Working with nodes (2024)

Working with nodes

Nodes are square points on line and curve objects. You can change the shape of a line or curve object by dragging one or more of its nodes.

Nodes have zero, one, or two control arms. The length and direction of the control arms determine the shape of the contour at the node. The straight or curved line between two nodes is a line segment. There are four types of nodes: symmetrical, asymmetrical, cusp, and smooth.

You can use symmetrical nodes to create smooth, flowing curves on either side of a node. Any adjustments to one control arm are mirrored by the other.

You can use asymmetrical nodes to obtain a different amount of curve on each side of the node, but keep a smooth flow through the node. You can adjust the length of each control arm, but the not the direction.

You can use cusp nodes to create extreme changes in direction. You can adjust the length and direction of each control arm independently.

You can use smooth nodes to create a smooth transition between straight and curved line segments.

You can select a node to edit, or you can move it. Moving a node alters the shape of a vector object. If an object has more than one contour, you can move all of its nodes. You can also move the path to move the entire object. You can edit the contour of a vector object by adding, merging, or deleting nodes anywhere along a path.

You can merge nodes on a contour while retaining the line segments on each side. The line segments are combined into one line segment between remaining nodes. If the contour is curved at the node, CorelPaintShopPro attempts to retain the curve.

You can also delete a node to remove the node and the line segments on each side.

To select a node

Edit workspace

3Click a vector object.

The object's nodes appear.

4Click the node.

The selected node appears with a solid gray fill.

Start and end nodes are easy to find. The cursor displays “START” or “END” when you hold it over the node. If the shape is closed, the cursor displays “CLOSE.”

To move a node

Edit workspace

3Select a node, and then drag it to a new position.

You can constrain a node’s line segments to 45-degree increments by holding down Shift as you drag.

To add a node on a contour

Edit workspace

2On the Tool Options palette, click one of the following buttons:

3Click the contour.

4Hold down Ctrl, and click where you want to add a node.

The cursor displays “+ADD.”

To add a new start or end node

Edit workspace

3Select the start or end node of the contour.

4Click to add another node.

The contour automatically connects to the new node.

To merge one or more nodes

Edit workspace

2Select the node you want to merge.

If you want to select multiple nodes, hold down Shift and click.

3Right-click a node, and choose Edit  Merge.

To transform nodes

Edit workspace

3Select one or more nodes.

4Choose Objects  Transform Selected Nodes, and choose one of the following commands:

• Flip — moves selected nodes along the vertical axis (those on top go the bottom and vice versa). On a single node, the command flips the node’s control arms.

• Mirror — moves selected nodes along the horizontal axis (those on the left go to the right and vice versa). On a single node, the command mirrors the node’s control arms.

• Rotate — rotates the selected nodes by the current rotation setting. Applied to a single node, the control arms (if any) will rotate.

• Skew X — moves selected nodes to the left or right (along the horizontal axis) using the current skew setting

• Skew Y — moves selected nodes to the left or right (along the vertical axis) using the current skew setting

• Contract — moves the selected nodes closer to each other by the current contraction setting. This command cannot be applied to a single node.

• Expand — moves the selected nodes away from each other by the current expansion setting. This command cannot be applied to a single node.

5Where applicable, type a value for the selected transformation setting.

To adjust a curve using a node’s control arms

Edit workspace

1Select a node to display its control arms.

Note: Cusp nodes may have no control arms.

2Move the cursor over a control handle until the cursor changes to two rotating arrows.

3Drag the handle.

To constrain the control arms to fixed angles (45-degree increments), hold down Shift as you drag.

To straighten a curve between two nodes

Edit workspace

1Select two consecutive nodes.

2Right-click one node, and then choose Node Type  Convert to Line.

To delete a node

Edit workspace

1Select a node.

2Press Delete.

If you delete a node in the middle of an open contour, the vector object becomes two separate contours. If you delete a node in a closed contour, the contour opens.