Other transformations.-
In Metagraf it is possible also to scale objects in
only one direction, horizontal and/or vertical. This capability joint
to the rotation one, allows to produce shear deformations.
In what
follows it will be explained how to rotate an object around any point
and how to scale it in one or two directions, also relative to any
point.
The method that will be explained can be used alone or in
conjunction with the simple method explained before. The rotations
and/or scalings will be cumulative and so on.
Mg5 allows to place
a center-transform point (in short "center-point")
on any object, to made a transformation and afterwards to delete it.
This point can be moved around the screen, so that the transform will
be done having as center point this one.
As almost always, in
Metagraf, everything can be done using the mouse or with the
keyboard. The "mouse" process to place a center-point on an
object is what follows:
Select the object
In the Menu, choose "Setting" and afterwards "Transform". Then click on the item "Place center".
Alternatively, there is a button on the vertical Tool-bar, third from bottom-up, with the same function.
A blue cross line will appear in the geometrical
center point of the points defining the object (shorter: in regular
shapes, "in the center of the object"). The point of
intersection is the center-point of the selected object. (If
no object is selected, nothing happens).
The center point can be
selected as any other point, and, once selected it can be moved
anywhere.
The "keyboard-way" of placing a center
on a selected object is just to press the INSERT key. Once selected,
the center can be moved with the mouse or with the arrow-keys.
Once
an object is selected and has a center-point (the center-point can be
selected or not), if the ENTER key is pressed once, the object
will rotate around its center-point, counterclockwise, one
degree.
If the Shift key is pressed, pressing the ENTER key
will produce a similar rotation but of a value of five
degrees.
If, instead, the Alt key is pressed, pressing the
ENTER key will produce a similar rotation but of a value of 0.05
degrees.
In any of the cases just mentioned, pressing the Ctrl
key at the same time, will change the sense of the rotation from
counterclockwise to clockwise.
If an object is selected and has a
center-transform point, pressing the insert key will translate the
point to the original place in the center of the object if not
already there. The same is true using the mouse and the button for
placing centers. A second center-point will not be
created.
For scaling an object in both directions, everything said
for the rotation is valid but, instead of using the ENTER key, the
SPACE key should be used. Each time it is pressed, an increase
of 1% will be obtained in the dimensions.
If using the
Shift key, the increase will be 5%, and if the Alt key is
pressed, 0.1%.
If the Ctrl key is pressed a decreased
of the same amounts will be obtained.
To obtain the same amounts
of scaling but only in the horizontal direction, the PgUp
instead of the SPACE key should be used. The PdDn key produces
scales only in vertical direction.
Once the transformation is
done, the center-point should be deleted, although not imperatively.
It just takes more space in the final file.
To delete the
center-point, the simplest way is to press the DEL key that will
delete all the existing ones. If just one should be deleted, the
object can be selected and the button with the red X over the blue
cross, clicked.
The process explained can be used with several
objects at the same time, although with different center points its
usefulness is doubtful. See the next paragraphs related with groups
to learn more useful methods.
Madrid, January 2006 |
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