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Formatting lines and outlines in CorelDRAW

Formatting lines and outlines in CorelDRAW Process to create a calligraphic outline set the line and outline properties for new objects

Process to specify line and outline settings Process to add an arrowhead

Formatting lines and outlines

Lines are treated the same way as outlines of closed shapes, such as ellipses and polygons. You can change the appearance of both lines and outlines by using the controls of the Outline pen dialog box, the Outline page of the Object properties docker, and the property bar. For example, you can specify the color, width, and style of lines and outlines.

You can choose a corner style to control the corner shape in lines and choose a line cap style to change the appearance of a line’s endpoints. By default, an outline is applied on top of an object’s fill, but you can apply it behind the fill, with the fill overlapping the outline. You can also link the outline thickness to an object’s size so that the outline increases when you increase the object’s size and decreases when you decrease the object’s size.

Different corner styles were applied to the upper and lower row of triangles. Different line caps were applied to the lines in the upper-right corner. Arrowheads were applied to the lines in the lower-right corner.

When an object contains lines that meet at sharp angles, you can set the miter limit to determine their corner shape. Corners with angles above the miter limit are pointed (mitered); corners with angles below the miter limit are beveled (squared off).

You can create calligraphic outlines. A calligraphic outline varies in thickness, creating the effect of a hand-made drawing. In addition, you can add arrowheads to lines and curves. You can create new arrowheads and edit existing arrowheads.

The default line and outline properties for each new object that you draw are as follows:

• hairline width

• CMYK black color

• solid line

• square corner and line cap styles

• no arrowheads applied

• outline applied on top of an object’s fill

• outline not linked to an object’s size. However, you can change any of these default line and outline properties at any time.

To specify line and outline settings

1. Select an object.

2. Open the Outline tool flyout , and click the Outline pen dialog button .

3. Open the color picker, and click a color.

4. Type a value in the Width box.

5. Choose a line style from the Style box.

• You can quickly access the Outline pen dialog box by clicking the Outline icon on the status bar.

• You can also change the outline width of a selected object by typing a value in the Outline width box on the property bar.

To create a calligraphic outline

1. Select an object.

2. Open the Outline tool flyout , and click the Outline pen dialog button .

3. In the Corners area, enable a corner style.

4. In the Calligraphy area, type a value in the Stretch box to change the width of the pen’s nib.

    The value range is from1 to 100, with 100 as the default setting. Reducing the value makes square nibs rectangular and round nibs oval, creating a more pronounced
    calligraphic effect.

5. Type a value in the Angle box to change the orientation of the pen in relation to the drawing surface.

• To reset Stretch and Angle values to their original values, click Default.

• You can also adjust the Stretch and Angle values by dragging in the Nib shape preview box.

To add an arrowhead

1. Select a line or curve.

2. Open the Outline tool flyout , and click the Outline pen dialog button .

3. In the Arrows area, open the Start arrowhead picker, and click a line-ending shape.

4. Open the End arrowhead picker, and click a line-ending shape.

 

You can also
Create an arrowhead	In the Arrows area, click Options New. Drag the side handles and hollow nodes to shape the arrowhead.
Edit an arrowhead	Using the Pick tool , select an object with an arrowhead. Click the Arrowhead Selector button on the property bar. In the arrowhead picker, click Other. In the Edit window, drag the side handles and hollow nodes to shape the arrowhead.

To set the line and outline properties for new objects

1. Using the Pick tool, click on an empty space in the drawing window to deselect all objects.

2. Open the Outline tool flyout , and click the Outline pen dialog button .

3. In the Outline pen dialog box, click OK to change the default outline properties for new graphic objects only.

    If you want to change the outline properties for text objects as well, enable the Artistic text and Paragraph text check boxes.

4. Specify the settings you want.