This tutorial introduces you to the interactive tools that allow you to create a range of interesting effects.

Select a topic:

Creating an envelope

Creating an extrusion

Blending objects

Creating transparencies

Creating distortion

Adding perspective

You can use envelopes to change the basic shape of Artistic text.

Select an option:

Mold the Artistic text using a preset shape

Mold the Artistic text with a custom shape

Using a preset is the easiest way to change the shape of Artistic text.

  1. Click theText tool and click in the Drawing Window.
  2. Choose 48 from the Font Size list box.
  3. Type "Love is . . ." and press ENTER. On the next line, type "All around."
  4. Select the Artistic text with the Pick tool.
  5. Click the Interactive Tool flyout and click the Interactive Envelope tool.
  6. Click the Add Preset button on the Property Bar, and choose a preset from the list box.


Using an envelope, you can create custom container shapes for Artistic text.

  1. Click the Text tool and click in the Drawing Window.
  2. Choose 48 from the Font Size list box.
  3. Type "Love is . . ." and press ENTER. On the next line, type "All around."
  4. Select the Artistic text with the Pick tool.
  5. Open the Interactive Tool flyout, and click the Interactive Envelope tool.
  6. Drag the top-middle node up about 1/2 an inch to create a rounded line.
  7. Drag the bottom-middle node down about 1/2 an inch to create a rounded line.
  8. Drag the two side nodes outward about 1/2 inch each.


The Interactive Extrude tool lets you apply a three-dimensional look to any two-dimensional shapes you create using the drawing tools.

Click here to open a sample file.

  1. Select an object with the Pick tool.
  2. Open the Interactive Tool flyout, and click the Interactive Extrude tool.
  3. Drag over the object to extrude it.

When you blend two objects, you create a series of objects along a path between them. This series of objects shows a progression of shape and color between the two original objects.

This procedure shows you how to blend objects using the Interactive Blend tool, and how to change the object's appearance using the blend controls on the Property Bar. You will also learn how to fit a blend to a path and change the distribution of objects and colors along the curve.

Select an option:

Blend objects

Adjust the number of steps in a blend

Adjust the position of objects in a blend

Adjust the color progression in a blend

Fit a blend to a path

Adjust object spacing of a blend on a path

You can blend almost any two objects you create using the drawing tools. However, you can't blend groups, combined objects, or Paragraph text.

The Interactive Blend tool lets you blend two objects by dragging from one object to the other.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Open the Interactive Tool flyout and click the Interactive Blend tool.
  2. In the Drawing Window, hold down the mouse button on the polygon.
  3. Drag the mouse so that the cursor is over the ellipse, then release the mouse button.

By default, blends are created with 20 intermediate objects. You can change the number of intermediate objects using the Number Of Steps box on the Property Bar.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Using the Pick tool, select the blend by clicking one of its intermediate objects.
  2. Type a new number in the top section of the Number Of Steps or Offset Between Blend Shapes box on the Property Bar.
  3. Press ENTER.

You can change the centre of rotation of intermediate objects in a blend and the distance between the objects.

Select an option:

Change the center of rotation

Change the distance between objects

You can have intermediate objects in a blend rotate around their respective centers of rotation as they progress from the start object to the end object.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the blend with the Pick tool.
  2. Type a number in the Blend Direction box (e.g. 180) on the Property Bar.
  3. Press ENTER.

Back to page one

The Blend Object Acceleration slider places intermediate objects in a blend closer together or further apart as they progress to the end object.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the blend with the Pick tool.
  2. Click the Link Blend Accelerations button on the Property Bar to disable linking.
  3. On the Property Bar, move the Blend Object Acceleration slider to the right.
  4. Move the slider to the left, and compare the effect with that created in step 2.

Back to page one

You can adjust the direction and the rate of color progression in blends.

