Bezier Path Tool

(see also: Paths Overview)

The Bezier tool (pronounced Bez-ee-ay; no, we didn't invent the tool or the name) is a tool common among design programs. It allows you draw and control very technical lines and curves. It is an advanced tool that requires a lot of practice to get familiar with, but getting to know it can really improve your design skills.

We recommend spending a few minutes on this puzzle game out to get a beginning feel for it: The Bezier Game. Note that the controls will be a little different from Flexi, but the concepts are the same. Below are the controls for the Bezier tool.

You can locate the Bezier tool on the Main Toolbar. DesignCentral will provide these options.

Drawing Straight Segments Using the Bezier Path Tool

1. Select the Bezier Path Tool.
2. Click where the segment will begin in the drawing area.
3. Click where the segment will end. Hold Shift to constrain the angle of the line to Vertical, Horizontal, or Angled (45°) axes.
4. Repeat step 3 to create additional straight lines.
   • Press Delete to delete the last segment.
   • Press Esc or click New Path  in DesignCentral to create a new path.
   • To close the path, place the cursor close to the starting point and click when the cursor shows a small circle underneath.

   Or

   • Click Close Path in DesignCentral. This will draw a straight line from the active node directly to the starting point and create a closed path.

Drawing Curved Segments Using the Bezier Path Tool

1. Select the Bezier Path Tool.
2. Click where the segment will begin in the drawing area.
3. Click and drag where the segment will end in the drawing area.
   
   By default, the new Control Point is Symmetric. Hold Shift and drag to make the new point Smooth, or Ctrl and drag to make it a Cusp. As a reminder, review the Paths Overview article for what these terms mean.
   
   
4. After releasing the mouse button, you can still adjust the Direction Lines by dragging the Direction Handles.
   • Hold Shift to change the length and angle of one Direction Line, while keeping the length of the other Direction Line unchanged.
   • Hold Ctrl to change the length and angle of one Direction Line, while keeping the length and angle of the other Direction Line unchanged.
5. Repeat step 3 to create more segments
   • Press Delete to delete the last segment.
   • Press Esc or click New Path  in DesignCentral to create a new path.
   • To close the path, place the cursor close to the starting point and click when the cursor shows a small circle underneath.

   Or

   • • Click Close Path in DesignCentral.
     • Press Delete to delete the entire path.

Drawing Arcs Using the Bezier Path Tool

1. Select the Bezier Path Tool.
2. Click where the arc will begin in the drawing area.
3. Hold Ctrl and click to mark the endpoint of the arc; then drag to describe the curvature of the arc. The curvature will increase or decrease so that the arc always intersects the cursor.
   
   
   
   
4. After releasing the mouse button, you can still adjust the Direction Lines by dragging the Direction Handles.
   • Hold Shift to change the length and angle of one Direction Line, while keeping the length of the other Direction Line unchanged.
   • Hold Ctrl to change the length and angle of one Direction Line, while keeping the length and angle of the other Direction Line unchanged.
5. Repeat step 4 to create additional segments.
   • Press Delete to delete the last segment.
   • Press Esc or click New Path  in DesignCentral to create a new path.
   • To close the path, place the cursor close to the starting point and click when the cursor shows a small circle underneath.

   Or

   • Press Close Path in DesignCentral.
   • Press Delete to delete the entire path.