Find Path Art

The following attributes can be specified in a search when the art kind is set to Path:

1. Type

Whether the path is open or closed. When applied to a compound path, all the subpaths must match for the compound path to match.

FindReplace Art Path Type Controls

2. Compound

Whether the path is a compound in its entirety, is the subpath of a compound path, or is neither.

FindReplace Art Path Compound Controls

3. Clipping

Whether the path is a clipping path or not.

FindReplace Art Path Clipping Controls

4. Point Count

The number of anchor points in the path. When applied to a compound path, all the subpaths must match for the compound path to match. Paths can have a maximum of 32000 points.

FindReplace Art Path Point Count Controls

5. Bezier Handles

Whether or not the path contains bezier segments with handles, which, generally, implies a path that has curves.

FindReplace Art Path Bezier Handles Controls

6. Length

The length of the path, as measured “along the curve”. When applied to a compound path, all the subpaths must match for the compound path to match.

FindReplace Art Path Length Controls

7. Shape

Allows matching one of six different primitive shapes. Unlike the Geometry attribute, Shape can match multiple aspect ratios (for rectangles and ellipses) and allows for one or more rounded corners.

FindReplace Art Path Shape Controls

A. Shape Type: From among Square, Circle, Rectangle, Ellipse, Polygon, and Star.

B. Rounded Corners: Available unless the Type is set to Circle or Ellipse. Specifies whether the matching paths must have one or more rounded corners or not.

C. Tolerance: Specifies how close the matching paths must be to the “ideal” shape. Higher values mean shapes which have anchor points and handles in positions which are further and further from “ideal” will still be matched.

D. Sides/Points: Available for Polygon and Star; specifies the number of sides (for polygons) or points (for stars) must have, from 3 to 100.

8. Geometry

The actual shape of the path.

FindReplace Art Path Geometry Controls

A. Preview Chip: Shows a preview of the geometry that must be matched. This must be picked up from an existing path using the eyedropper next to it. Note that anchor point placement is not shown. Clicking on the chip switches its background between white and the panel background color.

B. Allow Scaling: Specifies whether paths which have the same shape, but are larger or smaller than the path which was picked up, should also be considered matches.

C. Allow Rotation: Specifies whether paths which have the same shape, but are rotated with respect to the path which was picked up, should also be considered matches.

D. Allow Reversal: Specifies whether paths which have the same shape, but go in the opposite direction from the path which was picked up, should also be considered matches.

E. Tolerance: The distance which anchor point and handle on the path can differ from their “ideal” placement and still be considered the same. The default value is 0.1 pt.

9. Stroke

The stroke(s) on the path. Possible options include:

A. Any: Matches paths which have one or more strokes of any kind (flat color, gradient, or pattern).

B. None: Matches paths which have no stroke.

C. Color: Matches paths which have one or more strokes containing a flat color.

D. Gradient: Matches paths which have one or more strokes containing a gradient.

E. Pattern: Matches paths which have one or more strokes containing a pattern.

F. Multiple: Matches paths which have more than one stroke, as indicated in the appearance panel.

FindReplace Art Path Stroke Controls

Unless the stroke attribute is set to None or Multiple, additional stroke sub-attributes may be added using the popup menu which will appear below the main attribute. If the path contains multiple strokes, it will match if any of the strokes match all the stroke sub-attributes. Possible options include:

A. Color: The color assigned to the stroke, which can be matched using the following specifiers: is, is not, is close to, is not close to, Any process, and Any spot. The color itself can be picked up from existing art using the eyedropper or by clicking on the color chip to bring up the native Color Picker. When using is close to or is not close to, the degree of similarity is specified using the Close Color Tolerance value specified in the panel preferences. When specifying a spot color, the tint of the spot color may be included in the search. When the stroke attribute is set to Color, Shift-clicking its eyedropper automatically adds the Color sub-attribute and sets the color value.

Stroke Color Controls

B. Gradient: The gradient assigned to the stroke, which can be matched using the following specifiers: is, is not, Any linear, and Any radial. The gradient itself can be picked up from existing art using the eyedropper or by clicking on the gradient chip to bring up the Gradient Picker dialog (see FindReplace Art: Gradient and Pattern Pickers).

