- Setting Selection Preferences
- Selecting Lines with the Selection Tool
- Selecting Fills with the Selection Tool
- Using a Selection Rectangle
- Using the Lasso Tool
- Deselecting Elements
- Repositioning Elements Manually
- Repositioning Elements Numerically
- Basic Editing Tasks: Cut, Copy, Paste
- Editing Existing Elements with Assistance
- Moving End Points with the Selection Tool
- Moving Points with the Subselection Tool
- Reshaping Curves with the Selection Tool
- Reshaping Curves with the Subselection Tool
- Converting, Removing, and Adding Points
- Reshaping Fills
- Changing the Size of Graphic Elements
- Reorienting Graphic Elements
- Distorting Graphic Elements
- Changing the Envelope of Selected Elements
- Modifying Strokes
- Using the Eraser Tool in Normal Mode
- Using the Faucet Modifier
- Modifying Fill Colors
- Creating Solid Colors: Color Mixer Panel
- Creating New Gradients
- Creating Color Sets
- Putting Gradients to Work
- Modifying Applied Gradients
- Applying Attributes of One Graphic Element to Another
- Converting Lines to Fills
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Reshaping Curves with the Selection Tool
You can reshape a curve, or change a straight-line segment into a curve, by using the selection tool to push and pull on the curve. You can also reshape curves by using the pen and subselection tools in combination (see "Reshaping Curves with the Subselection Tool" later in this chapter).
In the following exercises for the selection tool, make sure that the line or curve you want to reshape is deselected when you start each exercise.
To reposition the end of a curve with the selection tool:
- Position the selection tool's pointer over the end point of the curve. The corner-point modifier appears.
- Click and drag the end point to a new location.
As you drag, the end of the line changes to a small circle, showing that the line is active for modifications. The last segment of the curve changes direction depending on where you locate the end point. Flash previews the new curve segment as you drag (
Figure 3.34
).
Figure 3.34 Using the selection tool, click the curve's end point and drag it to a new position. Flash reshapes the end of the curve.
)
To reshape a curve with the selection tool:
- Position the selection tool's pointer over the middle of a curve segment. The curve-point modifier appears.
- Click and drag the curve to reshape it (
Figure 3.35
).
Flash previews the curve you're drawing.
Figure 3.35 Click the middle of a curve (A). Flash activates the curve segment (B). Drag the curve to a new position (C, D). When you release the mouse button, Flash redraws the curve (E).
- Release the mouse button. Flash redraws the curve.
)
To turn a straight-line segment into a curve segment with the selection tool:
- Position the selection tool's pointer over the middle of a line segment. The curve-point modifier appears.
- Click and drag the line to reshape it (
Figure 3.36
).
Flash previews the curve that you're drawing.
Figure 3.36 Although this line doesn't look curved (top), Flash considers all its middle points to be curve points. Drag one of those points to create a line that looks like a curve (bottom).
- Release the mouse button. Flash redraws the line, giving it the curve you defined.
)
To create new corner points with the selection tool:
- Position the selection tool's pointer over the middle of a line or curve segment. The curve-point modifier appears.
- Option-click (Mac) or Ctrl-click (Windows). After a brief pause, the selection tool's modifier changes to the corner-point modifier, and a circle appears where the pointer intersects the line. You are now activating a corner point.
- Drag to modify the line or curve segment and add a new corner point (
Figure 3.37
).
Figure 3.37 Option-click (Mac) or Ctrl-click (Windows) to create a new corner point for editing your line. Dragging a corner point from a straight-line segment creates a sharp V (top). Dragging a corner point from a curve creates a V with curving sides that comes to a sharp point (bottom).
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