Chapter 4

Chapter Four: Manipulating Objects

Naming Objects

You can assign a name to any object in a document. This name will appear in the Object Viewer in the Style bar whenever the object is selected. An abbreviation indicating the object type will precede the name of the object. Pressing the arrow to the right of the viewer will display a drop-down window with icons indicating the object type. If an object is not named, the object type will be displayed in the Style bar viewer.

To name an object:

1. Choose Browser from Object Management in the Edit menu.%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_editMenupic")

or

Click on the Object Viewer window with the Content Menu mouse button.

or

Press the Backspace key on your keyboard.

The Browser dialog box appears.

The names (specific or, if unnamed, generic) of all objects in the document are displayed in a list box, along with their status: (N)ormal, (L)ocked, or (H)idden.

If an object is currently selected, its name is highlighted in the list box.

2. If the object you want is not currently selected, click on its (generic) name in the list box to highlight it. When you select an object name, the corresponding object in the document becomes selected (surrounded by handles).

If a group is displayed, double-click on the group name. A subdirectory tree appears beneath the name, indicating the members of that group. Highlight the generic name of the object you want to name specifically.

3. Type in the desired name in the Object Name field, using up to twenty-five (25) characters.

4. Click on Name to name the object.

Another way to name an object is to select it, highlight its name in the Object Viewer window in the Style bar, then type over the name and either press Enter or point somewhere in the Drawing Area and click the left mouse button.

Note: Separate objects can be given the same name if desired.

Object Name Types

Two new features, the Object Browser and the Object Viewer in the Style bar, have been supplied with icons to intuitively indicate the type of objects shown in their object list.

An explanation of the icons appears below.

Object Type:

Object Icon:

Named Object:

Symbol #XXXX

S > object name

Text

T > object name

Chart

C > object name

Extrude

E > object name

Open Shape

O > object name

Closed Shape

C > object name

Picture (.WMF)

P > object name

Image (.TIF)

I > object name

Group

G > object name

Blend

B > object name

Hole Group

H > object name

Mask Group

M > object name

Text on Shape

T > object name

Warp Object

W > object name

Moving an Object

Once you place an object in the drawing area, you can move it to any location in your document. You simply drag the object from one place to another.

You can also use the Transform%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Transform") dialog box to move an object to a specific location.

You can use any of the View Options (Actual Size, Current Page, All Pages, Zoom In, or Full Screen) when you drag an object to another part of the document.

Small objects that are selected (surrounded by handles) can be difficult to drag at the All Pages scale. If you find yourself resizing instead of moving a small object, either deselect it and move it by pointing on it or select it by pressing on both mouse buttons at the same time.

To move an object by dragging:

1. Point on any visible part of the object you want to move and hold the mouse button.

The object’s bounding box, normally invisible, becomes visible as a thin-lined rectangle.

If the visible part of the object is difficult to select, or if the object is obscured by other objects, hold down the Ctrl key as you click on the object.

2. Drag the Pointer to move the bounding box to the desired location for the object.

3. Release the mouse button.

EXPRESS moves the object to the new location.

To nudge or move an object horizontally or vertically using the keyboard in small increments:

1. Point on any visible part of the object you want to move and hold the Spacebar.

2. Press one of the arrow keys to move the object in the direction of the arrow.

3. Release the arrow key and the Spacebar.

This method of moving is more accurate than dragging with a mouse.

Note: You can cancel any move operation by pressing Esc before releasing the mouse button.

Moving an Object Numerically

You can move an object numerically by specifying either an absolute or relative position.

To set a numerical absolute position for an object:

1. Select the object you want to move.

2. Choose Transform from the Arrange menu, or just press W while holding down the Ctrl key. The Transform%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Transform") dialog box appears.

3. Choose Absolute measurement under Use values as.

4. Click on Position in the Operation section. The section changes, displaying the current position of the selected object.

5. Enter an X and Y position for the object in the Values section. Changing the X coordinate will move the object left or right; changing the Y coordinate will move the object up or down. The fixed point of the object will move in reference to the upper left-hand corner of the page.

6. Choose a reference point in the Fixed point section. The reference point is the point where X and Y are reckoned. For example, if you want the upper left corner of the object at the specified location, click the upper left point in the Fixed Point section.

7. Click on Apply to move the object.

To set a numerical relative position for an object:

1. Select the object you want to move.

2. Choose Transform from the Arrange menu. The Transform dialog box appears.

3. Choose Add to/subtract from existing value under Use values as.

4. Click on Position in the Values section. The section displays entry boxes for X and Y coordinates.

5. Enter a value in the X and Y position fields. Enter a positive number in the X field to move the object to the right, or a negative number to move the object to the left. Enter a positive number in the Y field to move the object down, or a negative number to move the object up. The fixed point of the object will move in reference to the previous location of the object at that fixed point.

6. Do not change the reference point in the Fixed point section. You want the addition or subtraction of value to apply to the same reference point in effect before the object is moved.

7. Click on Apply to move the object.

Numeric Moving Plus Duplicating

You can combine numeric moving and duplicating to place a duplicate object at a specified location in a document.

To duplicate an object numerically, follow the instructions under Moving an Object Numerically .%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","MoveObjectNumeric") Before you exit the Transform dialog box, click on Duplicates so that the check box is checked. When you click on Apply, a duplicate of the object will be placed at the position specified. If more than one duplicate is specified, they will all be stacked on top of one another at the new location.

Move Again

After using the Transform dialog box to numerically move or to numerically move and duplicate an object, you can select another object and choose Transform Again from the Arrange menu (or simply press W while holding down the Shift key) to perform the same transformation on that object.

Undo Move

When you move an object in the drawing area, you can undo the move just made. Pull down the Edit menu %!PI("useguide.mvb","help_EditMenupic") and choose Undo Move/Size. Perform the same action by simply pressing Z while holding down the Ctrl key.

