MACROMEDIA FREEHAND MX 11, Use Manual

Page: 95 / 412

Drawing 95
Erasing paths
You can erase parts of selected paths by using the Eraser tool.
To set the Eraser tool options:
1
In the Tools panel, double-click the Eraser tool.
2
Enter a value from 0 to 72 points in the Min text box, or set the minimum width with
the slider.
3
Enter a value from 0 to 72 points in the Max text box, or set the maximum width with
the slider.
To erase a selected path with the Eraser tool:
1
In the Tools panel, click the Eraser tool.
2
Drag the Eraser tool across the path.
•
To decrease the eraser width, press the Left Arrow key.
•
To increase the eraser width, use the Right Arrow key.
•
If you’re using a pressure-sensitive tablet, the width of the path segments increase or decrease
according to the amount of pressure applied.
Simplifying paths
Using many points on a path increases the file size and can slow the process of redrawing the
screen and printing. Simplifying a path generally makes editing, displaying, and printing easier,
and is useful for objects created with the Trace tool or the Pencil tool.
To selectively simplify paths in an entire document, you can use the Edit > Find and Replace >
Graphics command to select paths containing more than a specified number of points. For more
information on this command, see “Making global changes” on page 124.
You can also change the flatness setting to improve printing speed on printers with little memory.
For more information, see “Printing” on page 375.
To simplify a selected path:
1
Select Modify > Alter Path > Simplify.
2
Enter a value in the Amount text box or adjust the slider. The higher the value, the more points
FreeHand removes from the path.
3
Click Apply to preview the result. You can change the result and preview it as many times
as you want.
4
Click Cancel to cancel the operation or click OK to accept the results.
Changing a path’s direction
The path direction affects which handle adjusts a given path segment, which path end an
arrowhead is attached to, and how text is attached to a path. Direction also affects blending paths,
composite paths, and brush strokes.
To reverse the direction of a selected path:
Select Modify > Alter Path > Reverse Direction.