How to get a repetition of shapes with a displacement and a rotation ?


  • administrators

    @PatrickM Something similar in VS:

    • with the original object selected:
    • adjust the rotation pivot.
    • move with Alt+ to duplicate first.
    • rotate by some angle.
    • Control+D to duplicate and move.

    Not sure if you get the same effect as in AD.

    Another way (1) with align to path:

    • create a number of ellipses, position or rotation not important.
    • draw a path that has the shape needed (for example the red on the right bends leftward).
    • select the ellipses and then select the new path.
    • in the Alignment panel click on the first Align to Shape icon (first make sure that Rotate Objects is checked)

    Another way (2) with scatter brush:

    • create one ellipse, keep it selected.
    • open the Brushes panel.
    • create a new scatter brush style: "Create Scatter Brush Style" in the panel menu.
    • set the name of the brush in the Name field.
    • set the spacing to 60% (or some number for the spacing between ellipses).
    • confirm the scatter brush creation.
    • draw an open path along which the ellipses are placed.
    • apply the newly created scatter brush style (should be second in the list).
    • set the brush width to a suitable value.
    • or check proportional to keep the original ellipse size.

    In this case the path can be adjusted dynamically and the ellipse positions, rotations (and their number) is automatically updated.



  • @Subpath thanks for the tips... blending can be a way indeed, I didn't think of it since it is lacking in AD that I use for a couple of years for my lectures diagrams.

    @vectoradmin thanks too for these useful informations. I will try all these (also blending) asap to get used to other workflows.

    Thanks ☺ 👍



  • @vectoradmin I know that there are already video tutorials for some VS features and I know that you are extremely busy working on VS but I think it would be nice (important) to develop this aspect of educational training for beginners & intermediate users to illustrate and highlight all VS functions/features. I don't always want to compare with other companies but some have been quick to make this available and it has certainly increased the interest in using their software IMHO. I personally find the videos very helpful in learning how to use software.


  • administrators

    @PatrickM said in How to get a repetition of shapes with a displacement and a rotation ?:

    I think it would be nice (important) to develop this aspect of educational training for beginners & intermediate users to illustrate and highlight all VS functions/features.

    yes, this is very much needed, and I will try to reserve more time for this.



  • @PatrickM

    " video tutorials for some VS features.... "

    Well, we users can also do something 🙂

    Already thought about a small series in tutorials
    where I show some things that might not be soo
    well known. Where anybody could also contribute
    his own tips.

    @Boldline also thought about publishing his tips.



  • @Subpath Yes, I've been trying to decide the best approach - if it should be a videos for individual functions or groups of functions at a time. I don't want them to be too short or too long.



  • @Boldline

    I don't know if all this can always be regulated so precisely
    and I wouldn't regulate it too much, but I try to keep
    Videos and Picture Explanations for Tips rather short.
    Everything else I would rather see as a Tutorial.



  • @PatrickM

    Here a Video how Blend on Curve works.
    The Circles are already blended.
    (you could edit the steps with the Up/Down Arrow Keys
    by clicking in the Value field)

    Here the Video
    Blend on Curves

    Found yet another function of Blend on Curves
    Blend on Curves 2



  • @Subpath said in How to get a repetition of shapes with a displacement and a rotation ?:

    @PatrickM

    Here a Video how Blend on Curve works.
    The Circles are already blended.

    @Subpath Amazing, thank you for your time ! 👍 ☺



  • @PatrickM

    Things seem to be a bit easier than I thought after all.
    As I found out in the meantime, every Blend is is already
    on Curve/Path
    , dont know this before. All you have to do is
    select the blended shapes and switch to the "Shape Editor Tool"
    and you can bend your curve.

    Blend to Curve 3