Strokes

Menu items to show and hide the Width Stamp panel can be found in the main menu under Window > Astute Graphics > Width Stamp. If the Width Stamp object is created using one of the main menu Object > Width Stamp > Make… items, the panel will be automatically shown if it is not already open.

Width Stamp Panel

1. Flyout menu

See Width Stamp Panel: Flyout Menu.

2. Panel banner

The Width Stamp panel banner has a help button on the right which opens the help documentation in the Astute Manager. If this does not automatically appear, please ensure your Astute Manager is running first. 

3. Make With Top Object button

When the selection consists of artwork that is eligible to be turned into a top-object Width Stamp (at least two art objects, and the topmost object is a path or a group that contains at least one path), the Make with Top Object button will be available. Clicking Make with Top Object creates a Width Stamp object from the selected artwork, using the parameters that are currently specified on the lower area of the panel. The bottom object is used as the grayscale source, while the path(s) above it, which must have a stroke, are used as the contours and will have their widths changed to reflect the grayscale values, according to the width settings and curve on the panel.

Width Stamp Make with Top Object Example

To edit the contour paths that were in the top object once the Width Stamp object has been created, either release the Width Stamp (see Release button) or click the Edit Contours button (see Edit Source Art/Contours buttons).

A Width Stamp (from top object) can also be made using the main menu item Object > Width Stamp > Make With Top Object….

4. Make With Preset button

When at least one piece of artwork is selected, the Make with Preset button will be available. Clicking Make with Preset creates one Width Stamp object for each selected piece of art, using the parameters that are currently specified on the lower area of the panel (to make a single Width Stamp object from multiple pieces of art, group them first). The contours are not created from existing art, but are generated algorithmically, their geometry determined by the type of preset (see Preset Menu below).

Width Stamp Make with Preset Example

A Width Stamp (from preset) can also be made using the main menu item Object > Width Stamp > Make With Preset….

5. Edit Source Art/Contours buttons

When at least one Width Stamp object is selected, the Edit Source Art button and the Edit Contours button will be available. Only one of the two buttons can be active at any time; the active button is distinguished by a darker border. When Edit Source Art is active (which is the default after a new Width Stamp object is created), the source art, which provides the grayscale values, is editable (although it will appear empty), while the contour paths are visible but not editable. When Edit Contours is active, the contour paths are visible and editable, while the source art is hidden and cannot be edited.

Width Stamp Edit Source Art vs. Edit Contours

Note: If a Width Stamp object that was made with a preset is active when the Edit Contours button is pressed, its contour paths become normal editable paths, and the preset parameters will no longer be available to change (in other words, it is as if the Width Stamp had been made using a top object). 

6. Link/Unlink button

When at least one Width Stamp object is selected, the Link/Unlink button will be available. Clicking it toggles between linked and unlinked states. When linked, transformations (moving, scaling, rotating) made to the source art will similarly affect the contour art, and vice versa. When unlinked, transformations can be made to either the source art or contour art independently (however, if the Width Stamp was made from a preset, the Edit Contours button must be pressed before the source art and contour art will become unlinked). 

Width Stamp Edit Linked vs. Unlinked

Note: Illustrator’s Real-Time Drawing and Editing (when using GPU preview) does not properly handle the case of moving the source art when linking is disabled: it appears to move both the source and the contours together, until the mouse button is released. Pressing Shift while moving the source art usually rectifies this.

7. Release button

Clicking Release restores all selected Width Stamp objects to their original component object or objects, which may then be edited and, if desired, made into Width Stamps again.

Width Stamp Release Example

Width Stamps can also be released using the main menu item Object > Width Stamp > Release.

8. Expand button

Clicking Expand “flattens” and removes all selected Width Stamp objects; the resulting variable width paths can subsequently be edited like any other art objects. Each expanded Width Stamp is placed into a group.

Width Stamp Expand Example

Width Stamps can also be expanded using the main menu item Object > Width Stamp > Expand.

9. Width Value 1

(This control may not visible if Hide Curve has been chosen from the panel flyout menu.) Because it is at the top, this value can be thought of as the “maximum” value, although it can be set to any value. When the graph curve is set to the default (a straight line rising from lower left to upper right), it controls the width of the contours where the underlying art is darkest. 

10. Width Value 2

(This control may not visible if Hide Curve has been chosen from the panel flyout menu.) Because it is at the bottom, this value can be thought of as the “minimum” value, although it can be set to any value. When the graph curve is set to the default (a straight line rising from lower left to upper right), it controls the width of the contours where the underlying art is lightest.

