Formatting lines and outlines

Lines are treated the same way as outlines of closed shapes, such as ellipses and polygons. In some programs, outlines are known as strokes or thick lines.

You can change the appearance of both lines and outlines by using the controls in the Outline section of the Object properties docker, the Outline pen dialog box, 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. In addition, you can set the outline to print on top of underlying colors, without removing them during printing.

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.

You can set the miter limit to determine the corner shape in objects containing lines that meet at sharp angles. Corners with angles above the miter limit are pointed (mitered); corners with angles below the miter limit are beveled (squared off).

In addition, you can specify the position of the outline by placing it outside or inside the object, or centering it so that it overlaps equally the outside and the inside of an object. The effect of outline position options are more obvious with thick outlines.

You can specify the position of the outline. Outline options from left to right: Outside, Centered, Inside.

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

However, you can change any of these default line and outline properties at any time.

You can create calligraphic outlines. A calligraphic outline varies in thickness, creating the effect of a hand-made drawing.

Creating cuttable outlines

To create a cuttable outline for devices such as plotters, vinyl cutters and Print-Cut devices, you need to assign the appropriate predefined color name (usually CutContour) that is specified by the device manufacturer.

Note that cuttable outlines do not print when identified by the RIP or Print-Cut device. If you want to make the outlines printable, you can use the Object Shaping Boundary command. For more information, see To create a boundary around selected objects.

To change the color of a line or an outline

To specify line and outline settings

2 .	Click Window Dockers Object properties.

You can also
Change the units of measurement for the outline width	Choose a unit of measurement from the Outline units box.
Set the miter limit	Type a value in the Miter limit box.
Set the shape of corners	Click one of the following buttons: Mitered corners — creates pointed corners Round corners — creates rounded corners Beveled corners — creates squared off corners
Set the appearance of endpoints in open paths	Click one of the following buttons: Square cap — creates square end shapes Round cap — creates rounded end shapes Extended square cap — creates square end shapes that extend the length of the line
Specify the outline position	Click one of the following buttons: Outside outline — places the outline outside the object Centered outline — centers the outline along the object edge Inside outline — places the outline inside the object
Apply an outline behind an object’s fill	Enable the Behind fill check box. If this check box is not displayed, click the arrow button at the bottom of the Outline section.
Link the outline thickness to an object’s size	Enable the Scale with object check box. If this check box is not displayed, click the arrow button at the bottom of the Outline section.
Set the outline to print on top of underlying colors during printing	Enable the Overprint outline check box. If this check box is not displayed, click the arrow button at the bottom of the Outline section.
Create a line style	Click the Settings button , and move the slider in the Edit line style dialog box. By clicking the boxes to the left of the slider, you can specify the placement and frequency of the dots in the new line style you create. Click Add.
Edit a line style	Choose a line style from the Style list box, and click the Settings button . Create a line style in the Edit line style dialog box, and click Replace.

You can also specify line and outline settings in the Outline pen dialog box. To access the Outline pen dialog box, double-click 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

2 .	Click Window Dockers Object properties.

You can also create a calligraphic outline in the Outline pen dialog box. To access the Outline pen dialog box, double-click the Outline icon on the status bar.

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

To set the line and outline properties for new objects

2 .	Double-click the Outline icon on the status bar.

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