Curve Objects

You can use a curve object to create paths and complex arched shapes. Select the curve command (Object>Spline), and then click on the page to place a point. The two subsequent mouse click set control points that you can use to transform the curve. A fourth click is the end point (at start of the next section of curve if you choose to continue).Then you can use the Vertex Editor to change the position of any point after it has been created.

Using the Open End option on either the Vertex Editor or Geometry Editor dialog box, you can automatically close the curve object or leave it open-ended. If you select to close the polygon, the last point will be automatically connected to the first point.

You can change the color and the thickness of curves using controls on the Outline Tab of the Geometry Editor. Use the Shading Editor to fill the curve with a flat or gradient fill color or a scaled, stretched, or tiled image.

You can create intricate spline drawings by applying extrude operations to curve objects. The types and patterns of designs you can create are limited only by your imagination.

Drawing an Intricate Design (Spline)

Drawing intricate designs using the following procedure can be very demanding of your system resources which may slow down your system. Start with a small number of copies first to see how it works.. Save your project file before beginning the drawing operation.

1. With the page to which you want to add an intricate design open in the Work Window, draw a polygon or curve. For more information, see New Objects and New Objects.
2. When you are finished, double-click the object to close it.
3. Click the Edit Vertices button: on the Components Bar.

   The Vertex Editor dialog box will open.

   Open the Vertex Editor to perform extrude operations.

4. Click the Move button.
5. Use the Copies slider to select a number of copies of the vector drawing you want to have in your intricate design

   OR

   Enter a value in the box.

   The vector drawing will be copied the number of times you specified.

   Click the Move button and make copies of your drawing.

6. Click the Scale button.
7. Use the Scale slider to resize the drawing and its copies

   OR

   Enter a value in the box.

8. Use the Copies slider to select a number of copies in the scale

   OR

   Enter a value in the box.

   Click the Scale button to resize the drawing.

9. Click the Rotate button.
10. Use the Angle slider to select an angle of rotation for the drawing and its copies.

    Click the Rotate button and change the angle of the drawing and its copies.

11. When the intricate design looks the way you want it, click the Save button,
12. Click the Close button. The Vertex Editor dialog box will close, and your intricate design will appear on the page.
13. Click the Page Layout button: or the Object Edit button: in the Components Bar to return to normal editing mode.

    You may apply shading components using the Shading Editor, or add color or line thickness to the curve object using the Geometry Editor. For more information, see Shading Component and Borders and Outlines.

The more complex the intricate design, the more demanding on your computer's resources. Be especially cautious when using the Copies slider to replicate curves.