Changing the Stacking Order

The stacking order is the order in which objects are drawn on the screen. EXPRESS keeps track of each object’s place in the stacking order.

When drawing a new object or using the group command to group objects, EXPRESS places the object in front of all others on the screen, on the top of the “stack.”

You can change the stacking order by bringing an object to the front or sending it to the back of the stack.

To move an object to the front or back of the stack:

1. Select the object you want to move.

2. Pull down the Arrange menu and choose either Bring To Front or Send To Back. The object(s) is redrawn at the front or back of the stack. The shortcut keys are, respectively, Ctrl+F and Shift+F.

or

3. Choose Stacking Order from the Arrange menu. Highlight the object or objects that you want to reorder, then choose the Bring To Front or Send To Back button. The object(s) is redrawn at the front or back of the stack. The shortcut keys are, respectively, Ctrl+F and Shift+F.

Alternatively, after highlighting the object(s) you can release the mouse buttons and move the cursor in the list of objects on your page. When between objects, the Stacking Order cursor appears. Click when the cursor shows the desired placement.

Sizing an Object

You can size an object in several ways.

• Proportional sizing makes the object larger or smaller without changing its width-to-height proportions.

• Non-proportional sizing stretches or compresses the object in one dimension only (horizontally or vertically), changing its width-to-height proportions.

• Numeric sizing makes an object the exact height and width you specify.

EXPRESS lets you flip an object and size it at the same time. By dragging an object handle toward and beyond its opposite handle, an object is flipped during interactive resizing.

Note: You can cancel any size operation by pressing Esc before releasing the mouse button. After resizing, the change can be canceled by pressing Ctrl+Z.

Sizing from the Center of an Object

EXPRESS allows you to size an object away from its center point, either proportionally from a corner handle, or nonproportionally from a side handle. Select an object handle, press the Shift key, and drag the handle.

Proportional sizing away from one corner handle (the default for proportional sizing) is done as above but without pressing the Shift or Control key.

Proportional Sizing

To size an object proportionally:

1. Select the object.

2. Point on one of the object’s corner handles and hold the left mouse button to select the handle.

The object’s bounding box becomes visible as a thin-lined rectangle.

{sizing2.wmf}

3. Drag the Pointer%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_pointer") to change the size of the bounding box.

To make the bounding box larger, move the Pointer away from the object.

To make the bounding box smaller, move the Pointer toward the center of the box.

{sizing3.wmf}

As you size the bounding box, w and h indicators%WandH in the numeric bar display the current width and height. (When you are not sizing an object, the w and h indicators change to x and y indicators,%XandY displaying the current coordinates of the cursor.)

4. When the bounding box is the size desired, release the left mouse button.

EXPRESS redraws the object at the new size.

Note: If you hold down the shift key as you drag one of the object’s corner handles the object will size proportionally from its center outwards.

Proportional Sizing Plus Flipping

You can size an object proportionally and flip it at the same time.

To simultaneously size proportionally and flip an object horizontally and vertically:

1. Select the object.

2. Point on one of the object’s corner handles and hold the left mouse button.

3. Hold down the Alt key as you move the Pointer toward the opposite corner handle. When you reach it, the bounding box flips over.

4. Continue moving the Pointer until the flipped bounding box is the size you want.

5. Release the left mouse button.

EXPRESS draws the flipped object at its new size, in proportion to the original.

Non-Proportional Sizing

To stretch or compress an object by sizing it nonproportionally:

1. Select the object.

2. If you want to stretch or compress the object horizontally, point on the left or right midpoint handle.

If you want to stretch or compress the object vertically, point on the top or bottom midpoint handle.

If you want to stretch and compress both at once, hold down the Ctrl key as you point on a corner handle.

Hold down the left mouse button.

The object’s bounding box, normally invisible, becomes visible as a thin-lined rectangle.

3. Drag the cursor to change the size of the bounding box.

If you grabbed the top or bottom midpoint handle, move the Pointer up or down.

If you grabbed the left or right midpoint handle, move the Pointer left or right.

4. When the bounding box is the desired proportion, release the left mouse button.

EXPRESS redraws the object at the new proportions.

Note: If you hold down the shift key as you drag one of the object’s top bottom or left or right midpoint handles the object will size nonproportionally from its center outwards.

Non-Proportional Sizing Plus Flipping

You can size an object nonproportionally and flip it at the same time.

To simultaneously size non-proportionally and flip an object:

1. Select the object.

2. Point%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_pointer") on one of the object’s midpoint handles %!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_obhandles") and hold the left mouse button.

3. Move the Pointer toward the opposite object handle. When you reach it, the bounding box flips over.

Moving the Pointer past the diagonally opposite corner flips the object both vertically and horizontally. Moving the Pointer past the nearest corner flips it in one direction.

4. Continue moving the Pointer until the flipped bounding box is the size you want.

5. Release the left mouse button.

EXPRESS draws the flipped object at its new size.

Sizing Plus Moving

You can size and move an object in one operation.

To simultaneously size and move an object:

1. While you are sizing an object, press the Content Menu button without releasing the left mouse button.

2. With both buttons held down, drag the mouse to move the bounding box to the desired location for the sized object.

3. Release the Content menu button, but keep the left mouse button held down. You can now continue dragging to resize the object.

Sizing Plus Duplicating

You can size and duplicate an object in one operation.

To simultaneously size and duplicate an object:

1. Choose Duplicate from the Arrange menu.

or

Click on the Duplicate tool in the toolbox.

2. Begin sizing the (duplicate) object, then press the Content Menu button without releasing the left mouse button. The original object is not affected.

3. With both mouse buttons held down, drag the mouse to move the bounding box to the desired location for the duplicate object.

