zaggies - screen shot

[coldwetnoz]

I must have missed a step making this green stem. It's zagged around the edges. What can I do to smooth it out? Thanks - pslane

[angelize]

Hello pslane, did you use a blend or a brush to create your stem? If you used a blend you could try adding more steps, if you used a brush you could try taking the spacing right down to zero. However when I do stems I use lines then I convert them to shapes. Here is a quick step by step that shows my process. As well as what I have shown here transparencies could also be used to give added texture to the stem. Once the stem is finished it can be grouped and you can use linear transparencies to add small stems to larger stems to create bushes or branches.

[amoore]

Nice, Frances. Thanks.

[BexarPuma]

Thank you, Frances.

I have snagged your excellent mini-tip for future reference. (I'm glad Pauline asked!)

Lynn

[coldwetnoz]

Thanks, I should have given more info.

The stem was made using a vertical line, then the shape editor to bend it. Then I amazed myself by doing a "Blend along curve" with a Blend steps t 70. It's from the 2008 tut with the sunflower in a pot. Everything is going smoothly except those zaggies.
pslane

[angelize]

Oh I remember that one I think if you increase the blend steps it will smooth things out. In future when asking about Xara Xone tutorials if you could provide a link to the tutorial it would be really helpful.

Thanks Allison and Lynn, I'm glad that my mini tutorial was helpful.

[coldwetnoz]

Okay, thanks, Anglelize. I try that blended stem one more time.

[coldwetnoz]

I changed the steps to 90 instead of 70 and there's a big difference. Thanks again!

[angelize]

you are quite welcome Pauline. You could even go more if you wanted.