CorelDRAW Tutorials and Graphics

Home |

Introduction

CorelDRAW Bezier Line

A line made up of straight or curved segments connected by nodes. Each node has a control handle for each curved segment connected to it. Control handle adjusts the curve of a segment.

Read more

• Pierre Bezier, French engineer and creator of Bezier curves from Wikipedia
• Bezier curve, from Wikipedia
• Bezier curves

Nodes Types

1. Cusp nodes let you create sharp transitions, such as corners or sharp angles, in a curve object. You can move the control handles in a cusp node independently of one another, changing only the line on one side of the node.
2. Smooth nodes produce smooth transitions between segments. The control handles of a smooth node are always directly opposite one another, but they may be at different distances from the node.
3. Symmetrical nodes are similar to smooth nodes but their control handles are at an equal distance from the node.
4. Line nodes connect straight segments; they have no control handles.

Using the Bezier tool in CorelDRAW X3

Drawing with the Bezier tool

1. Select the Bezier tool  from the Curve flyout
2. Click to place the first node then
   • To draw a straight segment, click where you want to end it.
   • To draw a curved segment, click where you want to end it, and drag to show and move the control handles to adjust the curve.

     While dragging the control handle, you can press

     • S to switch node type between Symmetrical and Smooth
     • C to switch to Cusp
     • Alt to reposition the node before you actually drop it
     • Ctrl to constrain the curve to 15-degree angles

     After dragging the control handle you can

     • Double-click the last node to clear its outside control handle, and you will be free to follow the curved segment with a straight one, or with a curved (the node you double-click will become a Cusp).

     Add segments as you want

3. Press the Spacebar to finish the line and switch to the Pick tool, or
   • Press Enter to finish the line and directly start a new one
   • Press the Auto-Close Curve button  on the Property Bar to close the curve
   • Go to Arrange > Close Path, and choose one of the four closing options
   • Click the first node to close the curve (the pointer changes its shape when it hovers over the first node).

Constrain Angle

While holding down Ctrl, click to place a node at horizontal or vertical axes, or at a constrain angle. By default, constrain angle is 15 degrees, but you can change it to suit your needs.

To change the constrain angle,

1. Click Tools > Options
2. Under Workspace, click Edit
3. Set a value in the Constrain angle box

Modifying curves while using the same Bezier tool (,Pick, Freehand, or Polyline tool)

While using the Bezier tool, you can modify curves and continue drawing from the last node, without changing tools or losing curve continuity.

To do that, Enable Node Tracking option must be checked. While drawing, move the pointer over a node until the tool's 'shape state' cursor  appears, and click the node. Add, edit or delete nodes individually. You cannot marquee select nodes or edit more than one node.

See how to Enable Node Tracking, and more:

• CorelDRAW® 12 Node Tracking: Friend or Foe? by Steve Bain

The magical way to master the Bezier tool

Practice.

External Links

• New Dynamic Guides Will Change the Way You Draw by Steve Bain on corel.com
• Using the Bezier tool in CorelDRAW® 12 on corel.com

Posted on Monday, 1/9/2008

Comments

Home | Contact The Author |

Permission to quote texts from CorelHOUSE is readily granted on the condition that the source is credited. ©2008 CorelHOUSE