Reform Terminology

This diagram shows a path in the process of being reshaped, or “sculpted”, using the Reform tool (with the default interface settings).

Reform Offset Markers

The following items are shown:

1. Start and End Delimiters 

(red triangles)

The delimiters mark the section of the path that will be affected by the reshape. Initially, they are put at the nearest corner points on either side of the clicked or dragged segment. If the entire path is smooth, the delimiters will be placed at the ends of the path (for an open path) or at point zero (for a closed path).

2. Offset Markers

(red circles/diamonds)

Markers represent points along the path where you specify how far to offset the path from its original position. A marker's position along the path is indicated by a small black square, joined to it by a thin black line whose length represents the offset distance. Except in certain situations, the reshaped path will thus pass through each marker.

Markers drawn as circles are “smooth” markers: the reshaped path passes smoothly through them.

Markers drawn as diamonds are “sharp” markers: the reshaped path can make an abrupt angle change there.

You can use any number of markers to reshape a path, but, like anchor points, for the smoothest results you should use the fewest number that still produce the shape you want.

3. Original Path 

(blue path)

The original shape of the path (or section of the path) is drawn as a blue line.

4. Virtual Reshaped Path

(red path)

The reshaped path is “virtual” because the underlying path art is not actually changed until you finalize the reshaping. Until this is done you may continue to refine it (e.g. by moving the delimiters, editing the markers, or changing parameters on the panel) or, if you change your mind, by resetting the Reform tool, thereby removing all annotations.