11. Graph

(This control may not visible if Hide Curve has been chosen from the panel flyout menu.) The graph specifies the relationship between the width values and the grayscale values in the source art. The horizontal axis represents grayscale values (from white to black), while the vertical axis represents the width amount, specified by the “maximum” and “minimum” value inputs. With the default diagonal line, the relationship is a linear one. 

Width Stamp Graph Examples

Nodes on the curve may be moved simply by clicking and dragging them. A new node may be added by clicking at a spot along the curve which does not already have a node. Nodes (except the ones at the beginning and the end of the curve) may be deleted by dragging them off the graph area. The graph can be returned to its default linear state by holding down Shift and clicking on the thin gradient band underneath it. 

12. Fidelity

Controls how accurately the grayscale levels of the source art are translated to width markers along the strokes of the contours. The value can range from 1 to 10. High values internally rasterize the source art at a higher resolution, and more closely space the width markers along the contours.

Width Stamp Fidelity Examples

13. Smoothing

When using high Fidelity values on a noisy image, the resulting variable width contours may appear “jagged” as their widths change abruptly over small distances. To alleviate this, the Smoothing setting can be enabled. Smoothing acts as a sort of Gaussian blur on the width markers, smoothing the width changes of adjacent markers: 

Width Stamp Smoothing Examples

14. Trim Contours at Min Width

When enabled, contours which reach the “minimum” width (the width specified in the lower Width Value 2 control) are trimmed off at that value. For the typical curve which has a node at the bottom left, this has the effect of removing contours where the underlying image or artwork is white:

Width Stamp Trim Contours

When using Trim Contours at Min Width, a high Fidelity setting is often necessary to keep the shape of the trimmed edges smooth. 

15. Hard

When Trim Contours at Min Width is enabled, and Use Tapering is not enabled, the tips of the contours do not always look pleasing when the underlying grayscale values change from a dark to white in a sharp manner (thereby creating two markers of relatively high width followed by a single marker of zero width at the end of the path). To remedy this, the Hard parameter can be enabled, which forces the contour trim point to be at the next width maker past the minimum width one: 

Width Stamp Trim Contours Hard

16. Use Dashes

When enabled, contours which would normally be below a threshold width will not get any thinner, but will instead change to a dashed appearance, with the dashes getting shorter as the underlying grayscale values get lighter. Dash length depends on the Fidelity and whether Dash Reduction is enabled (the latter setting is not available directly on the panel but can be accessed through the All Settings... dialog).

Width Stamp Use Dashes

The threshold value is specified as a percentage of the minimum-to-maximum range. For example, a threshold value of 25% means the contours will become dashed whenever their calculated width falls in the last quarter of that range. Use Dashes and Use Tapering cannot both be enabled.

17. Use Tapering

When enabled, all contours will have ends that taper to zero width, using the specified length: 

Width Stamp Use Tapering

Use Tapering and Use Dashes cannot both be enabled. 

18. Preset

The popup menu allows a choice of eight different presets, each of which creates contour lines with a different geometry controlled by preset-specific parameters. The presets are Half Grid, Grid, Waves, Zigzag, Concentric Circles, Concentric Squares, Circular Spiral, and Square Spiral: 

Width Stamp Presets

a. Half Grid

The Half Grid preset creates contours that consist of one set of parallel straight lines. The lines can have their spacing and angle specified. 

Width Stamp Half Grid Preset Parameters

b. Grid

The Grid preset creates contours that consist of two sets of parallel straight lines. Each set of lines can have their spacing and angle specified independently. 

Width Stamp Grid Preset Parameters

c. Waves

The Waves preset creates contours that consist of roughly parallel lines which curve back and forth like a wave. Their spacing and angle can be specified, as well as the amplitude and frequency of the waves. 

Width Stamp Waves Preset Parameters

Width Stamp Waves Preset Examples

d. Zigzag

The Zigzag preset creates contours that consist of parallel lines in a herringbone pattern. Their spacing and angle can be specified, as well as the amplitude and frequency of the “zigzags.” 

Width Stamp Zigzag Preset Parameters

e. Concentric Circles

The Concentric Circles preset creates contours that consist of closed, circular paths (or sections thereof) with the same center point. The circles have equal space between them, the value of which can be specified. The diameter of the innermost circle is equal to this spacing value. 

Width Stamp Concentric Circles Preset Parameters

f. Concentric Squares

The Concentric Squares preset creates contours that consist of closed, square paths (or sections thereof) with the same center point. The squares have equal space between them, the value of which can be specified (as well as their angle). The side length of the innermost square is equal to the spacing value. 

