Three Touching Circles

[ss-kalm]

But you can't SNAP it accurately to the tangent points of the circles above.

[Acorn]

If I drag and drop a duplicate circle approximately between the top two circles, then I can select the bottom circle and move it until the snap guidelines appear when centered.

Gary, I contend you can only do this accurately when the bottom circle has a rotation of 30deg (or -30deg) so that its tangent point gets to just touch the top circle edge while the vertical alignment guide is showing. The horizontal guide is an outcome of the final position of the bottom circle is is not a guide until after the event.

Acorn

[Acorn]

… and why not? We have magnetic snap. Where is the problem? I don't see it.
One Circle – two copies. Nothing else.
If I'm wrong pls correct me, it's maybe the older I've.

There isn't a snap for the bottom circle unless it has a rotation of ±30°.

Acorn

[Acorn]

But you can't SNAP it accurately to the tangent points of the circles above.

Thanks Keith, that is the Challenge in a nutshell.

Acorn

[Acorn]

Here is my approach.

Don't look if you still wish to present your own solution: RGB Circles.xar

My estimate is 11 Steps.

Acorn

[Rik]

Here is my approach.

Don't look if you still wish to present your own solution: RGB Circles.xar

My estimate is 11 Steps.

Acorn

Thanks for providing your .xar file with the proposed answer.
HOWEVER...
I don't think that everyone will be able to open your file.

I have XDP11, 64bit and 32bit instaalled.
Neither can open your file. Well, the file does open, but, all I can see are grey rectangles.

[Acorn]

Thanks for providing your .xar file with the proposed answer.
HOWEVER...
I don't think that everyone will be able to open your file.

I have XDP11, 64bit and 32bit instaalled.
Neither can open your file. Well, the file does open, but, all I can see are grey rectangles.

Rik, thank you. either my bad or Xara's?

I used Text Inside on all the circles but didn't expect past versions not to render at least the circles.

This should work: RGB Circles with Text.xar

Acorn

[Rik]

The new file is OK, Acorn.

And I like your solution.

[Acorn]

The new file is OK, Acorn.
And I like your solution.

Thank you Rik for both comments.

I am hopeful there is an fantastical solution that someone knows of that I can smack my head when we find out.

Acorn

[ss-kalm]

Acorn, your solution and mine are very similar. You basically used snap where I used nudge ... I generally don't trust the magnetic snaps - although to be fair, they are better than they were.