User`s guide

Chapter 7 Working with Shapes
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6. Select the Back Face Culling option to render only the parts of the object that are
currently visible.
7. Select the Back Bevels option to create bevels on the back face of text.
For detailed information on the Extrusion tab parameters, see “Extrusion Tab” on page 364.
Working with 3D Line Art
3D Line Art is similar to the 3D Plane shape in terms of its capabilities, but it is designed for
use with vector graphics rather than bitmap images. 3D Line Art is used with the Text,
Spline Object, Spline Primitive, and EPS File media types. Since it is vector based, the 3D
Line Art shape can be scaled infinitely with no degradation of quality to its media.
Like the other shapes, 3D Line Art can be positioned and rotated in 3D space, pivoted
around a point, composited on other objects, and undergo other transformations.
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The 3D Line Art tabs are identical to the corresponding tabs in other shapes. These tabs are
described in “Using Common Shape Parameters” on page 308.
Understanding Vector Graphics and Bitmaps
A bitmap image is an image represented by a grid of pixels, each of which is assigned a
specific color. This produces a coherent image when viewed at the intended size, but if
scaled dramatically, the pixels become apparent and the image loses quality.
The following example shows the letter P represented as a bitmap. A video image is an
example of a bitmap, as is an image produced in an application, such as Adobe
®
Photoshop
®
.
For long credit rolls, you’d want to use the 3D Plane shape. A bitmap image renders faster
than a vector graphic when you work with large bodies of text. Unless the text is scaled very
large, the quality appears fine.