Width Stamp Concentric Squares Preset Parameters

g. Circular Spiral

The Circular Spiral preset creates contours that consist of an Archimedean spiral, where each revolution of the spiral lies a fixed distance from the previous one. This spacing value can be adjusted, as well as the angle at which the spiral initially heads, and whether the spiral is in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 

Width Stamp Circular Spiral Preset Parameters

Width Stamp Circular Spiral Preset Examples

h. Square Spiral

The Square Spiral preset creates contours that consist of a square spiral (also described as a 4-angle spirangle). Its spacing value and angle can be adjusted, as well as whether the spiral is in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. 

Width Stamp Square Spiral Preset Parameters

19. Color

The color of the preset contours. Clicking the color chip will bring up the standard color picker dialog. To customize the colors (e.g. use different colors for different contours, or use a gradient or pattern for the strokes), convert the preset contours to ordinary paths by clicking the Edit Contours button.

20. All Settings...

In order to remain at a reasonable size, the Width Stamp panel only contains controls for the most-commonly used settings. After clicking the All Settings... button, the Width Stamp Settings Dialog opens, which offers controls for all of the panel settings as well as for several additional lesser-used settings.

As the Width Selector tool has several keypresses for certain operations, we suggest installing the free Astute Graphics plugin Astute Buddy, which creates a panel that dynamically updates to inform you of the various keys which can be pressed in the tool’s current context.

The Width Selector tool works largely in conjunction with the associated Width Selector panel, which should be open and accessible. If you are using the free Astute Graphics plugin DirectPrefs, you can have the Width Selector panel automatically be shown when the Width Selector tool is selected.

When the Width Selector tool is in use, width markers on the focal strokes of all unlocked paths (selected or unselected, unless the tool preference Show Markers on Selected Paths Only is enabled) are annotated using small red (by default) “bow-tie” shapes lying perpendicular to the path. Markers drawn in a lighter tint are unselected, while those in a darker tint are selected:

Width Selector Marker Annotations

The Width Selector tool can select width markers on one or more paths by either clicking on them or by dragging a marquee over them. Holding the Shift key down while doing so adds markers to the current selection, while holding Option/Alt down subtracts them from the current selection. The current marker selection is retained across uses of the tool.

Width Selector Marquee Select

After one or more width markers are selected, the tool can perform several operations on them:

Width Adjustment

While the tool does not support dragging to change the width of a marker (the native Width tool can still be used for this purpose), it can adjust the widths of one or more markers simultaneously if the preference Use Increase/Decrease Diameter Keys is set to Change Stroke Width. In this case the keys assigned to Decrease Diameter and Increase Diameter in the native Keyboard Shortcuts dialog (the left and right square bracket keys respectively, by default, for English language keyboards) will decrease or increase their widths, using the numerical Change Width value set on the Width Selector panel.

Moving Markers

Dragging one or more selected width markers will move them along the path. A width marker may not be moved past the previous or next unselected marker, and the markers at the start and end of the path cannot be moved at all (therefore, if the selection includes either the end or start marker, it won’t be able to be moved either). Dragging a marker until it contacts another marker and releasing the mouse button will create a doubled marker, which may be used to produce an abrupt change in stroke width:

Width Selector Dragging Markers

To “stretch” markers (move a contiguous selection of one or more markers as a group while proportionally shifting all the other markers on the path, except those at the start and end of the path), hold down Shift while dragging them: 

Width Selector Stretching Markers

Duplicating Markers

To duplicate one or more selected width markers, hold down the Option/Alt key after starting to drag them:

Width Selector Duplicating Markers

Adding Width Markers

The Width Selector tool can add a new width marker to a stroke by holding down Option/Alt and then clicking along the path. The new marker’s initial width will be equal to the current width of the stroke at that point. 

Width Selector Adding Marker

When a variable width stroke is used on a compound path, all of the subpaths must share the same width profile. So selecting one or more width markers on one subpath with the Width Selector tool will automatically select the same markers on all of the subpaths:

Width Selector and Compound Paths

The menu item to show and hide the Width Selector panel can be found in the main menu under Window > Astute Graphics > Width Selector. When the Width Selector tool is not in use, the panel displays only a “Click to select” message; clicking anywhere on the panel selects the tool and displays all the controls, which affect the next use of the tool.

Width Selector Panel

1. Flyout menu

See Width Selector Panel: Flyout Menu.

2. Panel banner

The Width Selector panel banner has a help button on the right which opens the help documentation in the Astute Manager. If this does not automatically appear, please ensure your Astute Manager is running first.

3. Select All Markers Button

Selects all the width markers on any path which has at least one width marker selected. 

4. Taper Stroke Button

Available when at least one end marker is selected, typically on an open path. The first time the button is clicked, the end marker is changed to zero width and an additional marker is added (if necessary) to create a taper with the length specified in the preferences dialog (by default, 10% of the length of the path). Each additional click lengths the taper by 10% of the remaining distance to the other end of the path. Each additional Shift-click shortens the taper in the same way.

