Using Virtual Guides for Precise Vector Placement

Using Virtual Guides for Precise Vector Placement

Using Virtual Guides for Precise Vector Placement

Virtual guides are designed to make it easy to establish angles and distances. Once you have enabled virtual guides, you can click anywhere in the work space and see guide lines at angles you specify.

To Open the Smart Mouse & Guides Palette and Activate Virtual Guides:

  1. To open the Smart Mouse & Guides palette and customize the settings, do one of the following:
    • Choose Window | Palettes | Smart Mouse & Guides...
    • Choose Layout | Smart Mouse & Guides | Show Palette...
    • Press Option+Command+Q.
  2. Click the Guides tab.
  3. Select the Virtual Guides On checkbox.
  4. Configure the settings as described in the table below.

To Toggle Virtual Guides On and Off:

Do one of the following:

  • Choose Layout | Smart Mouse & Guides | Virtual Guide On.
  • Press Shift+Command+X.

Virtual Guide Options

Virtual Guides On

Select this checkbox to activate the Guides settings. Click the color palette to choose another color.

Show Angle

When this option is selected, angles display as part of the virtual guide. To add angles that your mouse pointer will snap to, see the To Add an Angle for Use as a Virtual Guide section below.

Show Distance

When this option is selected, the distance between your mouse pointer and the original anchor point is displayed.

Length: This option provides two points on the virtual guide line at the specified distance away from each other. e.g.) If you set the Length field to 2 inches, a point will display on the virtual guide line followed by a second point 2 inches from the first.

Sensitivity

Set the distance that the mouse pointer can be from an anchor point before it displays a guide.

Angular

Select this checkbox to turn on the angles in the boxes below for use as virtual guides. To activate or deactivate specific angles, select or deselect their respective checkboxes. The display in between the angle checkboxes indicates the angles that are active, and the red line indicates zero degrees.

With this checkbox enabled,

do the following:

Perpendicular

With the Line tool, click on an existing line and draw outward until the guide indicates that it is perpendicular.

Tangent

With the Line tool, drag from a point on a circle or oval's path toward a potential tangent. The guide will indicate when you have hit the tangent.

Extension of a line segment

With the Line tool, hover over an existing line to easily draw an extension of it or another line segment in line with it.

Parallel

While drawing a line, move the mouse pointer over an existing line to establish a source for your parallel line. Then move your mouse pointer until the guides indicate that it is in the parallel position.

The most effective use of the virtual guide types is to activate as few as possible to achieve your desired operation.

To Add an Angle for Use as a Virtual Guide:

  1. On the Guides tab of the Smart Mouse & Guides dialog box, click the Add button.
  2. In the Add Angle dialog, enter the angle you want to add in the Angle field.
  3. If you would like to add a supplementary angle 180° from the angle you entered, enable the Also add supplementary angle checkbox.
  4. Click OK.

To Delete an Angle:

  1. On the Guides tab of the Smart Mouse & Guides dialog box, select the angle you would like to delete from the list.
  2. Click Delete.

Controlling Angle Orientation:

By default, the angles available are based on a clock-like angle control. This means that zero degrees is indicated by the vertical red line and all additional angles exist relative to that line. To change the orientation of the angles, do the following:

  1. Choose Canvas X Draw | Preferences | Measurements | Ruler.
  2. Under Angles, choose Euclidean. The red line indicating zero degrees is now horizontal and all additional angles exist relative to this position.

See Also:

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