Polygon Loop Shapes

Polygon loops are parametric shapes that generate loops around a polygon with curved sides. Polygon loops can be used as object shapes, or with shape offsetting as a space filling shape for halftones or repeaters.

The properties of a polygon loop shapes can be edited using the Node tool or the Shape panel.

Drawing Polygon Loop Shapes

Polygon loop shapes can be drawn using the Polygon Loop tool from the application toolbox. To draw a polygon loop shape:

• Select the Polygon Loop tool from the toolbox.
• Press the mouse on a starting location on the canvas, this will be the center of the shape.
• Drag the mouse to set the polygon loop radius and rotation.
• Hold the Shift key to restrict the rotation to user specified increments (45 degrees by default).
• Release the mouse to create a polygon loop with the selected radius and rotation.
• Use the Left or Down arrow keys to decrease the sides of the polygon loop shape.
• Use the Right or Up arrow keys to increase the sides of the polygon loop shape.

The default polygon loop shape options can be set by double clicking on the Polygon Loop tool icon in the toolbox. For example: the number of sides of the polygon loop can be set before drawing the shape.

To create a polygon loop by setting the numeric properties of the shape, click at a point on the canvas. This will open the Polygon Loop view (described below) that contains all the polygon loop properties. Set the required values and press Ok to create a new object with a polygon loop shape.

Editing Polygon Loop Shapes

The Node tool can be used to interactively edit polygon loop shapes:

• Select the object with a polygon loop shape.
• Select the Node tool from the application toolbox.
• The polygon loop sides will show the radius, inner and outer handles.
• Adjust the size and radius of the polygon loop shape by dragging the radius handles.
• Adjust the inner section flatness by dragging the inner handles.
• Adjust the leaf radius of the loops by dragging the outer handles.
• Hold the Shift key to restrict the rotation to user specified increments.
• Hold the Control key to change only the radius and keep the angle fixed.
• Hold the Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) key to change only the angle and keep the radius fixed.

Polygon Loop Properties

The properties of a polygon loop shape can be edited in the Shape panel when the shape is selected, or in the Polygon Loop view, either from the shape panel, or when editing a shape style.

The following properties can be adjusted for a polygon loop shape:

• Radius - Set the radius of the polygon loop.
• Angle - Set the rotation angle of the polygon loop.
• Leaf - Set the leaf radius of the polygon loop.
• Flatness - Set the flatness of the inner section.
• Sides - Set the number of sides of the polygon loop.
• Clockwise - Check to set the polygon loop shape direction to clockwise mode.