Certificate Borders

[jclements]

I was asked to create a certificate. So I looked at the clipart and on the internet for the examples of typical border patterns.

I have been experimenting with blending curves which have been, for the most part, not satisfactory.

Has anyone done this sort of thing with a 2-D app and have a procedure or in a previous life (before computers) by hand? I'd be interested in the basis geomictric principles and, of course, if there's away to replicate those principles in Xara.

Attached is an example of a comercially available border pattern and a copy of some patterns I've come up with. It appears half the effort will be in the design of the pattern and the other half in making them "Seamless".

[raynerj1]

Draw a String art shape...

clone it...

Blend...

convert to shape...

Add shapes...

Now you have 1 object that does what you need...

I think you can figure out the rest John.

[salaam]

I think you are on the right track.
You just need to use:
'Blend along a curve' and
'Position profile'.

[David O'Neil]

I'd create one section, clone it, blend between the two, and carefully edit everything to get the spacings correct. You will probably have to create a corner piece by hand, and massage it into place as well, but once you've done it once, the other three corners are just copies.

As a proof of concept, even though it is very rough...

[jclements]

Hi David,

That is kind of what I've been doing. Problem now is trying to determine the smaller more intricate patterns.

[David O'Neil]

Unfortunately, I suspect that it's just a matter of tedium and perfectionism. Maybe someone else has better news. But using blends will save a *bunch* of time in the end, even though they are an (extreme) pain to set up.

[Seagull]

Actually, your doing real good by yourselfs but workbook 38 on the xaraxone has a tutorial on this. There may even be more if you start digging.......

[Mike Bailey]

Maybe this technique will help. I just copy and paste, grouping a few times. Try different variations of the first line. This is just one little example. There are many more.

[raynerj1]

Yours are looking pretty good mike...

I was thinking... If you create just a quarter (Half of the long side and half the short side with one corner)of the border, then clone and flip you can create a nice border relatively quickly.

You can also look at blending some decorative fonts such as wingdings to add some elements to the border.

[Hwy101]

... Edited for Size ...

Good Idea - Thanks (love them Borders - Can't have Enough -LOL )

Thanks to Everyone - Loved the Posts of Examples & Ideas! Tom