Creating curved corners!

**j-a-m-i-n** · 15 February 2006, 07:53 AM

Hi to all Members,

I have recently started using Xara Xtreme and have got the hang of the basics however i cannot seem to create rounded edges.

(i can use the round edges feature no problem but i don't want all corners rounded)

For example - something like these;

http://www.talkgraphics.com/attachme...1&d=1139993383

http://www.talkgraphics.com/attachme...1&d=1139993383

I'm sure there's more than one way of going about it but can't seem to work out how to implement these using the software.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Ben

**molucca** · 15 February 2006, 08:08 AM

You can convert a rectangle to editable shapes and use the shape edit tool to adjust the nodes. A curved corner has two nodes, and if you delete one node, the corner will be square.

You can add shapes together, also. So, it is possible to add a rounded corner rectangle and a square corner rectangle.

You could draw a straight line and use it to slice the object.

Rich

**stlewis** · 15 February 2006, 08:08 AM

Ben

One way...

**j-a-m-i-n** · 15 February 2006, 08:28 AM

Hi,

Thanks for your rapid replies to my question.

It is very much appreciated.

I had tried the slice option but only got as far as drawing the line, and didn't know where to go from there.

Anyhow, both example methods will be tried!

One more quick question to anyoone able to answer, is there a key you can "hold" or "press", to get a totally vertical line, horizontal and diagonal (some kind of "radial lock" function)

Thanks again,
Ben

**molucca** · 15 February 2006, 08:40 AM

Ctrl key.

There is an angle constraint setting under Utilities Options.

Rich

**j-a-m-i-n** · 15 February 2006, 09:02 AM

Nice one molucca!

Thanks for your help,
Ben

**stratocast** · 15 February 2006, 09:29 AM

Here's some other ways of doing it.

http://www.talkgraphics.com/showpost...5&postcount=13
http://www.talkgraphics.com/showpost...4&postcount=18

**jclements** · 15 February 2006, 01:29 PM

Note: There is a Help Movie on how to make gel buttons that covers making rounded corners from a rectangle.

Take 3 minutes to watch it and you should know everything you need to know on rounding corners and adjusting them.
Also movies on Aligning and Slicing and Adding shapes.

**gwpriester** · 15 February 2006, 02:26 PM

One thing for all new users to keep in mind when creating a rectangle with curved corners.

If you draw a rectangle and then modifiy the size a lot from the original proportions (see illustrations below left) the corners will not be perfectly round. The amount of distortion depends on the amount the rectangle is modified.

My work-around for this is to create the rectangle and resize it as necessary. Then create a new rectangle using the modified one for a template. Now when you round the corners, the corners will be perfect.

My method for creating a tab shape (below right) is to create the rectangle, round the corners and convert the rectangle to editable shapes.

Select the rectangle, switch to the Shape Editor Tool, select the bottom two control points and delete them. Select the new bottom control points and move them up or down as desired.

Gary

**Egg Bramhill** · 15 February 2006, 02:43 PM

And like all things Xara you don't have to use rectangles to create your shape, you can draw it with the shape editor tool, ensure you have a suitable grid size and snap to grid is on.

Just draw the complete shape, all with straight lines, then drag-select over each corner with the shape editor tool and hit the 'Make Curve' icon.

Egg