Expression 3 Tutorial: Effects Lines ~ Page 1

Tutorial: Expression 3 ...Effects Lines. [1] [2] [3]
A Look at Effects Lines in Action

1: Creating Effects Lines 1: Start with a reference path (A) (reference paths seen here in blue) 2: Create a second reference path (B) 3: With both selected go to: Objects > Effects lines > Create - or click on the "Create Effects Lines" button in the Effects Lines pallete -If you create just one path and click the "Create Effects Lines" button, Expression will make a "cloned" inner path and create effects lines to that. 4: Expression will create the Effect Lines (C) (black lines) for you. 5: Optional focus point (D) will converge Effect Lines towards it. Once the Effects Lines are created you can still select the start or end paths and move or adjust them with the select or node tools.	2: Template Paths You can attach template paths to further modify the direction and appearance of your effect lines: 1: Make a separate path somewhere in your document that will become your *template path* . 2: Select the effects line object (A), then select the template path (B) - in this case I made a simple "s" shape. 3: With these both selected you click on the "Apply Template Path" button in the effects lines pallete. 4: The template path will now be applied to your effects lines (C) Once the template path has been applied to your object, the original template path can be deleted if you wish.
Individual components of Effects Lines objects can be adjusted in various ways. To move a component path, select it using the Group Select tool then drag (A&B). NB - the above techniques only apply if the inner path was created manually, not if Expression created a "cloned" inner object from your outer path. Paths can be altered by selection with the Node tool - then modify as you would any other path (C). The effects lines will follow your changes, as can be seen in the example. The node tool can be used to modify template paths also.
3: The Effects Lines Pallete The Effects Lines palette (at left) gives you greater control over other aspects of the look of the effects lines. This can be brought up by pressing F12 ...I've labelled most of the controls here...the others have to do with variation of the edges (start and end) of the Effects Lines and grouping them in clumps and so forth. I will (hopefully) explain these later with graphic examples. The sliders at the right of the Effects Line spacing and stroke width settings apply control for variance in spacing and width respectively, represented in percentage. Examples of these sliders in action can be seen below...
4: Stroke Width Variance	5: Line Separation Variance
On the next page we will look at more of the controls available in the effects lines pallete and also the use of gradients, fills and applying width variation and different strokes to your Effect Lines...so if you are still interested, click the "next page" link below!
TOP \| NEXT PAGE