Width Selector Taper Stroke

When both ends of the path are tapered at the same time, distance values apply to half the path only. 

5. Average Widths Button

Available when two or more markers on a path are selected. When clicked, the widths of all selected markers are set to the average width of all the selected markers on the same path. If the marker is non-centered, then the ratio of left to right widths is retained.

Width Selector Average Widths

6. Smooth Widths Button

Smooths the widths of the selected markers by combining components of the widths of surrounding markers, similar to using Gaussian blur on pixel data in a image. 

Width Selector Smooth Widths

If the Shift key is held down when the button is clicked, the amount of smoothing will be significantly increased, just as increasing a Gaussian blur’s radius increases the amount of blur:

Width Selector Smooth Widths Plus Shift

The button has an alternate function when the Option/Alt key is held down when it is clicked. In this case, the selected markers (which must be contiguous) are evenly distributed along the path, i.e. their spacing is made equal.

Width Selector Distribute Markers

7. Delete Markers Button

Deletes the selected markers (except for the markers at the start and end of the path, which are required to be present by Illustrator). To remove all markers and make the path uniform width, use the panel flyout menu item Convert Selected Paths to Uniform Width. 

Width Selector Delete Markers

8. Specify Width

This control is visible if the flyout menu preference Display Left/Right Widths is not enabled. It specifies the overall width of the selected marker(s), from 0 pt to 1000 pt. If multiple markers are selected and they have different widths, the value will be blank. If a selected marker is non-centered (its left and right widths are different), then changing its width using this control will keep its left/right ratio constant.

9. Left Width

This control is visible if the flyout menu preference Display Left/Right Widths is enabled. It specifies the left width of the selected marker(s), from 0 pt to 500 pt.

10. Link Icon

This control is visible if the flyout menu preference Display Left/Right Widths is enabled. Clicking the control changes the mode. In linked mode, changing either the left or right width will also change the opposite side width proportionally (thereby keeping the left/right ratio constant). In unlinked mode, the left and right widths can be adjusted independently.

Width Selector Unlinked vs. Linked Widths

11. Right Width

This control is visible if the flyout menu preference Display Left/Right Widths is enabled. It specifies the right width of the selected marker(s), from 0 pt to 500 pt.

12. Total Width

This control is visible if the flyout menu preference Display Left/Right Widths is enabled. It specifies the overall width of the selected marker(s), exactly like the Specify Width control when the preference is not enabled. 

13. Change Width

Controls the amount by which the selected markers’ widths are changed when the Increase Width and Decrease Width buttons are pressed (or the Increase Diameter and Decrease Diameter keys are pressed when the preference Use Increase/Decrease Diameter Keys is set to Change Stroke Width). The value can be changed from 0% to 1000%, with a default of 5%.

14. Increase/Decrease Width buttons

Increases or decreases the width(s) of the selected marker(s) by the amount specified in the Change Width control. For example, if the marker had a width of 60 pt and the Change Width value were set to 22%, then clicking the Increase Width button would add 60 pt × 0.22 = 13.2 pt to the width, for a final width of 73.2 pt. Clicking the Decrease Width button would subtract 13.2 pt from the width, for a final width of 46.8 pt.

Since widths cannot be negative, if the Change Width value is set to 100% or more, then clicking the Decrease Width button will change the marker width to zero.

15. Shift Selection Backward button

This control will not be visible if the flyout menu item Display Marker Count is not enabled. Shifts the selection to the previous marker(s), wrapping around from the start of the path to the end of the path when necessary. To select only the last marker of a closed path, click point zero of the path to select the first marker, and then click the Shift Selection Backward button.

16. Marker Count

This area will not be visible if the flyout menu item Display Marker Count is not enabled. Shows the number of selected width markers as well as the total number of markers on all unlocked paths with variable width focal strokes (if the preference Show Markers on Selected Paths Only is enabled, this will only include selected paths).

17. Shift Selection Forward button

This control will not be visible if the flyout menu item Display Marker Count is not enabled. Shifts the selection to the next marker(s), wrapping around from the end of the path to the start of the path when necessary.

Tool Location and Cursor Appearance

The Width Gradient tool appears in Illustrator’s main toolbar (which must be in Advanced mode: View > Toolbars > Advanced).

Width Gradient Tool Location

 The Width Gradient tool’s cursor is a crosshair, accompanied by a caption if no paths are selected: 

Width Gradient Cursors

As the Width Gradient tool has several keypresses for certain operations, we suggest installing the free Astute Graphics plugin Astute Buddy, which creates a panel that dynamically updates to inform you of the various keys which can be pressed in the tool’s current context.