4. Release the Content menu button, but keep the inside button held down. You can now continue dragging to resize the duplicate at its new location.

5. When you are done sizing, choose Duplicate in the Arrange menu, or click on the Content menu button to restore the Pointer.

Numeric Sizing

You can size an object numerically by specifying either an absolute or a relative size.

To set an absolute size for an object numerically:

1. Select the object you want to size.

2. Choose Transform from the Arrange menu. You can also press Ctrl+W or click on the x or y button in the Numeric bar at the bottom of your screen.

The Transform%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Transform") dialog box appears.

3. Select or deselect Proportional in “Values.”

4. Choose Absolute measurement under “Use values as.”

5. Choose Size in the Operation section. The section changes, displaying the current size of the object.

6. Specify a value in the width and height fields. The current unit of measure - inches, picas, or centimeters — is displayed at the right of the width and height fields. (If you selected Proportional values, you can set only width or height; EXPRESS calculates the corresponding proportional value when you click on Apply.)

You can change the unit of measure in the View Options dialog box (accessed from the View menu ).

7. Click on Apply.

To set a relative size for an object numerically:

1. Select the object you want to size.

2. Choose Transform from the Arrange menu (alternately, you can press W while holding down the Ctrl key, or click on the x or y button in the numeric bar at the bottom of your screen.)

The Transform%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Transform") dialog box appears.

3. Choose Add to/subtract from existing value under Use values as.

4. The section changes, displaying a percentage scale and a Proportional check box.

5. To scale the object non-proportionally, click on the Proportional check box to remove the check mark in the box. The Scale box changes to Height and Width boxes.

Enter the desired percentages in the Height and Width boxes.

6. Click on Apply.

Numeric Sizing Plus Duplicating

You can combine numeric sizing and duplicating to create a duplicate object at a specified size. To size numerically and duplicate, follow all but the last step of the instructions under “Numeric Sizing.”

Before you click on Apply to exit the Transform%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Transform") dialog box, click on Duplicates so that a check mark appears in the check box. When you click on Apply, a duplicate of the selected object is drawn at the size specified.

Size Again

After using the Transform dialog box to numerically size or to numerically size and duplicate an object, you can select another object and choose Transform Again from the Arrange menu to perform the same transformation on that object.

Undo Sizing

To undo a size operation just performed, pull down the Edit menu %!PI("useguide.mvb","Help_EditMenupic") and choose Undo Move/Size, or press Ctrl+Z .

Making an Object Proportional

EXPRESS provides an easy way to restore the default proportions of a symbol or text object you have stretched or compressed by sizing nonproportionally. Freeform objects can be restored to the relative proportions established during the last editing session.

To make a non-proportional object proportional, EXPRESS reduces the object’s width or height to restore the original proportions. When you make a text object proportional, EXPRESS sets the object’s condense/extend (compress and stretch) value to 100 while keeping its type size, leading, and character spacing values intact.

To make an object proportional:

1. Select the object that you want to make proportional.

2. Choose Make Proportional from the Arrange menu. The object’s original proportions are restored.

Aligning Objects

The Align command in the Arrange menu lets you precisely align objects.

First select the objects you want to align, then choose the appropriate align option.

The following example illustrates how each option affects the alignment of the selected objects in the sample document below:

To align objects:

1. Select the objects you want to align.

2. Choose Align%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Align") from the Arrange menu.

The Align%!PI("useguide.mvb","AlignDB") dialog box appears.

The dialog box provides options for the various ways to align objects.

3. Choose the alignment reference by clicking on the appropriate reference button.

• Objects are aligned in relation to the top-most object for top align, the left-most object for left align, etc. unless Relative to page is checked.

• Assemble logically reassembles a composite clip-art object that has been temporarily broken apart, viz., to recolor its parts.

• Relative to page aligns objects in relation to the page.

• Use text baselines aligns text objects in relation to their baselines. It has no effect on other objects.

4. Choose the desired alignment by clicking on the appropriate check box.

5. Click on Apply.

The dialog box disappears. The objects align.

Undo Alignment

To undo an alignment operation just performed, pull down the Edit menu %!PI("useguide.mvb","help_EditMenupic") and choose Undo Move/Size, or just press Z while holding down the Ctrl key.

Align Left or Right

Choose Left to align all selected objects with the left edge of the left-most selected object (Objects reference) or with the left edge of the page (Page reference).

Choose Right to align all selected objects with the right edge of the right-most selected object (Objects reference) or with the right edge of the page (Page reference).

Align Left Align Right

Align Top or Bottom

Choose Top to align all selected objects with the top edge of the highest selected object (Objects reference) or with the top edge of the page (Page reference).

Choose Bottom to align all selected objects with the bottom edge of the bottom-most selected object (Objects reference) or with the bottom edge of the page (Page reference).

Align Top

Align Bottom

Align Vertical (left to right)

Choose Center (left to right) to center all selected objects around an imaginary vertical axis between the left-most and right-most object edges (Objects reference) or around an imaginary vertical axis down the center of the page (Page reference).

Align Horizontal (top to bottom)

Choose Center (top to bottom) to center all selected objects around an imaginary horizontal axis:

• Between the highest and lowest object edges (Objects reference)

• Across the center of the page (Page reference).

Align Center

Objects can be center-aligned about a horizontal axis (top to bottom) and/or about a vertical axis (left to right).

Align (Assemble) Logically

Choose Assemble Logically to align composite symbols, accent symbols, and freeform objects. You must select the Objects reference to use the Assemble Logically option.

Composite symbols are composed of two or more individual symbols.

U.S. Outline + State Lines = Composite

4103 4395 Symbol of U.S.

Composite symbols aligned using Assemble Logically

Accent symbols are used to add color or a shading pattern to portions of a symbol.

