Stretching and compressing

[charliescoffee]

Xara made a change to how shapes are stretched and compressed a few years ago and I've struggled with the new procedure ever since. In my opinion, this is the dumbest thing Xara has ever done and I spend WAY too much time every time I want to do this trying to figure out how it's now done. When I want to stretch or compress a figure, I want to grab onto a side handle and move it one direction or another. With the old system, when I did this, the image actually expanded or contracted in the direction I selected. Under the new regime, when I do this, the image doesn't stretch or compress, but the outline moves in one direction or the other, either showing less of the original image or blank space depending on which I'm trying to do. There's a way to do this which actually stretches or compresses the image in one direction and I always spend way too much time trying to figure out how to do this. First, how can what I want be accomplished and second how can I get my software to ALWAYS work this way?

[Acorn]

Before you drag, hold the Alt key down.
If this works, never change the Smart Transform setting.

Acorn

[handrawn]

untick smart transform - then always do the stretching in the selector tool - then you do not need to use the alt key

if you try to do the stretching without switching to the selector tool [and then switching back afterwards] it may well not work - the tools all have shortcut keys to make this easy

this applies to the latest version of xara designer +

[handrawn]

acorn cross posted - what he is saying is use the alt key if you have smart transform on

in other words:

the alt key fuction is toggled

with smart transform on using the alt key does what you want, not using the alt key does not
with smart transform off using the alt key does not do what you want, and not using it does

and you must always be in the selector tool when you do this, which ever way you do it

[charliescoffee]

with smart transform on using the alt key does what you want, not using the alt key does not
with smart transform off using the alt key does not do what you want, and not using it does

Thanks, BUT, first, I'm always using the selector tool and second, I always try setting the smart transform key to either direction and it still doesn't work the way I want. No matter which way the smart transform key is set, and always using the Alt key, whenever I try to slightly stretch or compress an image (recognizing that it ends up being a bit distorted, but this degree of distortion, which is always slight in my use, isn't a problem - when it is, I use another technique) I always end up losing some of the image.

I just want a reliable way to stretch or compress an image.

[handrawn]

as far as I know there is no smart transform key, so I am not sure what you mean

right click on the lock aspect ratio padlock [in selector tool] here:



if smart transform is ticked use the alt key
if smart transform is not ticked do not use the alt key

if you do not need the smart transform functions, it's easier to keep it unticked; that choice is yours...

EDIT you may have confirmed this before, if so sorry; but which version of the program are you using, if it is version 15 then you may have a problem; other version should be ok

[charliescoffee]

I AM SO FRUSTRATED!! Using the mold tool, I'm correcting the perspective on maybe 50 photographs of pieces of art. Everything worked perfectly on the first 4 and then - without my changing anything - on the 5th, I wasn't able to compress the image on the vertical axis. I've tried with the padlock on and off, with the Smart Transformation checked and unchecked, with the Aspect Ratio checked and unchecked, using the Alt key and not - every combination of the above and still, the only result I get is cutting off a portion of my image. This is the type of thing I do a ton of, I just spent about 15 minutes trying every combination and the whole damn thing doesn't work. Why can't I get the GD software to do something the way I want it done! I'm now convinced that there's either something wrong with my Xara download or Xara engineers just don't like me and the work I do.

[charliescoffee]

Perhaps you guys think I don't know how to read or that I simply ignore everything you've said. How many times has someone suggested various combinations of the Alt key and Smart Transformations? How many times have I tried ALL the possible combinations of the two - along with a bunch of other things. Now, I just tried again and the image compressed the way I want without doing anything. Using the EXACT SAME SETTINGS, I tried it 15 minutes ago and it didn't work. There's simply something wrong with my software.

(I apologize for sounding antagonistic, I very much appreciate the help both of you guys and all the others on Talk Graphics have given me over many years - I first used Xara when it was a part of Corel, so I've been here for a very long time. I use Xara probably every day, so I'm not a novice. I'm not lying when I say that I've tried stretching and compressing using the Alt key, not using the Alt key, and both ways with Smart Transformations checked and unchecked plus trying a myriad of other settings. We've been around this block so many times I can't possibly even count. I appreciate your comments and help AND you don't need to repeat the same suggestion scores of times - I get what you're saying the very first time. Perhaps we'll get further if you also read and understand my reply, which is that I've honestly tried your suggestions and very often (but not all the times) they don't work. Just as an example, I just now tried compressing the very same image using the very same settings - that is I went back to Xara, didn't change anything and grabbed the bottom handle and moved it up - and it worked. Please believe me when I say that I tried exactly the same thing many times before, including many times just now, and it honestly DIDN'T WORK.

[PhilM]

What version of the program are you running?

Please try this:
* Make a new document and drag and drop the default bitmap from the bitmap gallery into it.
* Go to the Selector tool and right-click on the Aspect ratio lock button. Make sure that both "Aspect ratio lock" and "Smart transform" are enabled.
* Select the bitmap, hold down Alt and drag the right hand side handle to the right.
What happens? Does the bitmap stretch or not?

If it stretches then try the same settings and the same procedure on one of your own bitmaps in your own document. Does that bitmap stretch or not? If not, then please post the document here or send it to Xara support.


Edit: Please ignore the above if you're currently able to stretch bitmaps in the way you want to. If a time arises when you can't stretch bitmaps how you want to then please follow the above at that time.

[handrawn]

Perhaps you guys think I don't know how to read or that I simply ignore everything you've said

no I dont think that at all

there are some beartraps in xara - one of which is: doubleclick on bitmap with mouse changes automatically to phototool, when of course, the drag compression won't work - I've been caught out by that, not noticing the switch at first, and not having the rock steady hands of a 20 year old

if there is something wrong with your program/file i am sure Phil will sort it out for you