Sketching How do I? Convert shapes to paint > To convert a shape layer into an image layer (and delete the original shape layer)

Apply paint using shapes

Use AliasStudio curves to create shapes with fill and outline properties.

Introduction to shapes

Introduces shapes.

This feature is not available in SurfaceStudio.

A shape is a way to create a precise image that you can easily modify.

· See movie: shapes.rm

A shape's shape is defined by a curve or set of curves. You can create a shape from any AliasStudio curve, including curves-on-surface and surface edges. A shape also has fill and outline properties.

After you create a shape from a curve or set of curves, any changes you make to the curves (for example, scaling a curve or moving an edit point) will update the shape.

You can then use the original curves to build surfaces, and any changes you make to the curves will automatically update both the sketch and the model.

Shape layers and shapes

Shapes appear in the Canvas Layer Editor window in shape layers. A shape layer (indicated by in the Canvas Layer Editor window) is similar to an image layer (indicated by in the Canvas Layer Editor window). An image layer contains paint and a shape layer contains shapes. You cannot use a brush to apply paint to a shape layer. If you try to paint on a shape layer, the cursor will change to a .

The first time you create a shape on a canvas plane, AliasStudio automatically creates a shape layer and places the shape on that layer. Similarly, if the active layer is an image layer, when you create a shape AliasStudio automatically creates a shape layer and places the shape on that layer. However, if the active layer is a shape layer, then AliasStudio places the new shape in that layer.

A shape layer contains an expandable list of all shapes in that layer. To expand a list click the .

To open/close a window that contains a list of all curves that make up the shape, click on the icon in the Canvas Layer Editor.

You can perform the following operations on shapes:

Create curves for shapes
Edit a shape
Delete a shape
Convert shapes to paint.

You can also perform most image layer operations on shape layers and on individual shapes, including:

Name an image layer

You can also name a shape in the Paint Panel when the shape is selected.

Select an image layer

When you select a shape layer, it is highlighted in purple.

When you select an individual shape, it is highlighted in yellow (without affecting the active layer selection).

Duplicate an image layer

If you duplicate a shape layer, the layer is duplicated and converted into an image layer.

You cannot duplicate an individual shape.

Arrange image layers
Hide or show an image layer
Change the opacity of an image layer
Merge image layers
Export an image layer

You can export a shape layer as an image file. The size of the image file will be just large enough to contain the shapes in that layer; it may not be the size of the canvas plane.

You cannot export an individual shape.

Delete an image layer
You can automatically create a shape or shape mask as you create a curve using the Auto-Shape option in the Paint Panel.

To automatically create a shape as you create a curve, set Auto-Shape Type to Image(fill) or Image(outline) for a shape, and Mask or Invisibility mask for a shape mask.

See Protect areas using masks for more information on masks and invisibility masks.

The Auto-Shape option does not appear in the Paint Panel when certain drawing tools from the Paint palette are selected.

Create curves for shapes

Create curves.

Before you can create a shape, you must create a curve or set of curves (or you must already have a curve or set of curves in your wire file).

Curves are the basis to develop shapes; shapes can be used for painting, masking, or invisibility masks.

You can easily create shapes from curves by selecting Image(fill), Image(outline), Mask, or Invisibility mask from the pop-up menu in the Auto-Shape section of the Paint panel. The Auto-Shape section is visible when you have a tool from any palette other than the Paint palette selected.

For information on creating and editing curves, see Create curves.

Create a shape

Choose Paint > Shape > Make image shape outline , or Paint > Shape > Make image shape fill , click the curves that define the shape, and click Accept.

To create a simple shape

Do one of the following:
Select an image layer above which you want to create a new shape layer.
select the shape layer that you want to add a new shape to.
use Auto-Shape from the Paint Panel
Choose Paint > Shape > Make image shape outline , or Paint > Shape > Make image shape fill .
Click each curve to include in the shape. (Make sure you click the part of the curve that you want to include in the shape boundary.)

Do not drag a pick box around complex curve structures, or the shape may not appear as you expect.

These curves will define the inner and outer boundaries of the shape.

To remove a curve from the selection, click it.

In the Paint Panel adjust the Shape Outline Options and Shape Fill Options.

The shape updates interactively.

You cannot create a shape in a perspective view.

If a shape's curves do not form a closed region, then the end points of the curve will be connected by a straight line segment that does not have any outline properties.





If a shape's curves are 3D curves, the shape may not appear as you expect.

To create a new shape layer, first create a new image layer and make it the active layer, then create a new shape.

To create a more complex shape

Certain shapes require selecting a curve in more than one location. In the example below, let's say we want to create a Shape Fill for the region outlined in red.

(This workflow also applies to any of the Paint > Shape > tools).

Choose Paint > Shape > Make image shape fill .
Select each curve segment that forms a boundary of the shape region. Picking the same curve in more than one location is allowed.



Small check marks show the points where you clicked. A thick line marks the outline of the shape defined so far.



Once you have finished selecting the boundaries, press the Accept button.

The correct shape is created.

Duplicating and mirroring shapes

Duplicating the shape geometry (with Edit > Copy and Edit > Paste) will also duplicate the shape.

Because shapes are constructed from curves, and curves are geometry, not paint, the only way to mirror a shape is to draw the initial curves on a Modeling Layer that has symmetry turned on.

See Organize objects on layers.

and Windows > Information > Layer stats .

Paint > PaintSymmetry > Modify canvas brush symmetry only mirrors paint brush strokes.

Edit a shape

In the Canvas Layer Editor window select the shape, then in the Paint Panel set the outline and fill options.

To edit a shape's fill and outline

Make sure you do not have any Paint tool selected (for example, choose Pick > Object ).
Do one of the following:
In the Canvas Layer Editor window, select the shape that you want to edit. It should become highlighted in yellow.

The curves belonging to the shape are automatically picked in the view.

To unselect a shape, click on the shape in the Canvas Layer Editor again.

The shape's name appears in the Paint Panel above the Display options.

If you pick more than one shape in the Canvas Layer Editor window, or pick curves that belong to more than one shape using a Pick tool, the number of picked shapes is displayed in the Paint Panel above the Display options (for example, 3 picked shapes). Click this display and select a shape from the menu.

In the Paint Panel set the Shape Outline Options and Shape Fill Options.

To edit a shape's shape

Transform the shape or the shape's curves using the Transform tools (for example, Transform > Scale ).

If you deform a curve excessively, the shape may not appear as you expect.

Delete a shape

In the Canvas Layer Editor window select the shape and choose Delete > Delete active.

To delete a shape

In the Canvas Layer Editor window select the shape that you want to delete. It should become highlighted in yellow.
In the Canvas Layer Editor window, choose Delete > Delete active shape.

When a curve is deleted, the associated shape is also deleted.

Convert shapes to paint

In the Canvas Layer Editor window select the shape layer and choose Edit > Rasterize layer.

After you have finalized a shape, you may want to convert it into paint. You do this by converting the shape layer into an image layer. You cannot convert an individual shape within a shape layer into paint.

To convert an individual shape within a shape layer into paint, first re-create the shape on its own shape layer. Then convert the shape layer to an image layer.

To convert a shape layer into an image layer (and delete the original shape layer)

Select the shape layer, or mask shape layer, that you want to convert.
In the Canvas Layer Editor window, choose Edit > Rasterize layer.

If the active shape layer was an image shape layer, a new image layer is created containing a painted representation of the shape.

If the active shape layer was a mask shape layer, a new mask layer is created containing a painted representation of the shape.

The original shape layer is deleted.