A Useful Technique (attention: Jup)

[Ross Macintosh]

In a recent thread Jup asked about getting a shape from four lines. The replies explained about joining nodes to create a shape.

There is another way to do it. It is useful when the 'node approach' isn't practical. The approach outlines below was first explained by BigFrank (a Xara Guru who appears to have fallen off the face of the Earth).

Note that if you have many intersecting lines, all the bounded areas can become individual shapes using the technique. Try it!

Regards, Ross

[Ross Macintosh]

In a recent thread Jup asked about getting a shape from four lines. The replies explained about joining nodes to create a shape.

There is another way to do it. It is useful when the 'node approach' isn't practical. The approach outlines below was first explained by BigFrank (a Xara Guru who appears to have fallen off the face of the Earth).

Note that if you have many intersecting lines, all the bounded areas can become individual shapes using the technique. Try it!

Regards, Ross

[Ross Macintosh]

Here's the mini-tutorial...

[Ross Macintosh]

Above I mention how the technique can create many shapes from the bounded areas of a number of lines. I attach an old example (previously posted) created using the technique. In its case I applied an inside contour to the shapes and used the contour tool's 'inset path' function. It effectively shrunk each shape whilst maintaining their relative spacing...

Regards, Ross

[gwpriester]

I just posted almost the same mini-tut in the original thread.

Gary

[Ross Macintosh]

I just saw that Gary and just replied to it -- no doubt at the same time you were repling to this one! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif -- We are grinning buddies!

Regards, Ross

[molucca]

This was a similar method I used to create the wing cells in Xara X. Rich

[RAMWolff44]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ross Macintosh:
I attach an old example (previously posted) created using the technique. In its case I applied an inside contour to the shapes and used the contour tool's 'inset path' function. It effectively shrunk each shape whilst maintaining their relative spacing...

Regards, Ross <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ummm, Ross, WOW, I don't think I have seen this example. How did you get all those tiny shapes flowing like cloth in the wind?? I don't think you can do any thing that complex using the Mould tool, can you??

Tutorial please?? I think this may comin in handy for something I am working on right now!!

Thanks!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

[raynerj]

Nice tut Ross. I have used the technique to color some of the outputs from Dimtry's apps.

"I think this may comin in handy for something I am working on right now" - Richard

I bet you would like to use the technique on your spacemans cape...

[RAMWolff44]

Well aint you the little smarty pants this AM!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

Maybe, maybe not!! http://www.talkgraphics.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif