Fit objects to a path

The Fit Objects to Path feature lets you fit any type and number of objects to a path of your choice. Smart distribution and rotation settings help you customize the placement of objects on the path.

You can distribute objects along a path by placing equal gaps between them and you can distribute objects by spacing evenly their reference points such as center of rotation or object origin. Objects can be rotated to follow the path. Moreover, you can use additional options such as different rotation styles and spin angles to create unique effects.

Fitting objects to a path

To fit objects to a path

3 .	Click Objects Fit Objects to Path.

Objects that can be used as paths include curves, rectangles, ellipses, polygons, artistic text, and groups of objects. If a group contains an object that cannot be used as a path, this invalid object is excluded — selected objects are fit to the path of the remaining objects in the group.

The stacking order of the objects and path depends on the order of creation. If you draw the path first, it will appear behind the objects. If you draw the path last, it will appear on top of the objects.

Fitting linked groups, such as drop shadows, artistic media groups, and blends, to a path may produce unexpected results.

To use B-splines and connector lines as paths, you must convert them to curves first.

You can also access the Fit Objects to Path docker from the Window Dockers menu, or you can access it by clicking the Quick Customize button of any docker and enabling the Fit Objects to Path check box.

To fit a blend to a path, we recommend that you use an alternative method. Click the Blend tool, click the Path properties button on the property bar, choose New Path, and then click a path.

To choose Fit Objects to Path settings

Use the controls in the Fit Objects to Path docker (Objects Fit Objects to Path) to customize how objects are placed on the path and create unique effects.

Objects

Keep originals: Enable this check box to fit copies of the objects to the selected path and keep the original objects in place.

Duplicates: Fit Objects to Path can automatically create extra copies of the selected objects and place them on the path. Specify the number of additional copies to be fit to the path in the Duplicates box.

Group all objects: Enable this check box if you want the objects to be grouped after they are placed on the path. The path is not included in the group so that you can move it or delete it easily.

This effect was created by fitting a rectangle and 350 rectangle copies to the path of a text object.

Path

Treat as contiguous: This option has an effect when you want to fit objects to closed paths or to paths that consist of open subpaths.

Object positioning

Order: This list box lets you choose the order in which the selected objects appear on the path. The objects can be placed in the order in which they were selected or in reverse order. You can also place them based on their size, width, or height.

Order options shown from left to right: Selection: Follow selection order, Selection: Reverse order, and Area: Small to big.

Distribution: This list box lets you choose a distribution method. You can distribute objects by inserting equal space between them (Uniform object spacing). You can also distribute objects by spacing evenly the reference points that you select.

The Uniform object spacing method places equal gaps between the objects on the path.

Reference points: An object is anchored (fit) to the path by its reference point. The Reference list box lets you choose the center of rotation of each object or the object origin as a reference point. The object origin, also known as "anchor point", can be the center of an object or any one of eight other points on the object’s bounding box. To change the origin point, simply click another point on the Origin control.

Object origin spacing method. The object origin point is changed to create the effect of leaves hanging from a branch.

Rotation options

Ignore initial rotation: This control lets you clear all previous rotations applied to the objects before they were placed on the path.

Top: The original clipart is rotated. Middle: It is fit to a straight path, ignoring the applied rotation. Bottom: The clipart is fit to the path, preserving its rotation.

The following controls let you enhance object rotation along the path.

Style: Choose from several rotation styles to create various rotation effects. The Uniform style lets you add the same rotation to each object along the path by specifying a value in the Start angle box. The Progressive style works together with the Start angle and Spin angle boxes to add a rotation that changes along the path. If you want to create a more organic rotation effect with angles of rotation varying randomly, you can choose Jitter or Progressive jitter. You can specify the range of the random rotations.

Left: With the Uniform style, the same angle of rotation is added to each object on the path. Right: With the Progressive style, the added angle of rotation changes for each object.

Direction: By default, added rotation is applied counterclockwise. To change the direction, enable the Clockwise check box.

Start angle: Add an angle of rotation to each object.

Spin angle: This control works together with the Progressive and Progressive jitter styles. It allows you to add an angle of rotation to each object, ranging from 0º to the specified value. Suppose that you want to fit an object and three duplicates to a path, and you specify a spin angle of 180º. This spin angle applies an additional rotation of 0º to the first object, 60º to the second object, 120º to the third object, and 180º to the last object.

Progressive rotation style with a start angle of 5º and a spin angle of 180º

Revolutions: An alternative way of adding rotation to the objects on the path progressively. One revolution equals 360º.

Range: This control is available when the Jitter and Progressive jitter styles are selected. Specify a value range for random rotations used to create jitter. For example, with a value of 15º, the angles of rotation vary between 15º and -15º.

Examples of Jitter (top) and Progressive jitter (bottom) rotation styles with range of 30º

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