Converting Polygons to Bézier Objects

The Fit Bézier command changes a polygon to a Bézier curve path. This command can be applied to a single selected polygon that is not in Edit mode. Fit Bézier is useful when you want to use handles attached to smooth anchor points to “bend” straight path segments into curves. Using Fit Bézier adds handles to all the corner points (which do not have handles) that define a polygon.

Using this command can have varied results, depending on the settings you use. You can convert a polygon without changing its shape. Or, use the command to smooth the straight segments of a polygon into gentle curves.

To Use the Fit Bézier Command:

1. Select a polygon (open or closed).

   A polygon can be created with the Polygon tool, Smooth Polygon tool, or Curve tool if the path has only corner points, not smooth points. Objects created with the Rectangle tool or Line tool can be converted to polygons with the Path | Convert to Paths command.

2. Choose Path | Fit Bézier.
3. In the dialog box, use these the sliders to adjust the following conversion settings:
   • Loose-Tight: Controls how closely the modified path will conform to the original path. Tight results in little deviation from the original path. Loose allows the modified path to be smoother and deviate farther from the original.

   • Round-Sharp: Controls how many corners will become rounded in the modified path. Sharp preserves corners where segments meet at acute angles. Round allows all corners to become rounded.

     These settings can interact and produce similar results at different slider positions; e.g., setting one slider at Tight and the other at Round can produce a path that closely matches the original, but with all corners being rounded. Setting one slider at Loose and the other at Sharp can result in a path that overall is smoother, but which has some corners that are not smoothed at all.

4. Click OK when you’re done. Canvas X Draw modifies the object based on the settings you specified.