Crystal Ball + Reflection + Pedestal = Accented

4394 6337 6338 Symbol

Accent symbols aligned using Assemble Logically

Before you align these symbols, change each symbol’s attributes as desired. After the symbols are aligned, use Group from the Arrange menu to combine the symbols into a single object.

Freeform objects aligned using Assemble Logically

Freeform objects can also be aligned using Assemble Logically. When a symbol or text object is converted to freeform objects, or when you draw a freeform object with the line or curve tools, relative position information is saved for each freeform object.

EXPRESS uses this information to align individual freeform objects, even after they have been moved, scaled, stretched, slanted, and/or rotated. If parts of the composite object have been deleted, EXPRESS will logically align the rest. If you accidentally move or otherwise manipulate any freeform objects, use Assemble Logically to realign the objects.

When you edit any freeform object, the position information saved for the object is updated. This establishes a new alignment position for the edited object.

Note: If you drastically enlarge a group of objects that are aligned logically, recalculation may cause minor alignment problems if you print the document on a high-resolution device. To ensure that the objects are perfectly aligned at the enlarged size, ungroup the objects and use the Assemble Logically command.

Align Text Using Baselines

When aligning text and objects, the “Use Text Baselines” option allows you to ignore descenders on the text. (Descenders are such strokes as the lower portion of a “p” or “y.”) The option has no effect on other types of objects.

Text and an object aligned at the Bottom with “Use Text Baselines” off.

When the option is on, text is aligned along the baseline of the text object.

Text and an object aligned at the Bottom with “Use Text Baselines” on.

Duplicating an Object

You can create a duplicate of any object by using the Duplicate command from the Arrange menu (or the duplicate tool in the Toolbox) to drag a copy of the object to another location.

You can also use the Transform dialog box to create duplicates with specified sizes, positions, slants, and rotations.

You can use any of the View options (Actual Size, Current Page, All Pages, Zoom In, or Full Screen) when you duplicate an object. Small objects that are selected (surrounded by handles) can be difficult to drag at the All Pages scale. If you find yourself resizing instead of moving a small object, either deselect it and move it by pointing on it or select it by pressing on both mouse buttons at the same time.

Note: When editing freeform objects, the Duplicate function allows you to duplicate a sequence of line and/or curve segments.

To duplicate an object by dragging:

1. Choose Duplicate from the Arrange menu.

or

Click on the Duplicate tool in the toolbox.

The duplicate cursor appears.

2. Position the Duplicate cursor on the object you want to duplicate and hold the primary mouse button.

The object’s bounding box, normally invisible, becomes visible as a rectangle.

3. Drag the Pointer to move the bounding box to the desired location for the duplicate object.

4. Release the mouse button.

EXPRESS draws a duplicate of the object at the new location.

{duplic1d.wmf}

5. Follow steps 2 through 4 for each object you want to duplicate.

6. To turn off the duplicate function, choose Duplicate from the Arrange menu, or press Esc, or click on the Pointer in the toolbox, or press the Content Menu button in an open part of your screen.

Note: You can cancel a duplicate operation by pressing Esc before releasing the mouse button.

Flipping an Object

EXPRESS lets you flip objects both horizontally and vertically.

When you flip an object horizontally, you produce the object’s mirror image. When you flip an object vertically, you turn it upside down.

To flip an object horizontally or vertically:

{flip.wmf}

Original Flipped Flipped

Orientation Vertically Horizontally

1. Select the object(s) you want to flip.

2. Choose Flip Vertically or Flip Horizontally from the Arrange menu.

EXPRESS flips the selected object(s).

Rotating an Object

You can rotate symbol, text, and freeform objects interactively by dragging the Rotate cursor, or you can specify a precise angle.

To rotate an object interactively:

1. Select the desired object.

2. Click on the Rotate tool in the toolbox. The Pointer turns into the Rotate tool, and the Center Point cursor appears.

3. If desired, drag the Center Point cursor to another location.

4. Point on any object handle and drag. The object rotates about the point marked by the Center Point cursor. The r indicator in the numeric bar shows the current degree of rotation as you rotate the object.

5. Release the left mouse button.

The rotated object will have a rotated bounding box with handles at the appropriate points.

6. When you are done rotating, click the Content menu button, press Esc, or choose the Pointer tool. EXPRESS will remember the degrees of rotation until the object is converted to freeform.

To rotate an object a specific number of degrees:

1. Select the desired object.

2. Choose Transform from the Arrange menu. The Transform dialog box appears on the screen.

You can also click on the r button in the numeric bar at the bottom of your screen to display the Transform dialog box. If you do so, EXPRESS takes you past steps 3 and 4.

3. Choose either Add to/subtract from existing value or Absolute under Use values as. The first lets you rotate the object a specified number of degrees relative to the object’s current angle of rotation; an Absolute value lets you rotate the object a specified number of degrees from a vertical axis through the center point.

4. Choose Rotate in the Operation section. The section displays an entry box for a rotation angle. If Absolute value is selected, the box displays the current rotation angle of the object.

5. Type the number of degrees you want the object rotated in the Angle field. You can specify the angle in tenths of a degree, if desired. Enter a positive number to rotate the object clockwise, or a negative number to rotate counterclockwise.

6. Specify the center point around which the object is to rotate:

Choose one of the Fixed Points.

or

Type the X and Y coordinates of the center point, relative to the current position of the current center point.

7. Click on Apply.

Note: You may encounter problems when rotating imported BMP and TIFF images in EXPRESS. After rotation, a grey box may appear in place of the imported image. If you are using a PostScript printer, the rotated image will print correctly despite the display of the grey box on the screen. However, non-PostScript printers will print the grey box rather than the rotated image. To avoid this problem, you may want to convert the bitmap to some other format before importing into EXPRESS.

Moving the Center Point

When you move the center point of an object, the location of the Center Point cursor is not saved with the other attributes of the object.

