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Hi. I was wondering how I could have multiple arrowheads with equidistant spacing along a path. Basically I have a semicircle, and I want arrowheads to follow along the semicircle. How can I accomplish this? I'm a total noob, so the more basic the explanation the more likely I will understand it :o.
Thanks!
Hi, and welcome to the forum. The secret is the blend tool. See attachment.
Saludos,
Bob.
Thanks Bob. However, I have a problem using the blend tool between the two arrowheads - when I use it, the arrows come out deformed, though every other step works perfectly. This might be because I can't get the arrows to be directly across from one another (if so, how do you do that?), but otherwise is there something I'm missing here? Ty again.
This is curious! If you look at the attached, I drew a 30º arc for the green arrow blend, a 45º arc for the blue arrow blend and a 180º arc for the red arrow blend. I imagine you are getting a similar result to the red one.
The green blend is fine, similar to my first post. The blue bend reduces the arrowheads in the middle of the blend. I used two 45º arcs to produce the orange blended result, but it's not perfect.
To answer your question, to get the 2 arrows directly across, hold down the Ctrl Key when dragging with the mouse. In fact, If you right click and then Ctrl + Drag, you will get a message asking if you want to move or copy to the new position. This saves copying and pasting.
Back to the original problem, perhaps blends aren't the secret after all. I'll carry on experimenting here, and I expect other members will contribute their ideas before too long.
Saludos,
Bob.
Further experimentation doesn't do it in Corel, but it does work in Xara Xtreme.
I would be inclined to visit www.xara.com and download a free time-limited fully functional trial of Xara Xtreme.
Now I know it can be done, we can talk you through the process. A shallow learning curve in Xtreme, too and it's
not expensive. I pretty much guarantee you'll prefer it to Corel.
I'll still try and work out how it's done with Corel, though.
Saludos,
Bob.
My method was to export an arrowhead I made up as a true type font from corel, simply installed it, typed out a few arrows, then applied the fit text to curve command, suppose you could make up all kinds of arrows that way, you can then also use all the relevant text movements using the shape tool.
My sample attached for you, including the font made. Arrow - use lowercase "a"
Hope this helps, just an idea.
Cheers - George
Hi George, thanks for dropping by. I've installed the arrowhead font but I cannot get it to align to the semicircle properly.
Also when selecting the Shape Tool, nothing seems to be "draggable" around the space handles to alter the position of the arrowheads.
Saludos,
Bob.
Hi There Bob,
Not the ideal solution must say, tried a bit more, one on a circle and another around an egg shape - have a look. Shows some promise though, don't you think?
Cheers - George
I don't see a red square no matter what I select the blend with. :confused: How are you doing this, George?
Saludos,
Bob.
I imported the arrowhead fonts, and whenever I attempt to fit text to path on my semicircle it keeps telling me the path isn't valid? In your Corel file, I don't see a red box either.
Oh and I downloaded Xara, looked up some tutorials and such and it seems even more confusing than Corel to me :confused:.
Since I don't need an extreme amount of graphics, I'm probably just going to end up doing the arrowheads manually, just attached what it looks like below. Kind of a pain, but it isn't too bad.
Thanks for the help guys ;)
Here is one way I had to end up doing it cause using a blend rotates the arrows for some reason. I haven't tried the text to path, but may do that later to see what I get since the Arrows are fonts (if they're not symbols instead). The Arrow is a perfect shape, snap to objects align center of arrow to line in direction needed, click again to get rotation handles, then move rotation center to center of curve. Hit plus sign on keyboard to duplicate in place (this also retains the triangles rotation handle to center and then type in the angle needed to rotate. I believe there is a macro available to fit objects to path from oberonplace.com but you said you did not need many objects and I see you have already given an example of what you needed. I just wanted to show my solution to this dilemma.
Chuck
BTW The angle I wanted to point out read 270, but is fuzzy due to converting to Jpg.
Oh Well,
Maybe this will help a bit more, my idea of making your own arrow symbol is a customized one, but you can use an already made symbol font which comprises of quite a few arrows to choose from.
Take a look at my new sceenshot - Hope it's clear, tried to keep the size down.
Cheers - George
Coza, nice screen shots and tutorial, although I don't know why you had to duplicate the circle. I forgot about the kerning option with the shape tool. Does it kern in equal steps? You can also move the shapes from the property bar as well as any distance from the line.
If someone has an explanation for the rotation in the blend I sure would like to know why it does this, and how to correct it or avoid it. I did a blend last week on a straight path and it did the same thing. It was interesting that Xara was able to make the object to curve without the rotation, since I have Xara as well.
Chuck
BTW, Coza what screen capture did you use? For mine I used Print Screen button and pasted into Corel then exported to .jpg file type. I'm still learning all this computer stuff since I don't do it for a living.
Howdy TXchuck2u,
As far as I can see it does kern in equal steps, try it with any character with any font, you'll soon find out. There are quite few other commands that come about when you look at the tool bars available when the object is selected - mirror text vertically, horizontally, tick snapping and the ones you mention.
For screen capture tools I have a whole bag full of them, -
Realdaw V5 has one and I paid for Screen Shoot-it some years ago.
Free Alternatives are - MWSnap, TNT Screen Capture - this one really rocks, can do all kinds of tricks with it - free for private use, there is also a free Snagit 7.2.5 if it is still available, just do a search for any of them, I'm sure you'll run into them.
Before we go too far off topic, take care -
Cheers - George
An elegant and simple solution to the puzzle.
Saludos,
Bob.
Hi folks -
Not meaning to throw another piece in the puzzle, but here's another example how to do it. It does NOT involve a path tho, and therefore you can only create a perfect semicircle (up to 180deg.).
1. Create a triangle (any shape). Duplicate it (Ctrl + D) on top and drag it straight across using Ctrl as constrain to axis key. ROTATE (I said rotate, see note below!!) the 2nd arrow by holding down Ctrl (to rotate in increments) and rotating exactly 180 deg. Or use the rotate command in the menu, that's just my personal shortcut.;)
2. Select both triangles, and in the Blend box (Effects --> Blend) type 180 in the "Rotate" box and TURN ON the "Loop" option.
3. Apply!
*Note: I found out that although FLIPPING and ROTATING (180 deg.) objects produces the same result, it's not the same. Don't ask me why!:D Only thing I can figure out is that, by definition, FLIPPING objects rotates the about the "X" axis, while ROTATING 'em rotates the 'round the "Z" axis, therefore not the same thing. Make sense?:)
Chuck, I don't know what version of Corel you're using, but with most, if not ALL, CorelDraws is included "Corel Capture" (in my case, Corel Capture X4). I love it! Allows for freehand, window, etc. capture areas and multiple output options such as clipboard, file, printer, or your application choice. Also allows several color options and resolution options. I definitely recommend it!Quote:
Originally Posted by TXchuck2u
Nice one Bob,
You've produced a piece of art as usual.
Stay Well -
George
Meltsner, thanks for the replies both times. I will try using your suggestion to learn it and yes, I do find Corel Capture as well. I have never used this and it is never talked about, even on any other Corel forums I visit. Good also to see others involved in this Corel forum.
ElDiago, has your art solution been accomplished?
chuckray