- Setting Selection Preferences
- Selecting Lines with the Selection Tool
- Selecting Fills with the Selection Tool
- Using a Selection Rectangle
- Using the Lasso Tool
- Deselecting Elements
- Repositioning Elements Manually
- Repositioning Elements Numerically
- Basic Editing Tasks: Cut, Copy, Paste
- Editing Existing Elements with Assistance
- Moving End Points with the Selection Tool
- Moving Points with the Subselection Tool
- Reshaping Curves with the Selection Tool
- Reshaping Curves with the Subselection Tool
- Converting, Removing, and Adding Points
- Reshaping Fills
- Changing the Size of Graphic Elements
- Reorienting Graphic Elements
- Distorting Graphic Elements
- Changing the Envelope of Selected Elements
- Modifying Strokes
- Using the Eraser Tool in Normal Mode
- Using the Faucet Modifier
- Modifying Fill Colors
- Creating Solid Colors: Color Mixer Panel
- Creating New Gradients
- Creating Color Sets
- Putting Gradients to Work
- Modifying Applied Gradients
- Applying Attributes of One Graphic Element to Another
- Converting Lines to Fills
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Distorting Graphic Elements
The free-transform tool allows you to distort a graphic element by changing the shape of its bounding box. You can reposition one or more corners of the box individually; you can manipulate paired corner handles simultaneously to turn the rectangular box into a trapezoid; and you can stretch, shrink, and/or skew the box by moving the side handles of the bounding box. The selected element(s) stretch or shrink to fit the new bounding box. Distortion works only on raw shapes, not on grouped elements or symbols, which you'll learn about in Chapters 4 and 6.
To distort an element freely:
Using the free-transform tool, select the element you want to distort.
A bounding box with transformational handles appears.
In the Toolbar, select the Distort modifier (Figure 3.59).
Figure 3.59 Choose the free-transform tool's Distort modifier to reposition the corner points of your selection independently.
Note that the center point of your selection disappears, indicating that you are in Distort mode.
Position the pointer over one of the transformational handles.
The pointer changes to a hollow arrowhead.
- To change the shape of the bounding box, do one of the following:
- To relocate one corner of the element's bounding box, position the pointer over one of the corner handles; then click and drag the handle to the desired location. You can position each of the four corner handles independently (Figure 3.60).
Figure 3.60 Use the free-transform tool's Distort modifier to redefine the shape of an element's bounding box. You can drag each corner handle separately.
- To skew the element, position the pointer over one of the side handles; then drag the handle to the desired position. The element skews toward the direction you drag.
- To stretch the element as you skew it, move the selected side handle away from the element's center (Figure 3.61).
Figure 3.61 When the Distort modifier is selected, dragging the side handles of a selected element's bounding box skews the element. To enlarge (or shrink) the element at the same time, move the side handle away from (or in toward) the center of the original shape.
- To shrink the element as you skew it, move the selected side handle toward the element's center.
- To relocate one corner of the element's bounding box, position the pointer over one of the corner handles; then click and drag the handle to the desired location. You can position each of the four corner handles independently (Figure 3.60).
Release the mouse button.
Flash redraws the selection to fill the new bounding-box shape.
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To distort graphic elements symmetrically:
- Follow steps 1 and 2 of the preceding exercise to prepare an element for distorting.
- To taper the element, do one of the following:
- To make the top of the bounding box narrower than the bottom, Shift-click and drag the top-right corner handle toward the top-left corner handle, or vice versa (Figure 3.62).
Figure 3.62 Using the Distort modifier of the free-transform tool, Shift-click and drag a corner handle to taper selected elements.
- To make the top of the bounding box wider than the bottom, Shift-click and drag the top-right corner handle away from the top-left corner handle, or vice versa.
- To make the top of the bounding box narrower than the bottom, Shift-click and drag the top-right corner handle toward the top-left corner handle, or vice versa (Figure 3.62).
Release the mouse button.
Flash redraws the bounding box and its contents. If you dragged in, the box appears to taper toward the top. If you dragged out, the box appears to taper toward the bottom. You can follow these procedures for the sides or bottom of the bounding box to taper the box in any direction.
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TIPS
- To access the Free Transform tool's hollow-arrowhead pointer temporarily without selecting the Distort modifier, press
(Mac) or Ctrl (Windows). Then you can drag or Shift-drag to distort selected elements. - If you make a mistake while distorting a graphic, and you choose Edit > Undo so you can fix it, your graphic will be selected with the Free Transform tool but the Distort modifier will not be active. You must reselect the Distort modifier in the Toolbar to continue your distortion.