In general, when you select the Rotate tool,%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_rotatetool") the Center Point cursor%CtrCursor will always appear in the center of the object. If, however, you deselect a rotated object (by giving a click of the left mouse button) and do not dismiss the Rotate tool (by giving a click of the Content Menu button), the Center Point cursor will reappear wherever it was last placed. Any object can be rotated about that center point.

Objects rotate about the

Center Point Cursor,

which can be moved.

For complicated illustrations, you may want to preserve the location of a center point. To do so, select the cross-hair symbol (symbol 1620) from the selection box in the Symbol%Symbol dialog box. Place the cross-hair symbol at the point around which you want to rotate the object. Use theBrowser to name the point for easy reference and to lock it in place. Select the working object and click on the Rotate tool. Drag the Center Point cursor to the point marked by the cross-hair symbol. When you have completed the illustration, hide the cross-hair and any other construction aids.

Rotating Plus Duplicating

You can combine numeric rotation and duplicating to create a duplicate object at a specified rotation. To rotate numerically and duplicate, follow all but the last step of the instructions under Rotating an Object.

Click on Duplicates so a check mark appears in the check box. When you click on Apply, a duplicate of the selected object is drawn with the rotation specified.

Rotate Again

After using the Transform dialog box to rotate numerically or to rotate and duplicate an object numerically, you can select another object and choose Transform Again from the Arrange menu to perform the same transformation on that object.

Undo Rotate

To undo a rotation just performed, pull down the Edit menu and choose Undo Rotate, or press Ctrl+Z.

Slanting an Object

You can slant an object by dragging the Slant Cursor, or you can specify an exact number of degrees.

Do not confuse slanting an object with italicizing a text object. To italicize text, choose Type from the Styles menu, then click on Type Styles. Text cannot be slanted unless the text has been freeformed, and the effect is different from that achieved by italicizing.

{slant.wmf}

To slant an object by dragging the Slant Cursor:

1. Select the desired object.

2. Click on the Slant tool,%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_slanttool") second in the Rotate flyout in the toolbox. The Pointer turns into the Slant cursor, and the Center Point%ctrcursor cursor appears.

3. If desired, drag the Center Point cursor to another location.

4. Point on any object handle and drag. If you drag on a side midpoint handle you can slant the object vertically; if you drag on the top or bottom midpoint handles you can slant the object horizontally.

If you drag on a corner handle you can slant the object both horizontally and vertically at the same time.

The h and v indicators in the numeric bar show the current angle the object is slanted horizontally and vertically.

5. Release the left mouse button.

6. When you are done slanting, click the Content menu button, press Esc, or choose the Pointer tool.

To slant an object a specific number of degrees:

1. Select the desired object.

2. Choose Transform from the Arrange menu. The Transform dialog box appears on the screen.

You can also click on the h or v button in the numeric bar at the bottom of your screen to display the Transform dialog box.

3. Choose either Add to/subtract from existing value or Absolute under Use values as. The first lets you slant the object a specified number of degrees from its current slant angle; an Absolute value lets you slant the object a specified number of degrees from its vertical position.

4. Choose Slant in the Operation section. The section displays entry boxes for horizontal and vertical slant angles. If Absolute value is selected, the boxes display the current slant of the object. (If you entered the Transform dialog box by clicking on the h: or v: buttons, this step is unnecessary.)

5. Type the number of degrees you want the object slanted in the Horizontal and Vertical Slant fields. You can specify the angle in tenths of a degree, if desired. Enter a positive number to slant the object clockwise, or a negative number to slant counterclockwise.

6. Specify the center point (the intersection of imaginary vertical and horizontal axes from which the slant angles are applied to the object).

Choose one of the Fixed Points.

or

Type the X and Y coordinates of the center point.

If you slant the object horizontally, the slant axis will be an imaginary vertical line running through the Center Point. If you slant the object vertically, the slant axis will be an imaginary horizontal line running through the center point.

7. Click on Apply.

Slanting Plus Duplicating

You can combine numeric slanting and duplicating to create a duplicate object at a specified slant.

To slant numerically and duplicate, follow the instructions under Slanting an Object%!JI("useguide.mvb","SlantObject") to slant an object a specific number of degrees.

Before you click on Apply, click on Duplicates so that a check appears in the check box. When you click on Apply, a duplicate of the selected object is drawn with the slant specified.

Slant Again

After using the Transform%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Transform") dialog box to numerically slant or to numerically slant and duplicate an object, you can select another object and choose Transform Again from the Arrange menu to perform the same transformation on that object.

Undo Slant

To undo a slant just performed, pull down the Edit menu %!PI("useguide.mvb","help_EditMenupic") and choose Undo Slant .

Blending Objects

The Blend command in the Effects menu %!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic") (or second in the Effects flyout in the Toolbox) allows you to create a variety of graphic effects by distributing copies of an object between specified beginning and ending objects. The objects that define the beginning and end of the blend can be sized, stretched, slanted, rotated, and colored to create striking illustrations.

Blend may be used to create, among other things:

• Three-dimensional effects

• Copies of freeform objects to form background patterns

• Transformations from one shape to another.

Blending Text, Symbol, or Freeform Objects

1. Select the object to be blended.

2. Choose Blend from the Effects menu,%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic") or choose Blend from the Object Effects flyout in the Toolbox. The Blend%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_Blend") dialog box appears.

3. Enter the desired number of copies (up to 201) in the Copies to Add field.

The number you enter specifies the number of copies added to the original object. A low number will create several distinct copies. A high number will create many copies for a different effect.

4. Choose the desired distribution scales for color and position from the Logarithmic Distribution section of the Blend dialog box.

5. Click on either the In Front or In Back option in the Add section.

Each blended copy will be positioned as specified in front of or behind the previous copy as it is blended from the original to the final object.

