Add Points Live Effect

Add Points is an Astute Graphics live effect for paths that adds anchor points to paths, similar to the functionality of the “Add Points” function of the PathScribe panel. By itself, adding points is not particularly useful, as the look of the art won’t change; the real power comes by stacking the live effect with other live effects that operate on or depend on anchor point placement.

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

Add Points 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 Utilities Live Effects - Add Points Parameters Dialog

1. Targeted Segments

By default, all segments in the path have points added to them, but this can be changed to First, Last, Even Only, Odd Only, Curved Only, or Straight Only segments. Even and odd refer to the index number of the segment, which starts at zero for the first segment in the path.

2. Equal Spacing Mode

In this mode, points are added such that the space between them (as measured along the path) is equal.

3. Bezier Spacing Mode

In this mode, points are added such that the cubic bezier t parameter is equally spaced. Generally, this adds more points to areas along the segment which are more tightly curved.

4. Number of Points

For Equal Spacing and Bezier Spacing modes, specifies the number of points to add along each segment.

AG Utilities Live Effects - Add Points Equal or Bezier Spacing

5. Distance Spacing Mode

In this mode, points are added equally spaced along the path with the distance specified, adding as many as will fit along the segment unless Limit Number of Points is also enabled.

6. Distance Value

The distance between the added points when using Distance Spacing mode. If the distance value is greater than the segment’s length, no points will be added to the segment.

7. Center Within Segment

In Distance Spacing mode, causes the added points to be centered within the segment, so the distances from the segment’s ends to the first or last added point will be equal (but may not match the specified distance).

8. Limit Number of Points

In Distance Spacing mode, specifies the maximum number of points to add along each segment.

AG Utilities Live Effects - Add Points Distance Spacing

9. Retain Straight Segment Handles

Normally, when anchor points are added to a handleless straight segment, the new points have their handles removed. However, enabling this setting causes the handles to be retained, which can be useful when the new anchor points are subsequently moved and a smooth curve is desired.

10. New Points Are Corner Type

Forces the added points to have corner type rather than smooth. This does not change any handles that the point might have, only the point type.

11. Randomize

Allows for random variation in the count and/or position of the new points.

12. Distribution Curves

Specifies either a linear distribution in random values (all values in the range are equally likely to be chosen) or a Gaussian distribution (central values in the range are more likely to be chosen).

13. Seed

Each random seed number leads to a different sequence of random values. Clicking the button picks a new seed, thereby changing the look of the artwork. To view or specify the seed number directly, Option/Alt-click the button. This lets you recreate a previously-generated look.

14. Count Variation

Specifies the random variation in the added point count (valid for Equal Spacing and Bezier Spacing modes only). For example, if the count is set to 20, then a variation value of 25% would produce count values that vary by as much as 20 × 25% = 5, that is, between 16 and 20; a variation value of 100% would produce count values between 1 and 20.

15. Position Variation

Specifies the random variation in the final positions of the added points.

16. Preview

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

17. Annotate New Point Positions

When enabled, the positions of the added points will be temporarily displayed using magenta dot annotations, which is useful if subsequent live effects have not been added to the artwork yet, because by itself, Add Points will produce no visual change to the art.