Page 151 - Xara Web Designer Premium

Drawing Lines and Shapes 151

Balancing curves
Balancing makes the two curve handles the same distance from the point handle, which
gives smoother, more symmetrical curves. To balance a curve, select the point handle,
then drag one of the curve handles with "Shift" held down. As you drag one curve handle
the other one will move to be exactly opposite it and the same distance from the point
handle.

Joining lines

You can only join lines if both are selected (the point handles are shown on both lines):

Using the SELECTOR TOOL, hold down "" and click on the lines to select them (if you are
already in the SHAPE EDITOR TOOL, you can press "Alt + S" to temporarily go into the
SELECTOR TOOL, "+ click" to select the second line, then "Alt + S" again to return to the
SHAPE EDITOR TOOL).

Selecting objects is described fully in "Selecting objects (on page 92)".

Once both objects are selected, in the SHAPE EDITOR TOOL, drag the end handle of one
line over the end of the other line. As you drag the mouse pointer will show a + symbol to
indicate that the lines will be joined..

If the ends of the two lines are already very close to each other (but not joined), then you
can either zoom in or drag the end point away, and then back again so it’s over the end
point, and you see the + sign to indicate a join will occur.

To create a filled shape, drag the other two end handles together. Because you join the
end handles, you can only join lines and not shapes. Shapes are closed objects and so
have no end handles.

Changing the line width (thickness)

To change the line thickness or the outline thickness of a shape, first select the object or
objects: