Thursday Tip: Envelope Modifier Keys
Sometimes it is surprising when you learn that "an expert" doesn't know a particular little tip. I had that happen once when I was demonstrating the following tip. Someone who knows CorelDRAW inside and out wasn't aware of the feature. It just goes to show you that nobody knows everything about the product and we should always be looking to learn one more tip.
Enveloping allows you to create some really cool effects. Most users limit themselves to using it on text, but keep in mind that it also works on vector graphics. One of my favorites tricks is to use the Ctrl and Shift keys to modify the function of enveloping. If you hold the Ctrl key while moving one of the envelope's nodes, the opposite node will move the same direction and same distance. Using the Shift key will move the opposite node the same amount in the opposite direction. This can often give you just the effect you want and is much easier than trying to move both nodes the same amount manually.
Enveloping allows you to create some really cool effects. Most users limit themselves to using it on text, but keep in mind that it also works on vector graphics. One of my favorites tricks is to use the Ctrl and Shift keys to modify the function of enveloping. If you hold the Ctrl key while moving one of the envelope's nodes, the opposite node will move the same direction and same distance. Using the Shift key will move the opposite node the same amount in the opposite direction. This can often give you just the effect you want and is much easier than trying to move both nodes the same amount manually.
Labels: envelope, modifier, thursday-tip
posted by Foster D. Coburn III at
1:00 AM
3 Comments:
how? a test drive in X3 showed no effect. what am I doing wrong?
Jill,
The feature definitely exists in CorelDRAW X3 and many versions before that. I don't know what steps are involved in a "test drive" so I can't tell you why it didn't work for you. I do show the process in my CorelDRAW Unleashed book so you might want to check that out to see it in action.
Just tried it: It didn't work at first because the envelope tool was in "unconstrained" mode. But when I switched to line, or single- or double-arc mode, it worked as advertised.
(I'm using X3)
Post a Comment
<< Home