Scaling a Gaussian Blur Effect in Illustrator CS

[Tr3art]

Hey guys,

Anyone know if there is someway to live scale a Gaussian Blur Effect in Illustrator CS. 'Scale Stroke & Effects' doesn't seem to affect the Blur?

TIA

Tr3

[Dave]

Says here you have to set the "document raster effects setting" (for print to 300 dpi). All of which means nothing to me .... :)

[Tr3art]

That doesn't affect the size of the blur as you scale your object Dave, that just affects the blur dependent on the resolution you choose. (An 8 pixel blur is a lot smaller at 300dpi than at 72 dpi). Thanks anyway :)

[Happy]

I don't know much about Illustrator but will either of these links help answer the question:

Spot colors and transparency in Illustrator (http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=331847)

Enhance an object’s appearance with Live Effects (http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/tutorials/illcs2at_livefx/)

[Dave]

Told you I didn't understand. I got the impression that as a gaussian blur is a photoshop effect you can't scale it, you have to set it .... :)

Wait for Scott .... (or Trish) ....

[Scott]

It depends.. if it's a applied from the "Filter" menu, then no. Start over.

If it is indeed applied by the "Effect" menu then bring up your Appearance Palette/Panel (Window > Appearance) You'll see a listing for the effect. Simply double click that listing to bring up the blur dialog and adjust. For Live Effects you can also set your preferences to scale the effect with an object. Open preferences (Illustrator > PReferences > General) and tick the box for "Scale Strokes & Effects."

[Tr3art]

Cheers Scott, (from Effect) I knew about setting it manually but we were wanting it to scale with the object so we could resize the logo involved by eye and have the Blur stay in proportion. 'Scale Strokes and Effects' seems to work with the Drop Shadow effect but doesn't seem to with the Gaussian blur. IS it just because it's ultimately a raster effect, even when 'live'.

[Scott]

hmm... nope it should scale all live effects. I don't have CS installed anywhere to test.. it could very well be a slight bug

[Tr3art]

Just checked, it does the same in CS2, The 'Illustrator effects' in the Effects menu scale ok but the 'Photoshop Effects' stay put at whatever size I set them. (We have CS2 but Wrigley dictate that we work in CS to ensure global consistency...CS3? In our dreams!)

[Scott]

YEah It doesn't scale in CS3 either... hmm... maybe that's as designed. I'll have to check.

[Scott]

Okay.. here's the skinny...

Since Illustrator is actually calling Photoshop filters, Illustrator can not ask these filters to do anything that Photoshop can't do. Since Photoshop can't scale it's filters in a "live" manner, Illustrator can't scale them either.