Select an option:

Adjust the direction of color progression

Adjust the rate of color progression

The Property Bar lets you adjust the color progression in a blend. Colors can progress on a direct, clockwise, or counterclockwise path through the spectrum. By default, blends use a direct path.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the blend with the Pick tool.
  2. On the Property Bar click either the Clockwise Blend button or the Counterclockwise Blend button.

Back to page one

The Blend Color Acceleration slider lets you change the rate at which the blend's colors move through the spectrum. If you move the slider to the right, colors move faster through the color spectrum as they approach the end object. If you move the slider to the left, you create the opposite effect.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the blend with the Pick tool.
  2. Click the Link Blend Accelerations button on the Property Bar to disable linking.
  3. On the Property Bar, move the Blend Color Acceleration slider to the right.
  4. Move the slider to the left, and compare the effect with that created in step 2.

Back to page one

You can add a blend to any path you create using the drawing tools.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Hold down the right mouse button on one of the blend's intermediate objects.
  2. Drag the blend on to the line (the cursor changes to a circle with cross hairs and a blue outline of the blend appears as you drag.)
  3. Release the right mouse button and click Fit Blend To Path.

Note

Once the blend is attached to the path, you can move its start or end objects along the path. These objects stay attached to the path no matter where you drag.

You can adjust the number of objects in blends fitted to paths, like you can with regular blends, and you can also adjust the spacing between the blend objects.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the blend with the Pick tool.
  2. Type a new value in the Number Of Steps box on the Property Bar, and press ENTER.
  3. Click the Fixed Spacing For Blend button on the Property Bar.
  4. Type a new value in the Offset Between Blend Shapes box on the Property Bar, and press ENTER.

The Interactive Transparency tool lets you apply uniform, fountain, pattern, or texture transparencies to objects, using the mouse and the Property Bar.

Select a topic:

Apply a fountain transparency

Freeze a fountain fill

Use the merge modes

A fountain transparency, also known as a gradient transparency or a ramp transparency, is a progression of colors following a linear, radial, conical or square path.

You can use the Interactive Transparency tool to apply fountain transparencies using the mouse.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Using the Pick tool, drag one of the objects and place it on top of another (if the object you dragged appears behind the second object, select the first object with the Pick tool and click Arrange menu, Order, To Front.)
  2. Click the Interactive Transparency tool.
  3. Click where you want the transparency to start, then drag to where you want the transparency to end.
  4. On the Property Bar, click the button for the type of transparency you want to apply: Linear, Radial, Conical or Square.

The Freeze button on the Property Bar fixes the contents of a transparency. You can then move the transparency anywhere you want without changing its appearance.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the polygon with the Pick tool.
  2. Click the Interactive Transparency tool.
  3. Click the Freeze button on the Property Bar.
  4. Using the Pick tool, drag the polygon to another location in the Drawing Window.

Merge modes determine how the color of a transparency is combined with the color of objects that appear below the transparency. You have 19 different merge modes with which to experiment.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select the polygon with the Pick tool.
  2. Click the Interactive Transparency tool.
  3. Choose a merge mode from the Transparency Operation list box on the Property Bar.

The Interactive Distortion tools lets you apply several distortion effects to your object. You can choose the Zipper, Twister, or Push and Pull, distortion effect. This procedure shows you how to apply the Twister effect.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select an object with the Pick tool.
  2. Open the Interactive Tools flyout, and click the Interactive Distortion tool.
  3. Click the Twister button on the Property Bar.
  4. Drag in a circular motion to twist the object.

The Add Perspective command lets you give objects a three-dimensional look by making them appear to recede toward one or two points, called vanishing points.

Click here to open a sample file.


  1. Select one of the objects in the Drawing Window using the Pick tool.
  2. Click Effects menu, Add Perspective.
  3. Using the Shape tool, drag the top-left handle of the grid downward.
  4. Drag the marker(X) toward or away from the object.

Tip

The procedure above shows how to create one-point perspective. To create two-point perspective, drag the top-left handle toward the center of the object.