Titling and the Titler

5 Position Pen Tool where you want the curve segment to end.

•To create a C-shaped curve, drag in a direction opposite to the direction that you dragged to create the previous object anchor point.

A B C

Drawing second point in curves

A. Starting to drag second smooth point B. Dragging away from previous direction line, creating C-shaped curve C. Result after releasing mouse button

• To create an S-shaped curve, drag in the same direction that you dragged to create the previous object anchor point.

A B C

Drawing S curves

A. Starting to drag new smooth point B. Dragging in same direction as previous direction line, creating S-shaped curve C. Result after releasing mouse button

6 Continue dragging Pen Tool from different locations to create additional points.

•To close the path, position Pen Tool over the first object anchor point. Click or drag to close the path.

•To leave the path open, Ctrl-click anywhere away from all objects or select the Selection tool.

Adjust object anchor points and curves

The Titler includes tools for modifying existing paths. You can add or delete object anchor points on a path. You can also move object anchor points, and manipulate their direction lines to change the curve of adjacent line segments. You can specify not only the path’s thickness but also the shape of each of its ending points. You can also specify its caps, and its corners, or joins.

Add an object anchor point to a path

1Select the path.

2Select Add Anchor Point Tool .

•To add an object anchor point without creating or manually adjusting a curve, click where you want to add an object anchor point.

•To add an object anchor point and simultaneously move the new point, drag a spot on a path.

Delete an object anchor point

1Select the path containing the object anchor point.

2Select Delete Anchor Point Tool .

Last updated 1/16/2012

Titling and the Titler

3 Click the point that you want to delete.

Adjust an object anchor point

1Select the path containing the object anchor point.

2Select Pen Tool .

3Position the cursor over the point. When the cursor becomes an arrow with a square next to it, drag the object anchor point to adjust it.

Convert object anchor points from one type to another

You can change the type of object anchor point you have created for a segment.

1Select the path you want to modify.

2Select Convert Anchor Point Tool and position the cursor over the object anchor point that you want to convert.

•To convert a corner point to a smooth point, drag a direction point out of the corner point.

•To convert a smooth point to a corner point without direction lines, click the smooth point.

•To convert a corner point without direction lines to a corner point with independent direction lines, first drag a direction point out of a corner point. Dragging a direction point makes it a smooth point with direction lines. Release the mouse button, and then drag either direction point.

•To convert a smooth point to a corner point with independent direction lines, drag either direction point.

Note: To temporarily change Pen Tool into Convert Anchor Point Tool, position Pen Tool over an object anchor point, and press the Alt key (Windows) or the Option key (Mac OS).

Change the curve of a segment

1Select the path you want to modify.

2Select Pen Tool and drag a segment to change its curve.

Note: Dragging a segment changes the curve by adjusting the direction lines at each end of the segment by the same amount. This technique can change a straight segment into a curved one.

Set options for open and closed Bezier shapes

Select a line or an open or closed Bezier shape, and in the Title Properties panel, specify any of the following options:

Graphic type Adjusts open and closed Bezier shapes to standard shapes. Graphic type can also change a closed Bezier shape to an open one and vice versa. Graphic type must be set to “Filled Bezier” to add fill to a closed shape. For more about adding fill to a closed shape, see “Set a fill for text and objects” on page 267.

Line Width Specifies the path width, in pixels.

Cap Type Specifies the type of cap placed at the end of the paths. The Butt option caps paths with square ends. The Round option caps paths with semicircular ends. The Square option caps paths with square ends that extend half the line width beyond the end of the line. This option makes the weight of the line extend equally in all directions around the line.

Join Type Specifies how the ends of adjoining path segments are joined. The Miter option joins path segments using pointed corners. The Round option joins path segments using rounded corners. The Bevel option joins path segments using squared corners.

Last updated 1/16/2012