The Width Gradient tool works in conjunction with the associated Width Gradient panel, which should be open and accessible. If you are using the free Astute Graphics plugin DirectPrefs, you can have the Width Gradient panel automatically be shown when the Width Gradient tool is selected.

Using the Width Gradient tool is similar to using the Gradient tool in Photoshop, except an actual color-to-color gradient is not generated. Instead, all selected paths that fall within the bounds of the virtual gradient are converted to variable width (if they aren’t already), and their width markers are adjusted using values corresponding to each location along the virtual gradient, as specified in the Width Gradient panel. Adjustment may be in either an absolute sense (the widths are changed to specific values) or a relative sense (the widths are changed to a percentage of their original values).

For example, if the panel were set to adjust in an absolute, linear fashion, with start and end widths of 4 pt and 20 pt, then after dragging the tool, spots along the path(s) that were in line with the start of the gradient would get width markers set to 4 pt, while those in line with the end of the gradient would get width markers set to 20 pt. Those in the middle would receive a width of 12 pt (because half of 4 + 20 is 12, and the panel graph is linear). 

Width Gradient Basic Example

Of course, the line in the previous example could easily have had its widths set manually with the native Width tool, since only a single width marker at each end was necessary. The real power of Width Gradient comes when multiple paths are adjusted, possibly in a non-linear manner: 

Width Gradient Example

The tool draws annotations while in use, showing the start and end points of the gradient (represented by a gray, semi-transparent line), and, using semi-transparent dashed lines, either perpendiculars to the gradient (for linear gradients) or a circle at the outer edge of the gradient (for radial gradients).

Width Gradient Tool Annotations

In addition, by default, the new widths of the path(s) are previewed, using a solid, user-specifiable color (red, by default). This preview is only approximate and may not agree exactly with the final paths. In particular, corner joins and end caps are not previewed.

While dragging with the Width Gradient tool, a number of keypresses may be used:

• Shift: Constrains the gradient angle to 45° angles around the general constrain angle.

• Option/Alt: Toggles between linear and radial mode.

• Space: Repositions the entire gradient.

• Up Arrow/Down Arrow: Adjusts the bottom width value on the panel (typically assigned to the start of the gradient). For each keypress, the value is changed by 1 pt (in absolute mode) or 10% (in relative mode).

• Left Arrow/Right Arrow: Adjusts the top width value on the panel (typically assigned to the end of the gradient). For each keypress, the value is changed by 1 pt (in absolute mode) or 10% (in relative mode).

• C: Switches the width preview color (if enabled) between red and blue.

• S: Switches the affected strokes (between all strokes, which is the default), and the focal stroke only. This is only makes a difference if the path has multiple strokes on it: 

Width Gradient All Strokes vs. Focal Stroke

• U: Temporarily disables Smart Guides, if they were enabled when the drag started.

• W: Swaps the adjustment widths. For linear gradients, this is the same as reversing its direction.

Although Width Gradient can be used on compound paths, because each subpath must share the same width profile, results may not be as expected. A warning dialog will be displayed in this situation:

Width Gradient Compound Path Warning

The menu item to show and hide the Width Gradient panel can be found in the main menu under Window > Astute Graphics > Width Gradient. When the Width Gradient tool is not in use, the panel displays only a “Click to select” message; clicking anywhere on the panel selects the tool and displays all the controls, which affect the next use of the tool.

Width Gradient Panel

1. Flyout menu

See Width Gradient Panel: Flyout Menu. 

2. Panel banner

The Width Gradient panel banner has a help button on the right which opens the help documentation in the Astute Manager. If this does not automatically appear, please ensure your Astute Manager is running first.

3. Linear/Radial Mode

Switches the tool between linear (straight line) and radial (circular) modes. This can be accomplished while dragging the tool by holding down the Option/Alt key.

4. Absolute/Relative Adjustment

Switches the tool’s adjustment type. When set to absolute, width markers are set to the widths calculated based solely on the adjustment values, graph, and position along the virtual gradient; the original width has no influence on the final width. When set to relative, the width at each marker is calculated as a percentage of the original width of the stroke at that position along the path.

Width Gradient Absolute vs. Relative

5. Optimization

When enabled, the number of width markers in the resulting paths will be reduced after the gradient has been applied. The degree of optimization can be set from 0 to 10, with a default of 5. Higher optimization values will remove more width markers, making the path profile smoother and easier to edit manually, but may result in slightly less accurate results compared to the unoptimized results. The number of width markers on a selected path is displayed at the bottom of the panel, if Display Marker Count is enabled in the panel flyout menu.

