To remove an envelope distortion from an object in Adobe Illustrator, you typically "release" the envelope, which undoes the distortion.
How to Release an Envelope in Adobe Illustrator
Releasing an envelope distortion in Illustrator essentially reverts the object back to its original, undistorted state while keeping the envelope mesh itself separate (though often deleted or hidden).
The Process: Releasing the Envelope
Follow these steps to remove an envelope distortion by releasing it:
- Select the Envelope object either on the Artboard or in the Layers panel. This is the object that currently has the envelope distortion applied to it.
- Go to the main menu bar at the top of the screen.
- Navigate through the menu options:
- Click on Object.
- Hover over Envelope Distort.
- Select Release.
As stated in the reference: Execute the Object Envelope Distort Release command. Ai will: Undo the Envelope Distortion.
After executing the command, Adobe Illustrator will undo the envelope distortion, returning your artwork to its original appearance before the envelope was applied. The envelope mesh itself will remain as a separate object, often without any fill or stroke, and can be deleted if no longer needed.
Understanding Envelope Distortion
Envelope Distortion is a powerful tool in Illustrator that allows you to warp and distort vector objects, text, or raster images using a mesh or another shape (like a path or a shape primitive) as the "envelope." This is useful for creating complex curves, perspectives, or fitting artwork into specific shapes.
When to Use "Release"
You would use the "Release" command when you want to:
- Undo the distortion and return the object to its original form.
- Edit the original object or text without the distortion applied.
- Remove an unwanted or incorrectly applied envelope effect.
- Access the original artwork independently of the mesh that was used to distort it.
Releasing is different from "Expanding" an envelope. Expanding makes the distortion permanent, altering the original object's paths to match the distorted shape, whereas releasing removes the distortion effect while preserving the original object.
