Here's the difference between "Expand" and "Expand Appearance" :
Expand :
- What it does: This command essentially "bakes" or finalizes certain live effects and object properties, converting them into regular paths.
- When to use it:
- Live Effects: If you've applied effects like Warp or Envelope Distort, "Expand" will turn those effects into actual paths, making them no longer editable as effects.
- Gradients: When you expand a gradient, it converts it into a series of individual shapes, each with a solid color, creating a more complex object.
- Live Paint: Expanding a Live Paint group freezes the live paint, turning each painted area into separate paths.
- Result: You lose the ability to edit the original live effect or property, but you gain more control over the individual paths that make up the expanded object.
Expand Appearance :
- What it does: This command specifically targets the Appearance Panel. It expands any fills, strokes, or effects that you've added through the Appearance Panel into individual objects.
- When to use it:
- Multiple Fills and Strokes: If you've used the Appearance Panel to add multiple fills or strokes to an object, "Expand Appearance" will create separate objects for each fill and stroke.
- Effects Applied via Appearance Panel: If you've applied effects through the Appearance Panel, this command will convert those effects into paths or raster objects, depending on the effect.
- Result: You break down the object's appearance into its component parts, giving you more control over individual elements.