Width Gradient Optimization

6. Adjustment Value 1

Because it is at the top, this value can be thought of as the “maximum” value, although it can be set to any value. When the graph curve is set to the default (a straight line rising from lower left to upper right), it controls the width at the end of the gradient. It can be changed while dragging the tool by pressing the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys.

7. Switch button

Switches the two adjustment values; this can also be achieved while dragging the tool by pressing the W key.

8. Adjustment Value 2

Because it is at the bottom, this value can be thought of as the “minimum” value, although it can be set to any value. When the graph curve is set to the default (a straight line rising from lower left to upper right), it controls the width at the start of the gradient. It can be changed while dragging the tool by pressing the Up Arrow and Down Arrow keys. 

9. Graph

Specifies the relationship between the adjustment values and the gradient. The horizontal axis represents positions along the gradient (from beginning to end), while the vertical axis represents the adjustment amount, specified by the “maximum” and “minimum” value inputs. With the default diagonal line, the relationship is a linear one. Nodes on the curve may be moved simply by clicking and dragging them. A new node may be added by clicking at a spot along the curve which does not already have a node. Nodes (except the ones at the beginning and the end of the curve) may be deleted by dragging them off the graph area. 

Width Gradient Graph Examples

10. Graph Preset Menu

Provides access to saving, managing, and applying graph settings.

Width Gradient Graph Preset Menu

A. Save Graph…

When you save the current graph, its nodes and maximum and minimum values are captured to an internal file which can be recalled later. The file name may be specified.

B. Manage Graphs…

Brings up the Manage Graphs dialog, which lets you rename, delete, import, or export graph files: 

Width Gradient Manage Graphs Dialog

a. Rename: Allows the selected graph file to be renamed.

b. Delete: Removes the selected graph file(s). 

c. Import...: Imports a previously-exported graphs package file of type “.wgg” using the standard operating system open file dialog.

d. Export...: Exports the selected graph(s) into a graphs package file of type “.wgg” using the standard operating system save file dialog. This file could be used as a backup or passed to another user.

C. Graphs List

Choosing a graph file from this list will update the graph to the values saved within that file (or, the case of “[Default]”, to the default graph). If the Shift key is held down when choosing a graph file, then the current maximum and minimum adjustment values will be retained rather than being loaded from the graph file. When the plugin is first installed, five presets will be added; their names are indicative of the shapes of the curves (for example, curve named “V” goes down and back up).

11. Reapply Gradient button

Reapplies the gradient at its previous position but possibly with new optimization, adjustment width, and graph settings. This allows you to try different parameters without having to actually drag out the gradient in the exact same spot repeatedly. Note: The reapplied gradient will always keep its original mode, i.e. linear or radial. For Relative Adjustment gradients, the path’s width markers will be restored to their original values before the gradient is reapplied unless Option/Alt is held down when clicking the button; in that case the gradient will modify the already-adjusted widths. If the adjustment were set from 102% to 102%, say, this could be useful for incrementally increasing all the stroke weights of the selected paths until they “look right.”

12. Marker Count

Displays the number of width markers (if any) on the selected paths. To visualize these width markers, use the Width Selector tool (also part of the WidthScribe plugin).

After the Width Brush tool is selected, its size can be changed either in its preferences dialog (see Width Brush: Preferences) or by pressing the keys assigned to Decrease Diameter and Increase Diameter in the native Keyboard Shortcuts dialog (the left and right square bracket keys respectively, by default, for English language keyboards). Its hardness, ranging from 0% to 100%, can only be changed in the preferences dialog.

When at least one path with a variable width stroke (or stroke that can be converted to a variable width stroke) is selected, clicking on it with the brush or dragging the brush across it will widen or narrow the stroke(s). Annotations will dynamically update while the mouse button is down to show the current stroke width:

Width Brush Basic Example

The brush only makes one adjustment per drag; i.e. it does not flow continuously like a Photoshop airbrush. For example, if the adjustment were set to add the fixed amount of 3 pt of width to a stroke, then moving the cursor back and forth over a path will only add 3 pt at most, regardless of how many times the cursor passes over it. However, releasing the mouse button and making a new drag could add up to another 3 pt, and so on.

Width Brush Second Drag

Brush hardness affects the smoothness of the transition between the original stroke width and the adjusted stroke width, as only positions towards the center of the brush get maximum adjustment:

Width Brush Hardness Comparison

Before pressing the mouse button down to click or drag, there are two keypresses which can be used:

• Shift: All adjustments will be in the reverse direction. In other words, if the brush were set to add 1.7 mm to all stroke widths, then instead it would subtract 1.7 mm. If it were set to double stroke widths (e.g. make them 200% of their original width), then stroke widths would be instead halved (e.g. make them 50% of their original width).

