Datasheet

Lines, Curves, and Shapes 67
To change a line segment from straight to curved, or vice versa:
1. With the Node Tool, select the leading node of the line segment (the node
nearer the start of the line).
2. Then, either:
• To make a line segment straight, click
Straighten Line on the
context toolbar. The selected segment immediately jumps to a
straight line.
- or -
• To make a line segment curved, click one of the node buttons on
the context toolbar: Sharp Corner, Smooth Corner, Symmetric
Corner, or Smart Corner. You can then adjust the curvature of
the newly created curved segment.
To convert to straight lines:
1. With the Node Tool, select the curve.
2. From the context toolbar, choose
Convert to Straight Lines. The
curve segments are replaced by straight line segments throughout the
line.
Adjusting a shape
As described on p. 59, you can easily turn a curve into a shape by connecting its
end nodes. You can go the other way, too—break open a shape in order to add
one or more line segments.
To break open a line or shape:
1. With the Node Tool, select the node on the closed curve where you
want the break to occur.
2. Click
Break Curve on the context toolbar so that the line will
separate. A shape will become a line, with the selected node split into
two nodes, one at each end of the new line.
3. You can now use the Node Tool to reposition the nodes and reshape
the line by dragging on the handles.