Page 167 - Xara Designer Pro X17

Drawing Lines and Shapes 167

Constraining the line

When dragging a point handle, holding down the
constrain key ("Ctrl") will constrain the movement to
multiples of the constrain angle (controlled from the
OPTIONS dialog, GENERAL tab). When dragging a curve
handle the angle is constrained.

Changing curves

Using the curve handle
Dragging the curve handle will adjust the curvature of the adjoining curve segments.

Move the curve handle towards or away from the point
handle to pull the curve in the required direction.

Dragging the line segment
You can also change the curve by dragging the line segment between points.

Notice the difference between dragging the line to change its shape, and clicking on the
line to add a new point handle. Dragging a straight line segment changes it to a curved
line segment.
Making sharp corners

Normally, Xara Designer Pro X draws a smooth curve through a point handle. For this,
the two curve handles either side of a point handle are linked. Moving either curve handle
also moves the other.