Corners + Effect

AG Corners is an Astute Graphics live effect for paths that improves the native “Round Corners” effect, by allowing for the rounding of points adjacent to curved segments without distorting them, by implementing the different corner types and methods found in the Dynamic Corners panel, and by allowing different corner types on the outside and the inside corners. AG Corners is part of the VectorScribe plugin.

As with most live effects, AG Corners appears in the main menu, under Effect > VectorScribe. It can also be applied directly from the Appearance panel using the “Add New Effect” button at the bottom of the panel.

AG Corners Parameters Dialog

After applying the live effect using the menu item (or when clicking on the existing effect in the Appearance panel to edit it), the parameters dialog will appear:

AG Corners Parameters Dialog

1. Outside Corners Radius

The radius of each outside corner. “Outside” is only defined for closed, non-intersecting paths, and means a corner which has its concave side on the interior of the path. If a corner cannot accommodate the specified radius, its radius will be made as large as possible. Corners cannot extend past the next anchor point along the path in either direction, so sometimes placing a Smart Remove Points live effect before the AG Corners effect can fix issues where additional anchor points have been inadvertently added by effects such as AG Offset.

AG Corners Blocked Corners Example

2. Outside Corners Type

Specifies the type of outside corners, either Regular (curve facing outwards), Negative (curve facing inwards), or Chamfered (a straight line cutting across the corner).

3. Outside Corners Method

For curved corners (Regular and Negative), specifies the method used to draw the corner.

AG Corners Method Example

True Radius method corners are created with one or two circular segments and maintain a constant radius as closely as is possible using the cubic bezier curves with which all Illustrator paths are constructed.

Standard method corners are the type that the native “Round Corners” live effect creates. When placed on a right angle, they are identical to True Radius corners, but at other angles they are of non-constant radii, the values of which vary substantially from the nominal radius value. They are useful for certain shapes which tend to look incorrect with True Radius corners:

AG Corners Standard corner example

Squircular method corners approximate the “Squircle” curve popularized by Apple. A squircle is a blend between a square and a circle. These non-constant-radius corners feature a smoother transition between the curved section and the straight section of path, and are most useful on the right angles of squares and rectangles. A Squircular corner of the same nominal radius as a True Radius corner will look smaller due to its changing curvature.

4. Inside Corners Treatment

Specifies whether inside corners use the same parameters as outside corners or whether they have their own, independent parameters. In the latter case, the same three parameters are available as with outside corners. “Inside” is only defined for closed, non-intersecting paths, and means a corner which has its concave side on the exterior of the path.

AG Corners Inside and Outside Corner Example

5. Inside Corners Radius

Available when inside corners are treated independently. It is the same as Outside Corners Radius, but for inside corners only.

6. Inside Corners Type

Available when inside corners are treated independently. It is the same as Outside Corners Type, but for inside corners only.

7. Inside Corners Method

Available when inside corners are treated independently. It is the same as Outside Corners Method, but for inside corners only.

8. Preview

As with all live effects, when enabled, changing a parameter will immediately update the artwork while the dialog is still open.