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'Envelope distort: Changing warp option keeps previous selection' has been merged into this idea

Transform tools (Scale, Envelope Distort) apply & perform the last transform when using dialog with no option to undo

Having a persistent problem, only solved by restarting Illustrator once it happens. No ideas on what triggers the problem.

When I open the Scale tool dialog on a selected object, the previous scale values are immediately applied and executed. Canceling the dialog does not undo the transform.

Changing the scale values in the dialog operates on the object, but at the new size.

In other words, opening the Scale dialog immediately scales the object with the last used setting, and then applies the new scale values to the already transformed object.

This has also happened with the Envelope Distort tool.

Mac OS 14.8, Mac Studio M1 Ultra, latest Illustrator.

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Vernon Klukas shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
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  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I wish I could so I don't look crazy but I rebooted last night and it seems to be fine now.

    That was a strange one for sure, but I'll keep rebooting in mind if it happens again.

    Thanks!

  • AdminEgor Chistyakov (Admin, Adobe Illustrator) commented  ·   ·  Report

    Oh... When I try this, having a compound path made of squares in a checkered pattern, the first option when I call for 'Object > Envelope Distort > Make with Warp...' is Arc, the first item in the dropdown list. When I change presets, they replace each other, not getting applied over existing one!
    Super weird.
    Can you reproduce it again?

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I just updated to 30.5.1 yesterday and went to make a checkerboard flag. I made the checkerboard as a compound path and chose Envelope Distort from the Object menu. The initial selection was Bulge, which distorted my flat flag into a bulging flag. I then selected flag and it added the flag mesh on top of the bulge mesh..

    I tried selecteing other warp options and each one I picked, was added to the flag. Mind you, I have NOT selected OK. I'm just flipping through the warp options.

    I then selected cancel, but all the envelope distortions were applied. I then had to undo for each of the options that I flipped through in the Envelope Distort window.

  • Typeface app commented  ·   ·  Report

    It appears that Illustrator applies transformations when any property of another document (not the current active document) is accessed using scripting. Steps to reproduce:
    1. Open 2 documents
    2. Select an object and choose Object > Transform > Move
    3. Enter a value to change the position (do not apply or cancel, keep panel open to preview)
    4. Run a script that accesses a property of the other open document
    Example ExtendScript:
    documents[1].name;
    Example AppleScript:
    set x to name of second document

    This will apply the previewed transformation of the active document.

    I suppose this is unintended behaviour, as a read operation is unexpected to change the state of a document. If possible, could the Illustrator team reach out for more information? Thanks!

  • Typeface app commented  ·   ·  Report

    Typeface periodically checks for missing fonts in your document. This is a 'read-only' operation, so it should not affect the state of your documents or object transformations. If closing Typeface resolves the issue then it sounds like Illustrator does apply transformations for some reason. Could you contact Typeface support so I can investigate further? Please choose Help › Support & Feedback from the main menu to send a message and I'll take a look.

  • troyjack commented  ·   ·  Report

    Typeface 4.3.1, which is otherwise a great app.
    Seems odd that it would affect object transformations.

  • troyjack commented  ·   ·  Report

    That's correct, Egor. However, preview is necessary otherwise I'm "blindly" editing.
    In my case, I think I've narrowed it down to a conflict with my type manager. Illustrator works as expected when I close the manager app.

  • troyjack commented  ·   ·  Report

    I see this is from 2019, but it just started occurring after I updated to 30.5.1.

    Deleting my prefs fixed it temporarily, but it returned as soon as I restarted my mac (Tahoe 26.5.1).

    It shows multiple "UNDO" in my history panel everytime I adjust a slider, and the changes still apply even if I hit cancel.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    Even MORE issues with latest version of Illustrator which are rendering it almost unusable for me. When using one of the transformation dialog boxes (Move, Rotate, Scale etc) if the preview option is selected, as you change the numerical values to see what the effect might be, it commits each of those changes. Even if you CANCEL out of the dialog box it will have made the transformations to your object and you have to make multiple undos to get back to your starting point.

    Found the same issue with the Free Transform Tool, it commits changes in little stages before even you've released the modifier keys on the keyboard and again, you have to make multiple undos to get back to where you were.

    This makes any simple task now take 5 times as long to achieve and is making me avoid Illustrator in favour of similar tools in InDesign etc

    Please revert the functionality of these basic tools back to a working version.

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