MACROMEDIA FLASH MX 2004-USING FLASH Use Manual page 98

Straightening and smoothing lines
You can reshape lines and shape outlines by straightening or smoothing them.
Note: You can adjust the degree of automatic smoothing and straightening by specifying
preferences for drawing settings. See
Straightening makes small straightening adjustments to lines and curves you have already drawn.
It has no effect on already straight segments.
You can also use the straightening technique to make Flash recognize shapes. If you draw any
oval, rectangular, or triangular shapes with the Recognize Shapes option turned off, you can use
the Straightening option to make the shapes geometrically perfect. (For information on the
Recognize Shapes option, see
touching, and thus connected to other elements, are not recognized.
Shape recognition turns the top shapes into the bottom shapes.
Smoothing softens curves and reduces bumps or other variations in a curve's overall direction. It
also reduces the number of segments in a curve. Smoothing is relative, however, and has no effect
on straight segments. It is particularly useful when you are having trouble reshaping a number of
very short curved line segments. Selecting all the segments and smoothing them reduces the
number of segments, producing a gentler curve that is easier to reshape.
Repeated application of smoothing or straightening makes each segment smoother or straighter,
depending on how curved or straight each segment was originally.
To smooth the curve of each selected fill outline or curved line:
•
Select the Selection tool and click the Smooth modifier in the Options section of the Tools
panel, or select Modify > Smooth.
To make small straightening adjustments on each selected fill outline or curved line:
•
Select the Selection tool and click the Straighten modifier in the Options section of the Tools
panel, or select Modify > Shape > Straighten.
To use shape recognition:
•
Select the Selection tool and click the Straighten modifier, or select Modify >
Shape > Straighten.
98 Chapter 5: Drawing
"Specifying drawing settings" on page
"Specifying drawing settings" on page
103.
103.) Shapes that are