plays special editing handles or configuration options, rather than the anchor points and segments of a regular path object. The tools that create special vector objects are the Concentric Circles, Cube, Polygon, Grid Maker, Multigon, Spiral, and EasyShapes tools. Also, when you modify objects with the Envelope or Extrude com- mands, Canvas creates specialized objects. If you want to use path-editing techniques to modify these objects, you can convert them to paths. This usually produces a group of objects. After you ungroup these objects, you will have regular paths that can be edited using the techniques in this chapter. You can also convert text characters to paths so that you can edit the shapes of individual characters. For more information, see “Converting objects and text to paths” on page 23.441. Editing paths with the context menu When a path is in edit mode, you can use the context menu to quickly add, delete, and change anchor points and tangent lines. To see this menu, Control-click (Mac) or right-click (Windows) with at least one object in path edit mode. The available options vary depending on the location of the pointer. Each option is described next. Delete Point Available when the pointer is on an anchor point and appears as a crosshair. Removes the anchor point from the path, and connects the adjacent anchor points with a new segment. Cusp Available when the pointer is on a tangent line handle or an anchor point. On anchor points, this option deletes the point’s tangent lines. On tangent line handles, this option makes the path either smooth or cornered at the anchor point. To be smooth, the anchor point must have both sides of a tangent line. When smooth, the halves of the tangent line are always 180 degrees from each other and rotate around the anchor point like a propeller. When the anchor point is a corner, the tangent line segments can move independently around the anchor point, like the hands of a clock. Smooth jAvailable when two or more points of an object are selected. You can smooth any paths made of straight segments. Fillet Available when the pointer is on a corner point (with less than two tangent lines between two segments. Fillet creates a radius cor- ner between the two segments. When you choose Fillet, a dialog box appears. Enter a radius value in the text box and click OK. The larger The path-editing Context menu
Canvas 8 Help: Drawing and editing paths (12 of 28)                                                 Page #430