Drawing Freehand Polylines

Use the Freehand tool to draw a freehand polyline in a manner similar to drawing with a pen. Once the object is drawn, it can be reshaped.

freehand_mode.png 

Mode
Description

Freehand Edit

Reshapes the singularly selected polyline, polygon, rectangle, circle, or arc; for more information

Preferences

Sets the smoothing level when drawing a curve. Increasing the degree of smoothing decreases the vertices, and therefore it is easier to reshape the curve. Decreasing the degree of smoothing increases the vertices which produces a more accurate representation of the curve. Select Off to draw the curve without using the smoothing feature.

Freehand_Tool.png 

To draw a freehand polyline:

1. Click the Freehand tool from the Basic palette.

2. Click Preferences.

The Freehand Tool Preferences dialog box opens. Select the smoothing level when drawing a curve.

3. Click OK.

4. Click in the drawing to set the polyline start point. Move the mouse to create the desired freehand polyline shape.

5. Click again when the object is complete.

The number and placement of polyline vertices is determined by the object shape and specified degree of curve smoothing. For example, an object consisting of a series of arcs and curves created with a low degree of curve smoothing contains more vertices than a series of lines created with a high degree of curve smoothing.

Markers can be added with the Attributes palette (see Marker Attributes).

By default, the Freehand tool applies a fill of “None.” Change the fill type before sweeping a freehand polyline, if rendering of the sweep volume is desired.

Reshaping Objects with the Freehand Tool

A polyline, polygon, rectangle, circle, or arc can be reshaped using the Freehand Edit mode of the Freehand tool. The direction of the curve drawn determines the new object shape. An edited object is converted to a polyline after editing is complete.

Freehand_Tool00145.png 

To reshape objects using the Freehand tool:

1. Select a valid object.

2. Click the Freehand tool from the Basic palette.

3. Click Freehand Edit mode from the Tool bar.

4. Click to draw the new curve, editing the valid object using the following curve direction guidelines:

Action
Guidelines

Change existing curve

freehand_curve1.png 

Connect two points with new curve

freehand_curve2.png 

Create closure with new curve

freehand_curve3.png 

Add a new curve to an existing curve

freehand_curve4.png 

Extend existing curve

freehand_curve5.png 

Retain partial curve

freehand_curve6.png 

5. Click again to finish drawing the freehand polyline edit. The valid object is edited and converted to a polyline.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Polyline Tool

Reshaping Objects

Closing and Opening Polygons and Polylines

Displaying and Reversing Object Direction

 

www.vectorworks.net