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I want to clone and resize a bunch of the same shape.

I want them to all be X smaller/bigger than the previous shape, where X = absolute value (not a relative percentage).

Currently, I can only find ways to make things resized using a percentage (each copy will be 20% smaller or whatever). I can't find a way to make each shape *40*pt smaller (if it was a square at 200x200, next one should be 160x160, 120x120).

I feel like there is a setting in Illustrator, I just can't seem to find it.


  • I don't mind doing it once and then pressing Ctrl+D to repeat a bunch of times.
  • I'm hoping to be able to change the width and height with separate values (for non equilateral shapes).

2 Answers 2

1

Constraining Width and Height proportions, at the end of the width size add + quantity to increase.

enter image description here

To duplicate, at the end of the width size add + quantity to increase and press Alt + Enter

enter image description here

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  • Thanks, I was aware of this beforehand. I can't seem to copy the shape when I apply it though.
    – Welz
    Dec 20, 2018 at 21:31
  • Answer updated.
    – user120647
    Dec 20, 2018 at 21:40
  • Hmm, I didn't know about that. However, I still can't enter it in once and then just repeat it a bunch of times. Also, I can't change the values for width and height and adjust together.
    – Welz
    Dec 20, 2018 at 21:45
  • Try the blend tool
    – Mark Read
    May 20, 2019 at 4:50
1

Best I could come up with was to use the Tranform Panel and an action which duplicates my shapes
(Ctrl+C, Ctrl+F) with the function key F2.

Select the shape and press F2

I open the transform panel, and with Constrain Proportions on, I enter -40 and hit Enter, then press F2 again and repeat.

Mouse is in the same spot, so it isn't that hard to click and type -40 and then hit enter.

GIF showing process


Problems with this:

  1. It's still very much manual.
  2. You can only do this to shapes which are of equal width x height.

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