Proper way to convert lines to fillable shape?

[Contours]

I've tried various combinations of 'Join', 'Combine', 'Add' and 'Intersect' ... but I never end up with a shape that lets me left-click fill. Instead, the lines change color. I'll also mention that joining the endpoints of the lines isn't an option. The "cusps" have to be in the finished result.

I know this has to be simple. I just can't determine how to do it. (For my example result, I built a special shape behind the figure.)

Thanks in advance for help.

[gwpriester]

Select the lines then Arrange > Convert Line to Shapes. Select the four shapes and Arrange > Combine Shapes Add Shapes.

Then Arrange > Break Shapes.

Attached is a Tip from Big Frank which may also be helpful.

[Acorn]

@contours, here's something I've just tried:

1. Select all four lines.
2. Combine Shapes > Add Shapes.
3. Use the Shape Tool (F4), click the middle of each line and move to the centre of the shape to form four leaves and a central blob..
4. Place a small box over all of the blob.
5. Combine Shapes > Add Shapes (a second time).
6. Use the Shape Tool (F4), delete all of the new control points around the box.

Your spiky points are retained.

Acorn

[wizard509]

What I usually do with something like this is select all your lines and clone then join the endpoints till I get a fill, then clear lines on the clone. What you end up with is two objects. one a fill and the other the lines, but, the end result looks like a single object. Although the other suggestions may be better.

[Contours]

Wow.

I know this has to be simple.

I guess I was wrong in that respect. With a package as capable as Xara, I'm prone to assume it's my lack of experience ... that the fault doesn't lie with Xara.

Please don't get me wrong: I appreciate knowing each of these methods. But none of them give the simple result of a fillable shape with the lines preserved. In testing the methods, either the lines were absorbed into the shape ... or I ended up with two shapes, one with the lines and one fillable.

Indeed, if these represent the practical methods, then I think this represents a missing feature ... an oversight. I guess I'll pass this along as a suggestion for product improvement.

Thanks for the responses.

[handrawn]

AFAIK xara does not do the sort of shape that you want - it only recognises an outer boundary - in order to do what you want it would need to support complex shapes with both an outer and an inner boundary, and [in this sense] it does not...

see attachment

[PhilM]

Designer doesn't have a feature that can fill shapes that are formed by /visual/ boundaries, rather than properly defined vector boundaries.

But it is easy to do it manually (which is what you did to create your example). Just use one of the drawing tools, either the freehand tool, the shape tool, the pen tool or the shape painter tool to draw the outline of the filled area, set the fill colour, turn off the outline colour and then put it behind the boundary shapes.

The shape painter tool is great for doing this and remember that you can zoom in and/or change the nib size to get into the corners.

Phil

[iamtheblues]

Illustrator has the Live Paint Bucket Tool which will do what you require very easily. But Illustrator is not cheap. It's also generally speaking, not as intuitive and easy to use.
Hence the difference in price between the two applications.
Bob.

[theinonen]

People using only PC:s are exposed too much to "one software to rule them all" mindset, when you can actually use several programs together for additional flexibility.


I prefer manual work, so would just do it like this with CAD and then export as Acorn draw file and carry on from that with another program. Very fast and precise with snaps + keyboard shortcuts. Keeping things simple without any software specific tools mean, it also will export cleanly in future when need comes and look pretty much the same without any additional work.

[handrawn]

@ Phil
@Bob
@theinonen


yes guys but like the methods previously described, the result is not one shape - sure you can group it, but that's not one shape its a [compound] object

contours observation:

But none of them give the simple result of a fillable shape with the lines preserved

still applies

AFAIK it cannot be done in vector

that said all good methods - and it would be great if xara did have an illustrator/inkscape type fill, that would sure save some time...