6. Click on either the Counter-Clockwise or Clockwise option in the Rotate section.

The rotation option is used for the blend if either the original and/or the final object has been rotated.

7. Click on Add. A duplicate of the original object appears on top of the original.

8. Manipulate the original object and the duplicate to define the beginning and ending positions of the blend. Change the attributes of the original and/or duplicate object to achieve the transition effects desired.

9. Choose Complete Blend from the Effects menu,%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic") or click the Content menu button.

The blend is calculated and displayed on the screen. Attributes, such as size, color, rotation, and slant will be blended from the original to the final object.

The objects in the blend are automatically grouped and “Blend” is displayed in the status bar when the group is selected. The blended objects can be ungrouped by choosing Break Apart from the Effects menu.

The blend command can be used to blend one freeform shape into another:

{blend3.wmf}

1. For this effect, first position the two freeform objects where you want them for the blend.

2. Select both objects. Follow steps 2 through 9 above.

Blending Two Different Freeform Shapes

1. Edit the two freeform objects that you want as the beginning and end of the blend. Change size, position, and styles to achieve the effect desired. (You can use the Cvt to Freeform command in the Draw menu to convert symbol and text objects to freeform.)

2. Use Shift+click or Block Select to select the two objects. They must be either two open shapes or two closed shapes.

The first item you select will be blended into the second.

3. Choose Blend from the Effects menu. The Blend dialog box appears.

4. Enter the number of copies desired in the blend (up to 201). The Logarithmic, Add, and Rotate commands in the dialog box all work the same as for a blend between two identical shapes.

5. Click on Add.

6. Choose Complete Blend from the Effects menu, or click the Content Menu button.

A blend from one shape to another works best when the two objects have the same number of segments, when corresponding segments are the same type (line or curve), and when the two objects have corresponding start/end points.

If these items do not match between the two objects, the blend may produce unexpected results.

The Shape Info command in the Draw menu gives you information about the makeup of freeform objects. This information can be useful when editing freeform objects prior to a blend.

To match the number and type of segments, freeform edit the objects, adding and deleting handles as necessary. Use the Cvt Line <<->> Curve command to make line segments correspond to line segments and curve segments correspond to curve segments.

See Editing Freeform Drawings for information on freeform editing, adding and deleting handles, and using the Cvt Line <<->> Curve command.

To match the start/end points, freeform edit each object and choose the Set Start/End Point command from the Draw menu. The start/end point is automatically selected; you can then click on another point to make it the start/end point, if desired. (This is valid for closed shapes only.)

If the blend produces unexpected results after matching segments and start/end points, you may need to reverse the drawing order of one of the objects. To do this, select the object and choose Reverse order of points from the Draw menu.

Note: Once a blend has been ungrouped, it cannot be altered using the Replace command.

Logarithmic Distribution

The Logarithmic Distribution section of the Blend dialog box defines the scales used while creating the blended objects. The default blend uses a linear scale for both color and position, and creates evenly spaced copies with a uniform color distribution. In this case, the four items in the Logarithmic Distribution section are turned off.

To choose a logarithmic distribution by color and/or position, click on the appropriate option; a check mark will appear in the box to show that the option is turned on. Using a logarithmic scale for position creates copies that are more closely positioned near the original object and spread out near the final object. Using a logarithmic scale for color creates copies with a gradual change in color near the original object and a rapid change near the final object.

The Invert Position Scale and Invert Color Scale options reverse the logarithmic scales to place the gradual change in color or the more closely positioned copies near the final object rather than the original.

Replacing a Blend

The Replace command in the Blend dialog box allows you to alter the styles of the original and final objects, the number of copies, rotation, and type of blend. The blend is then recalculated using the updated information.

To replace a blend:

1. Select the blend.

2. Choose Blend from the Effects menu.%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic")

3. Choose the desired specifications from the Blends second dialog box, and click on Replace.

The previously blended objects will disappear, leaving the original and final objects to define the beginning and ending positions of the new blend. These objects can be left unchanged or they can be modified to create a new effect.

4. Choose Complete Blend from the Effects menu,%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic") or click the right mouse button.

The new blend will be displayed.

Note: If the original blend has been ungrouped with the Break Apart command, the Replace command will not be available.

Cutting Holes in Objects

You can use the Merge command to automatically cut a hole in an object.

You must use freeform objects (closed shapes) to cut a hole, and the object in which the hole is to be cut must also be freeform. If necessary, use the Cvt to Freeform command on text and symbol objects to turn them into closed shapes. The top-most object cuts the hole in the underlying object.

To use an open shape,%!PI("useguide.mvb","OpenShape") first use the editing tools to close it.

To cut a hole in an object:

1. Convert to freeform the hole-cutting object and the object to be cut by selecting each and choosing Cvt to Freeform from the Draw menu or by pressing F8.

2. Position the “hole” object on top of the other object by choosing Bring to Front from the Arrange menu or by pressing Ctrl+F.

3. Use Shift+click or Block Select to select the objects.

4. Choose Merge from the Effects menu.%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic")

or

Click with the mouse on the Effects tool in the Toolbox.

5. Choose Cutout (Hole) and click on Apply.

If the top (hole) object only partially overlaps the bottom object, a hole will be created in the area of overlap.

{hole2.wmf}

To cancel the effect of a cutout, select the object and choose Break Apart from the Effects menu.

Note: The filling rule used with closed shapes can affect the result of a cutout command.

Clipping Paths in Objects

The Merge command lets you use one object as a “cookie cutter” to cut out other objects. Unlike those used in cutting a hole, objects used in a clipping path, or mask, need not be freeform.

To cut a clipping path:

1. Select the object to be used as the “cookie cutter.”

2. Place the object on top of the object or objects you want to clip and use Shift+click%help_Shiftclick or Block Select%!JI("useguide.mvb>second","help_BlockSelect") to select all of the objects.

