ArtPath
ArtPaths are lines and shapes you draw right in the editor. Each one becomes an ordinary mesh, so it can be a clipping mask, sit under deformers, take keys, and export to moc3.
Drawing
Pick the pen-nib tool, or Modeling > ArtPath > Create ArtPath.
- Click places a corner point.
- Press and drag places a smooth point and pulls out its handles; hold Alt to break the pair.
- Click the first point to close the path, which finishes it.
- Enter (or Finish path) finishes an open path, Esc drops it, Backspace takes back the last point.
- Points snap to guide lines.
Tool Details
| Setting | |
|---|---|
| Stroke | on/off and its colour |
| Width | stroke width in pixels |
| Fill | on/off and its colour (closed paths) |
| Closed | whether the path loops |
| Mask only | draw nothing, only clip with it |
| Soft edge | how far the edge fades out |
| Segment length | curve smoothness (smaller is smoother) |
The eyedropper beside each colour picks a colour from the art on the canvas: click to take it, Esc to cancel.
Editing a path
With the ArtPath tool, select an ArtPath mesh to see its points and handles: drag them, Alt+click a point to delete it. The mesh is redrawn when you let go. Redraw from path rebuilds a mesh that was changed some other way.
A path that has keys redraws every keyform in its rest shape when you change it: Tool Details warns when that applies.
Using a path as a mask
See clipping masks: Clip meshes with this path makes it a mask in a few clicks, and turns on Mask only so the path itself stops drawing.