Why does the spacing become uneven in these shapes after rotation?

Question

Please see the image. The 1st group on top has 3 objects with equal spacing between them. But not aligned vertically.

When I rotated each of them (anchor is in center of each object), the highlighted spacing becomes uneven. Which seemed a little surprising to me, as I've never tried such thing.

This doesn't happen when the objects are aligned vertically.

Is there any explanation for this? And how can I equalize the space without hit and trial?

EDIT: Maybe users are not understanding what output I need. I don't want to rotate the overall appearance of the collection of those 3 objects. I want to rotate them at their own place, with space between them same. See the 2nd part of image. The rotation is okay but the only thing is wrong is the ueven spacing between them. i.e., I want the 1st and 3rd solids to be vertically aligned at top.

Answer 1

You must be using the Transform Each function or rotating each piece one at a time.

Singular rotations on independent objects are based upon that object's center. Because the center of the objects are in different locations, the spacing will change if you rotate things one at a time (or use Transform Each).

There's no need to group anything. However, you should select all 3 shapes and rotate them all at the same time, the spacing will remain consistent because the center of rotation will be combined, and common among all three objects.

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Okay, sorry. some misunderstanding on my part. The above is still true though.

For this particular set up you are probably better off using strokes and a more "subtractive" workflow rather than expanded shapes. Using strokes helps prevent distortion of shapes and makes editing a bit easier.

To create a common rotation so that spacing is consistent AND keep tops aligned.....

Here's how I'd handle it....

• 3 thick strokes with rounded caps. All the same size, length, and aligned/distributed evenly.
• Rotate them all 20°
• Realign to tops and distribute horizontal spacing (spacing should be fine, but it doesn't hurt to click that button)
• Use the Eraser Tool to break the strokes in various places
• Delete unwanted excess

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Another option with strokes is to use Shear rather than rotate.

Shear will not work on expanded shapes. Shear will distort shapes, but not strokes. Shear will keep the top positions in place but it may change the length of the strokes based upon the shear amount.

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_{(AICS6 animations, but it's the same methodology in newer versions.)}

Answer 2

You are looking at a basic geometry and real-world example of the difference between aligning / distributing centroids versus aligning / distributing edges in a non-linear group - it's not the software - this is just how reality in a Euclidean geometric reference frame works.

Were your lozenges centre-aligned horizontally as well as distributed between centroids, giving each an equal individual rotation would result in equal horizontal spacing; however, as they are aligned centre-top-centre, this cannot occur - see quick diagram.

The quick takeaway is that the object centroids are still equally spaced: due to the vertical alignment shift, this cannot still be true of the shape's borders; if they were circles, all relative distances would be maintained, as in a circle the horizontal distance from centroid to edge is always the same no matter the rotation applied.

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Edit post question being edited and changed in specific requirements:

Illustrator's Transform Each will work exactly as needed for your chosen use case, retaining top alignment without issue:

And adjunct to seeing @Scott's comment to my answer, I have added two more clarifying diagrams - Transform Each works as expected, as Scott had initially answered.

First, Transform Each being applied with Preview on:

And subsequent dimensioning of the resultant with appropriate annotation - my earlier answer, combined with Scott's absolutely correct recommendation of Transform Each gets a reliable, logical result - yay!

Hope this helps.