3. Choose Merge from the Effects menu.%!PI("useguide.mvb","help_effcMenupic")

or

Click with the mouse on the Effects tool in the Toolbox.

4. Choose Clipping Path (Mask) and click on Apply.

The objects under the cookie cutter are clipped, and can be seen through the cutter. Any part of the objects not under the cutter are not drawn.

{hole3.wmf}

If the “cutter” only partially overlaps the other objects, the objects will be clipped in the area of overlap:

{hole4.wmf}

To cancel the effect of a clipping mask, select the object and choose Break Apart from the Effects menu.

Note: The filling rule used with closed shapes can affect the result of a clipping path command.

Warping Objects

EXPRESS Warp/Perspective command in the Effects menu lets you quickly create special effects with symbol, text, and freeform objects.

To warp an object:

1. Select the object.

2. Choose Warp/Perspective from the Effects menu, then choose Add from the submenu. The Warp/Perspective dialog box appears, and the selected object is redrawn using the current Warp settings.

or

Hold down the mouse on the Effects flyout in the Toolbox, drag the cursor to the fifth or last icon, and release it

A warp envelope with point handles appears around the object.

The various Warp parameters (shape, symmetry, orientation, and compress/stretch) are illustrated on buttons in the dialog box.

3. Choose the parameters desired. You can select parameters by clicking on the icons, or by choosing commands from the menu bar in the dialog box.

As you choose Warp parameters, the selected object changes to show the effects of the choices.

4. You can click on the title bar of the dialog box and drag it to another part of your screen. Also you can minimize the Warp dialog box (if desired) by clicking on the arrow at the upper right of the dialog box. This leaves only the title bar, menu, and action buttons visible. If necessary, point on the title bar of the dialog box and drag to move it out of the way.

If desired, move the Warp by holding the Shift key and dragging a handle.

5. Drag the point handles on the warp envelope to adjust the Warp. The current Orientation and Symmetry settings determine the direction you can move handles, and whether or not other handles are automatically adjusted.

Each time you drag a handle and release the mouse button, the Warp effect is calculated and the object is redrawn at its new shape. The Warp dialog box remains on your screen until you click on the Done button.

6. If desired, size the Warp proportionally by holding the Control key and dragging a corner handle.

7. When the object is warped as desired, click on Done. The name “Warp Object” appears in the Style bar.

Note: You can warp multiple objects by Grouping them before warping. However, if the group is then ungrouped, the warp is removed from all the objects in the group.

Warp Shapes

Warp shapes can be chosen from the Warp Shapes menu (under the Options menu in the Warp dialog box) or by clicking on the appropriate Shape button. Warp shapes can be modified using the Symmetry, Orientation, and Compress/Stretch tools, and by manipulating the point handles on the warp object.

A special case is the Freeform shape. Freeform displays both point handles and control points on any Warp envelope, allowing for greater modifications to the shape. You can select any Warp shape and then choose Freeform to display control points on that shape.

Warp Symmetry

The Symmetry settings let you make parallel and mirrored adjustments to the Warp bounding box. Symmetry can be chosen by clicking on the appropriate icon or by selecting the Symmetry command in the Shapes menu.%!PI("useguide.mvb","ShapeMenu")

No Symmetry lets you move points individually on the Warp envelope.

Parallel symmetry lets you move opposite points in parallel.

Mirrored symmetry lets you move opposite points in opposite directions.

Warp Orientation

The Orientation settings determine the direction you can warp an object. Orientation can be chosen by clicking on the appropriate button or by selecting the Orientation command in the Warp shapes menu in the Warp dialog box.

Vertical places handles on the top and bottom of the Warp bounding box. You can move these handles vertically.

Horizontal places handles on the left and right of the Warp envelope. You can move these handles horizontally.

Compress/Stretch and Auto Perspective

The Compress/Stretch settings let you compress or stretch an object along a left/right or top/bottom axis to achieve different perspective effects, such as making objects appear to recede in the distance. Compress/Stretch can be chosen by clicking on the appropriate icon or by selecting the Compress menu.

Auto Perspective must be turned off to select a Compress/Stretch setting. When you select a Compress/Select of Left, Right, Left/Right, or Center, a scroll bar lets you adjust the amount of compression or stretch you want to apply to the object.

Auto Perspective calculates the mathematically and visually correct compress/stretch based on the Warp shape and symmetry chosen. Auto Perspective is available only when using the one-point and two-point perspective shapes.

Warp Options

The Options menu in the Warp dialog box contains warp options. When an option is active, a check mark appears next to it in the menu; selecting the option a second time removes the check mark and toggles it off.

When using the Freeform shape, Allow Horizontal Moves allows handles to be moved both horizontally and vertically when vertical orientation is chosen. This option changes to Allow Vertical Moves when horizontal orientation is chosen. When off, these options will prevent you from accidentally compressing or stretching portions of an object along the axis of the compress/stretch.

Maintain Lines controls the conversion of lines into curves. When Maintain Lines is active and an object is warped, all lines in the object are maintained as lines. When Maintain Lines is not active and an object is warped, some lines in the object may be warped into curves to faithfully render the shape of the Warp object.

Show Perspective Lines displays dashed perspective lines when using the one point and two point perspective Warp shapes.

{Warp15.wmf}

The dashed perspective lines meet at the vanishing point(s); you can move point handles at the vanishing point(s) to adjust the Warp.

All of your option choices are immediately applied to the warp object. The dialog box remains on your screen until you click on the Done button.

Note: Vanishing points are often outside of the active document area. You will need to move the Warp to reposition the vanishing point(s) inside the document. Do this by selecting any handle and dragging while holding down the Shift key.

Re-Warping an Object

Objects may be warped multiple times.

