Converting Straight to Curved Lines
Converting Straight to Curved Lines
I'm playing with the FontCreator demo right now, and I'm wondering (I know it must be in the manual somewhere) how to change a straight line to a curved one. With Fontographer, which I'm used to, you just position the cursor over the line, press a mouse button, and pull the line in the direction you want. But how with FontCreator...?
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Re: converting straight to cuved lines
There are several ways to achieve this. By playing with them all, you can decide what works best in a particular situation.
In point mode change one point from on-curve to off-curve. If the contour doesn't contain a point in the area, then first add a point, and then change it to off-curve.
Alternatively add an ellipse contour, and then use the merge feature to join the two contours.
In point mode change one point from on-curve to off-curve. If the contour doesn't contain a point in the area, then first add a point, and then change it to off-curve.
Alternatively add an ellipse contour, and then use the merge feature to join the two contours.
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Re: Converting Straight to Curved Lines
- Select the node at the anticlockwise end of the straight line that you wish to curve
- Press shortcuts a, then f.
- Drag the off-curve node at the mid-point to curve the line
Making a Smooth Bracket
Re: Converting Straight to Curved Lines
After more effort, I'm still hung up. How do I add a point? I select Insert/Contour, then click Apply on the menu that appears on the screen. I move the cursor where I want to add the point and right click it and a contour (or point?) appears. But when I then try to get out of insert mode, I can't do so without adding more points (since they're all connected with straight lines) until I connect them all together. And the point of this is to create a curved line; all the lines are straight. (Yes, I tried the tutorial that comes with the program, and this is about as far as I've gotten there).
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Re: Converting Straight to Curved Lines
Once you have inserted a contour with Apply, then you can add points to the existing contour, as described above. You can only add nodes in points mode. Select a node, type shortcuts a, then f, to add a node and change it to off-curve.
The Insert contour tool only draws straight lines. Curves can be drawn with the Quick draw tool, but then you will not get such a smooth curve as by adding just one off-curve node to a straight line.
The Insert contour tool only draws straight lines. Curves can be drawn with the Quick draw tool, but then you will not get such a smooth curve as by adding just one off-curve node to a straight line.