Stroke Gradient Controls

C. Gradient Mode: The mode of the stroke gradient, either Within stroke, Along stroke, or Across stroke (as specified in the native Gradient panel) assigned to the stroke, which can be matched using either is, or is not.

Stroke Gradient Mode Controls

D. Pattern: The pattern assigned to the stroke, which can be matched using either is, or is not. The pattern itself can be picked up from existing art using the eyedropper or by clicking on the pattern chip to bring up the Pattern Picker dialog.

Stroke Pattern Controls

E. Weight: The weight of the stroke.

Stroke Weight Controls

F. Cap: The end cap of the stroke, as specified in the native Stroke panel (Butt, Round, or Projecting), which can be matched using either is, or is not.

Stroke Cap Controls

G. Corner Join: The corner join of the stroke, as specified in the native Stroke panel (Miter, Round, or Bevel), which can be matched using either is, or is not.

Stroke Corner Join Controls

H. Alignment: The alignment of the stroke, as specified in the native Stroke panel (Center, Inside, or Outside), which can be matched using either is, or is not.

Stroke Alignment Controls

I. Dashed: Whether or not the stroke is dashed, as specified in the native Stroke panel.

Stroke Dashed Controls

J. Arrowheads: The arrowhead status of the stroke, as specified in the native Stroke panel, from among Any, None, One end only, or Both ends.

Stroke Arrowheads Controls

K. Variable Width: Whether the stroke has a variable width profile assigned to it.

Stroke Variable Width Controls

L. Brush: The type (if any) of brush that is applied to the stroke, from among Any, None, Calligraphic, Scatter, Art, Bristle, or Pattern. Specific brush names are not specifiable.

Stroke Brush Controls

M. Opacity: The range of the opacity applied to the stroke, as displayed in the native Appearance panel. Note that this is separate and independent from the opacity applied to the entire path.

Stroke Opacity Controls

N. Blend Mode: The blend mode of the stroke, from among the sixteen modes available. Matching options include is and is not. Note that this is separate and independent from the blend mode applied to the entire path.

Stroke Blend Mode Controls

10. Fill

The fill(s) of the path. Possible options include:

A. Any: Matches paths which have one or more fills of any kind (flat color, gradient, or pattern).

B. None: Matches paths which have no fill.

C. Color: Matches paths which have one or more strokes containing a flat color.

D. Gradient: Matches paths which have one or more fills containing a gradient.

E. Pattern: Matches paths which have one or more fills containing a pattern.

F. Multiple: Matches paths which have more than one fill, as indicated in the appearance panel.

FindReplace Art Path Fill Controls

Unless the fill attribute is set to None or Multiple, additional fill sub-attributes may be added using the popup menu which will appear below the main attribute. If the path contains multiple fills, it will match if any of the fills match all the fill sub-attributes. Possible options include:

A. Color: The color assigned to the fill, which can be matched using the following specifiers: is, is not, is close to, is not close to, Any process, and Any spot. The color itself can be picked up from existing art using the eyedropper or by clicking on the color chip to bring up the native Color Picker. When using is close to or is not close to, the degree of similarity is specified using the Close Color Tolerance value specified in the panel preferences. When specifying a spot color, the tint of the spot color may be included in the search. When the fill attribute is set to Color, Shift-clicking its eyedropper automatically adds the Color sub-attribute and sets the color value.

Fill Color Controls

B. Gradient: The gradient assigned to the fill, which can be matched using the following specifiers: is,
is not, Any linear, and Any radial. The gradient itself can be picked up from existing art using the eyedropper or by clicking on the gradient chip to bring up the Gradient Picker dialog.

Fill Gradient Controls

C. Pattern: The pattern assigned to the fill, which can be matched using either is, or is not. The pattern itself can be picked up from existing art using the eyedropper or by clicking on the pattern chip to bring up the Pattern Picker dialog.

Fill Pattern Controls

D. Opacity: The range of the opacity applied to the fill, as displayed in the native Appearance panel. Note that this is separate and independent from the opacity applied to the entire path.

Fill Opacity Controls

E. Blend Mode: The blend mode of the fill, from among the sixteen modes available. Matching options include is and is not. Note that this is separate and independent from the blend mode applied to the entire path.

Fill Blend Mode Controls