch) and Align to Path (creates an arc). Note how the spacing is affected by the Orientation, the level of curve, and the width of the spaces between the objects.

Replace Spine

The spine of the blend can be edited or it can be exchanged for another spine completely. Create a new path you would like the blend to conform to. Select your blend items on the new path, and choose Object > Blend > Replace Spine. The new path you have drawn will now be the spine of the blend, replacing the previous spine.

To reverse the order of a blend on its spine, select the blended object and choose Object > Blend > Reverse Spine. This will reverse the blend direction from start to stop. To change the stacking order of the blend so the path underlaps instead of overlaps, choose the Reverse Front to Back command.

Blend Three or More Objects

To blend three or more objects together, select the Blend tool in the toolbar. Click on one object with the Blend tool, then the next object, then the next object, until all the objects are blended together. The order you select the objects with the Blend tool affects the way they blend.

Blending objects on top of each other can create a very realistic looking blend with highlights and shadows. It can produce dimensional-looking objects and effects such as this sphere with a specular highlight. The blended shapes can be different sizes and shapes, and have different fills and strokes.

To create the sphere, draw the circles with different color fills. Select all the shapes and select the Blend tool. Click on the first shape, then second shape, and then the third shape. Set the Blend Options to Smooth Color to blend all the colors together seamlessly.

Release a Blended Object

To release a blended object back to the original objects, choose Object > Blend > Release. This releases the objects back to their original state before the blend was applied. In Outline mode, you will see that the spine that connects the objects together is visible. This path is no longer connected to the shapes and is independent.

Expand

Expanding a blended object will render each step of the blend as an individual shape and the blended shapes can no longer be edited using the Blend Options. To expand the blend, select the blended object and choose Object > Blend > Expand. Expanding the blend may create several shapes (possibly hundreds or more) depending on the extent of the blend. You can see the individual steps in Outline mode. If they appear as a black mass, zoom in to see each individual shape.