• Option/Alt: Makes the tool act exactly like the Width Eraser tool, which visualizes the width markers on the path(s) and removes those that the tool is passed over (except those at the start and end of the path). Its diameter is taken from that last used in the actual Width Eraser tool, and cannot be changed.

While dragging with the tool, the X key can be pressed to toggle its annotations on and off. This allows you to see the original width of the stroke(s). Annotations are drawn in the same color as that used for the Width Gradient tool.

After the Width Eraser tool is selected, its size can be changed by pressing the keys assigned to Decrease Diameter and Increase Diameter in the native Keyboard Shortcuts dialog (the left and right square bracket keys respectively, by default, for English language keyboards). While dragging with the tool, its diameter can also be changed by pressing the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys. Smaller sizes are generally more useful, as individual width markers can be targeted without inadvertently removing adjacent markers.

When at least one path is selected, all width markers on the focal strokes of those paths will be annotated using small red or pink “bow-tie” shapes lying perpendicular to the path. Pink markers cannot be removed, because they lie at the start or end of the path, and Illustrator requires those markers to be present. 

Width Eraser Marker Annotations

To remove one or more width markers, simply drag the tool over them; their annotations will disappear as the center of each marker falls within the brush’s circle. After the mouse button is released, the path’s focal stroke will be updated with a new profile using the markers which remain.

Width Eraser Example

The Width Eraser tool has no preferences dialog. 

Object > Path submenu additions

Illustrator does provide the ability to swap the fill and stroke of an object (through buttons on the toolbar or Color panel, or by using the default keyboard shortcut Shift-X), but these methods are, frustratingly, unavailable when multiple objects with different fills and strokes are selected. Phantasm solves this problem by adding two submenu items to the Object > Path menu:

Phantasm Swap Fill and Stroke Path Menu Additions

1. Swap Fill and Stroke

Swaps the focal fill and stroke colors of all selected objects, even if the objects consist of a mix of different fill and stroke colors:

Phantasm Swap Fill and Stroke Example

2. Swap Fill and Stroke with Effects

Same as Swap Fill and Stroke, but also swaps any live effects that are attached to the focal fill and/or stroke:

Phantasm Swap Fill and Stroke with Effects Example

The Optimize Width Markers... menu item appears in Illustrator’s main Object > Path submenu:

Optimize Width Markers Menu Item

The menu item will only be available (ungrayed) if the selection contains one or more paths. Choosing the menu command brings up the Optimize Width Markers dialog:

Optimize Width Markers Dialog

1. Optimization Amount

Controls how many width markers will be removed from the focal strokes of the selected path(s). It can range from 0.1 to 10, with higher values removing more width markers but also resulting in potentially greater changes to the path’s width profile. 

Optimize Width Markers Example

Note that markers are only removed, not replaced by new markers at different positions along the path.

2. Ignore paths with fewer than __ markers

When enabled, paths with fewer than the specified number of width markers are ignored when doing optimization. This will speed up the operation when dealing with large numbers of paths, some of which may already be optimized.

3. Original/Current Marker Count

When the Preview checkbox is enabled, shows the total number of width markers on the original path(s) versus the number that resulted using the current optimization settings.

4. Preview Checkbox

When enabled, the selected paths are updated on the screen to show how they would appear if their markers were optimized using the current settings. The control can be toggled on and off to gauge how much the optimization has changed their width profiles.

If you use the Optimize Width Markers menu command frequently, you may want to assign it a keyboard shortcut using Illustrator’s general Keyboard Shortcuts dialog. 

The Vary Width Markers... menu item appears in Illustrator’s main Object > Path submenu:

Very Width Markers Menu Item

The menu item will only be available (ungrayed) if the selection contains one or more paths; however these do not need to already be of variable width. Choosing the menu command brings up the Vary Width Markers dialog:

Very Width Markers Dialog

The varied markers are created randomly; each time a parameter is changed, a different random seed will be used to create the marker variations. 

1. Min Variation

Specifies the minimum width, as a percentage of the original width, that a new width marker can randomly be assigned. It can range from 0% (new markers can be all the way down to zero width) to 100% (new markers will never get smaller).

2. Max Variation

Specifies the maximum width, as a percentage of the original width, that a new width marker can randomly be assigned. It can range from 100% (new markers will never get bigger) to 1000%. 

Very Width Markers Min. and Max. Examples

3. Spacing

Specifies the space between the new varied width markers along the path, from 1 pt to 144 pt. Caution should be used when applying small values to long paths, as Illustrator may have trouble with paths that contain very high numbers of markers.