To warp an object that has already been warped:

1. Select the object.

2. Choose Warp/Perspective from the Effects menu. A sub-menu appears; choose Add.

3. Warp the object as desired.

4. Click on Done.

Editing a Warp Object

After a Warp has been applied to an object, it can be edited if desired.

To edit a Warp object:

1. Select the object.

2. Choose Warp/Perspective from the Effects menu. A sub-menu appears; choose Edit.

or

Hold down the mouse on the Effects flyout in the Toolbox, drag the cursor to the fifth or last icon, and release it.

A warp envelope with point handles appears around the object.

3. Warp the object as desired.

4. Click on Done.

Warping Rotated and Slanted Objects

If a Warp object has been rotated or slanted, it is displayed during editing without the rotation or slant. When the Done button is clicked the object is redrawn with the correct rotation or slant.

Undoing a Warp

To undo a warp:

1. Select the Warp object.

2. Choose Break Apart from the Effects menu.

or

Choose Warp/Perspective from the Effects menu. A sub-menu appears; choose Remove.

Copying Warp Effects to Other Objects

To copy a Warp effect from one object to another:

1. Select a Warp object.

2. Choose Warp/Perspective from the Effects menu. A sub-menu appears; choose Save.

3. Select another object.

4. Choose Warp/Perspective from the Effects menu. A sub-menu appears; choose Recall. The object is redrawn with the saved Warp effect.

Extrude

EXPRESS ’ Extrude command lets you quickly create three-dimensional effects using freeform objects or freeformed text and clip art.

Note: The best results are achieved when you extrude text or simple objects without “detail lines” or overlapping filled areas. Also since Extrude converts flat 2D objects into 3D artwork, you should not try to extrude artwork that already depicts a 3D view, such as a cube or the perspective view of an airplane.

To extrude a freeform object:

1. Select the object.

2. Choose Extrude from the Effects menu, then Add/Edit; or hold down the cursor on the Effects flyout and release it on the fourth icon. The Extrude dialog box appears, displaying an extruded box ready to receive changes. This box has handles which are a 3D version of object handles, and they allow you to adjust the extrusion in the same way.

If Auto Apply is on, the selected object is redrawn using the current Extrude settings. Auto Apply allows the interactive display to be updated quickly, showing you the immediate effect of your adjustments. With Auto Apply off, you must click on Apply then Done to see the effect.

3. You can drag the corner point handles on the extrusion, a side segment, or the vanishing point to adjust the extrusion.

Holding down Ctrl when dragging extrusion point handles sizes only that face, not the entire extrusion.

4. When the object is extruded as desired, click on Done. The name “ Extrusion’’ appears in the Object Viewer in the status bar.

An extrusion can be edited by selecting Edit from the Effects/Extrude menu.

Specifying Extrude Options and Values

The Specify By setting allows you to select one of two methods of interactively modifying the extrusion. The numeric values of the extrusion depth and vanishing point position are automatically updated as you drag parts of the extrusion interactively. Alternatively, you can enter values directly into the boxes (or use the scroll arrows) and the extrusion will be changed just as if you had dragged it with the mouse.

Trackball , the first method of interactively adjusting an extrusion, acts as if the extrusion were at the center of an invisible trackball. Dragging anywhere on the extrusion has the same effect as if you were to place your finger on the trackball there and rotate it. You can rotate the extrusion up to 360 degrees in any direction in space. While dragging, a wireframe box is displayed. If you are unsure if you are looking at the front or the back of the extrusion, release the mouse button to display the solid box again.

Holding down Shift and then dragging the trackball drags the trackball and extrusion on the page without changing the rotation.

In Trackball mode, dragging one of the four handles on the front face of the extrusion proportionally sizes both the front and back faces of the extrusion. Dragging one of the four handles on the back face of the extrusion changes the depth of the extrusion (the distance between the front and back faces). In trackball mode, there is no vanishing point.

Vanishing Point , the second method of interactive adjustment, does not allow you to rotate the extrusion in 3D space, but allows you to change the size and placement of the front and back faces, either directly or by moving the vanishing point of the extrusion.

You can switch from Trackball to Vanishing Point mode and back, and the appearance of the extrusion will revert to the state that it was in when you were previously in that mode. In both modes, the same number of Undo levels are available as in freeform drawing/editing and in Warp/Perspective, so you can Undo trackball rotations, vanishing point movements, etc.

Reset lets you undo your extrusion to the original default setting for the mode in which you are currently working (Trackball or Vanishing Point).

Perspective, which is applicable only in Vanishing Point mode, allows the back face to be smaller than the front face, so that the extrusion appears to recede to a vanishing point. If Perspective is turned off, the front and back faces have the same size and there is no vanishing point.

Show Vanishing Point toggles display of the vanishing point lines and handle when in Vanishing Point mode.

X: lets you change the x coordinate (horizontal position) of the vanishing point.

Y: lets you change the y coordinate (vertical position) of the vanishing point.

Depth lets you change the depth (thickness) of the extrusion. (Depth does not move the vanishing point.)

Side color lets you change the color of the extrusion’s sides to one of the named fill colors. The front face of the extrusion will be the color of the original object.

Previewing an Extrusion

The preview section of the Extrude dialog box lets you see the effects of your work in several different ways.

Wireframe lets you view an outline 3D box that is a simplified view of the extrusion. The object and vanishing points are still manipulated in the same ways while in wireframe mode. The colors will reappear after Done is selected. Using Wireframe is very fast, because you don’t have to wait for the object itself to be extruded, nor for other objects behind the extrusion to redraw each time you make a change. Select Apply to preview the final extrusion.

Solid box preview mode lets you view a solid 3D box that is a simplified view of the extrusion. The solid box makes it easier to visualize the effect of the extrusion in 3D, but is slower since objects behind the extrusion must be redrawn each time you make a change. Select Apply to preview the final extrusion.

 
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