Operation Manual

198 Pictures, Lines, and Shapes
Smart segments appear
without visible control handles,
using automatic curve-fitting to
connect each node. They are
especially useful when tracing
around curved objects and pictures.
(Shortcut: Press 3)
2. Select a segment type, then click where you want the line to start:
• For a Straight segment, click again (or drag) for a new node
where you want the segment to end. Shift-click to align the
segment at 15° intervals (useful for quick right-angle junctions).
• For a Bézier segment, click again for a new node and drag out a
control handle from it. Control handles act like "magnets,"
pulling the curve into shape. The distance between handles
determines the depth of the resulting new curved line segment.
Click again where you want the segment to end, and a curved
segment appears. The finished segment becomes selectable.
• For a Smart segment, click again for a new node. The segment
appears as a smooth, best-fitting curve (without visible control
handles) between the new node and the preceding node. Before
releasing the mouse button, you can drag to "flex" the line as if
bending a piece of wire. If the preceding corner node on the line
is also smart, flexibility extends back to the preceding segment.
You can Shift-click to create a new node that lines up at 15°
intervals with the previous node.
3. To extend an existing line, repeat Step 2 for each new segment. Each
segment can be of a different type.
4. To end the line, press Esc, double-click, or choose a different tool.