Page 332 - Xara Designer Pro X17

332 The Mold Tool

The above example shows the 4 curve handles of the corners have been dragged
outwards to bend the content of the mold.

You can also rotate, resize and skew the enveloped object using the SELECTOR TOOL.

The mold mesh button
The Mesh button displays a series of faint dots which can help preview the
distortions that the envelope mold is giving.
Envelope molds

You can create an envelope mold from any four sided shape, which you can distort as
you require, and then use as an envelope mold by clicking the PASTE ENVELOPE button
on the MOLD TOOL InfoBar.

Editing mold shapes

You can edit the contents of a mold (essentially a group) using editing inside groups (on
page 99). Editing is not possible using direct selection inside (molds do not allow objects
inside them to become selected). To edit a mold inside, right click on the mold and
choose OPEN MOLD from the context menu.

You can edit the shape of envelope or perspective molds with the SHAPE TOOL (or the
edit handles with SELECTOR TOOL, if shown). According to the nature of molds, there are
some restrictions:
• You cannot add point handles to a perspective or envelope mold, because it has to
stay a four-sided shape
• You cannot change a straight line of a perspective mold into a curve.