Very Width Markers Spacing Examples

4. Existing Marker Handling

Specifies the mode used to handle existing width markers when using Vary Width Markers on a stroke that is already variable width:

• In Replace mode, the original stroke width profile is used to set the initial widths of the new markers, which are then randomly varied. The original markers are not kept.

• In Merge mode, the new markers are initially set to the average width of the existing stroke (i.e., as if it were uniform width), and then randomly varied. This mode is generally only useful when adding a variation with large spacing over an existing variation with fairly small spacing.

• In Leave Unchanged mode, new markers are added (unless they are too close to an existing width marker) with their initial width set to the current stroke profile’s width at each spot; only the new markers are then randomly varied. 

Very Width Markers Existing Marker Handling

5. Vary From Side to Side

When enabled, the width added or subtracted randomly from the new width markers may be unequally distributed on the left and right, creating non-centered markers: 

Very Width Markers Vary from Side to Side

6. Preview Checkbox

When enabled, the selected paths are updated on the screen to show how they would appear if they received varied markers using the current settings. The control can be toggled on and off to force a new random seed to change the variation without changing any parameters.

Stroke Attributes is an Astute Graphics live effect that allows changing a path’s stroke parameters (weight, end caps, and corner joins). It also allows forcing a stroke onto a fill-only path, and (optionally) removing that fill.

As with most live effects, Stroke Attributes appears in the main menu, under Effect > AG Utilities. It can also be applied directly from the Appearance panel using the “Add New Effect” button at the bottom of the panel.

Stroke Attributes Parameters Dialog

After applying the live effect using the menu item (or when clicking on the existing effect in the Appearance panel to edit it), the parameters dialog will appear:

Stroke Attributes Parameters Dialog

1. Alter Weight

When enabled, the stroke weight of the path(s) will be changed.

2. Base Value Mode

Specifies what to use for the base value of the stroke weight, which may be subsequently modified by the limit values or through randomization:

• Set Absolute: The default; the stroke weight will be set to the specified value.

• Set Relative to Path Length: The stroke weight will be set to the length of the path times the specified factor. The default factor is 1%, meaning a path with a length of 120 pt would be given a stroke weight of 1.2 pt.

• Set Relative to Original: The stroke weight will be set to the original stroke weight times the specified factor. The default factor is 200%, which doubles the existing stroke weight.

• Use Original: Does not change the base weight.

3. Weight Value

For Set Absolute mode, specifies the base weight of the stroke. For Set Relative to Path Length mode, specifies the factor (as a percentage) by which the path’s length is multiplied to get the base weight. For Set Relative to Original mode, specifies the factor (as a percentage) by which the original stroke weight is multiplied to get the base weight.

AG Utilities Live Effects - Stroke Attributes Example

4. Limit, Minimum Value

Any base weights smaller than this will be changed to this value.

5. Limit, Maximum Value

Any base weights larger than this will be changed to this value.

6. Alter End Caps

When enabled, the end cap type of the stroke is changed to the specified type.

7. End Cap Type

As per the native stroke panel, the type of end cap to use: Butt, Round, or Projecting.

8. Alter Corner Joins

When enabled, the corner join type of the stroke is changed to the specified type.

9. Corner Join Type

As per the native stroke panel, the type of corner join to use: Miter, Round, or Bevel.

10. Miter Limit

For Miter type joins, per the native stroke panel, the miter limit to use.

11. Randomize

Allows randomization of the final stroke weight. This option is only available when Alter Weight is enabled.

12. Distribution Curves

Specifies either a linear distribution in random values (all values in the range are equally likely to be chosen) or a Gaussian distribution (central values in the range are more likely to be chosen).

13. Seed

Each random seed number leads to a different sequence of random values. Clicking the button picks a new seed, thereby changing the look of the artwork. To view or specify the seed number directly, Option/Alt-click the button. This lets you recreate a previously-generated look.

14. Weight Variation

Specifies the maximum amount of variation in the final stroke weight. For example, if the weight is set to 20 pt, then a variation value of 25% would produce weights that vary by as much as 20pt × 25% = 5 pt, that is, between 15 pt and 20 pt; a variation value of 90% would produce weights between 2 pt and 20 pt.

AG Utilities Live Effects - Stroke Attributes Randomization Examples

15. Force Stroke On Fill-Only Paths

When enabled, a stroke will be added to any paths which are fill-only, if at least one attribute (weight, caps, or joins) is specified. For non-specified attributes, default values will be used. The color of the stroke will be the same as the fill color.

16. And Remove Fill

When enabled, the fill of the path will be removed when the new stroke is added.

17. Preview

As with all live effects, when enabled, changing a parameter will immediately update the artwork while the dialog is still open.

18. Help Button

Opens the help documentation in the Astute Manager. If this does not automatically appear, please ensure your Astute Manager is running first.