Creating blends on paths

Once you create a blend, you can then apply the blend to a path. Applying a blend to a path is an easy way to wrap a blend around an object or create special effects in your artwork.

The blend follows the contours of the path in the orientation specified in the Blend Options dialog box. If Align to Path is selected, the alignment of the blend follows the contours of the path. If Align to Page (the default setting) is selected, the blend is aligned with the x axis of the page.

To apply a blend to a path:

1. Select a blend and hold down Shift to select a path.
2. Choose Object > Blend > Replace Spine.

To reverse the order of a blend on a path:

1. Select the blend.
2. Choose Object > Blend > Reverse Spine. The objects are ordered in reverse on the path.

To reverse the stacking order of a blend on a path:

1. Select the blend.
2. Choose Object > Blend > Reverse Front to Back. The objects are reversed in the stacking order on the path, so that those objects on the frontmost stacking order are moved to the back of the stacking order, and vice-versa. (See Stacking objects.)

Original (top) and with Reverse Front to Back command applied (bottom)