Repeating elements

An unanchored shape in a brush stroke is stretched across the entire length of the path. However, sometimes you want a pattern to repeat along a path. For example, you can define a stroke of a fish with scales that are repeated along a long path, instead of being stretched along the path. In the example below, you can see how a stroke in the shape of an arrow can take advantage of both anchoring and repeating. Of course, if the path is shorter than the stroke then no elements will repeat.

This sequence shows a brush stroke with (1) no anchors or repeats; (2) the head and tail anchored to the beginning and end of the path; (3) the heart given basic repeat handles; (4) the repeat handles dragged in to straddle just the heart shape; and (5) both the repeat handles anchored.

Making a shape repeatable

To make one part of a stroke repeatable:

Edit the stroke (as described in Making a custom stroke or Editing strokes).
Choose the paths you want to repeat with one of the selection tools. (Only full paths can be repeated.)
Right-click to view the context menu, and then click Make Repeating. Expression Design automatically switches to the Repeat tool in the Toolbox. A pair of repeat handles will appear at the two ends of the stroke definition box.
You can drag the repeat handles in to straddle the shape. This makes the shape repeat more often, but also limits the portion of the path that contains the repeating pattern (see "Anchoring Repeat Handles," below).
Finish editing the stroke and define it, as described in Editing strokes.

After clicking the Make Repeating button, Expression Design displays two repeat handles, one on each side of the reference backbone. You can drag these in closer to the shape you're repeating.

Positioning and anchoring repeat handles

The position of the repeat handles tells Expression Design two things:

The amount of space between the repeat handles indicates how much of the shape (and the space on either side of the shape) to repeat. If the repeat handles are wider than the shape that is being repeated, the entire pattern is repeated, with some space between each instance. If the repeat handles are narrower than the shape, then each instance of the shape will run into the next.
The placement of the repeat handles indicates where along the path the shape will be repeated. If the first repeat handle appears one-third of the way through the reference backbone (the red arrow), then the shape will begin repeating one-third of the way along the path. If the second repeat handle is placed two-thirds down the path, then the repeating shape will end two-thirds along the destination path.

You can stretch the repeating pattern to the beginning or ending of the destination path by anchoring one or both of the repeat handles. To anchor a repeat handle, press SHIFT+click with the Repeat tool. For example, when the first repeat handle is anchored, the repeating pattern will always start at the beginning of the destination path. When the second repeat handle is anchored, the pattern will always end at the end of the path.

SHIFT+click on a repeat handle anchors it to the beginning or end of the destination path.

Adjusting height in repeat handles

Repeatable shapes need not repeat at the same size throughout the entire path. You can adjust how large the repeating shape should be at the end of the pattern by dragging the second repeat handle's up or down arrow icons. If you drag the handles out (away from the red arrow), the pattern will increase along the path. If you drag the handles in (closer to the red arrow), the repeating pattern will become smaller along the path.

Multiple repeating objects

You can have more than one shape in a brush stroke repeat along the path. To make a second shape repeat, follow the steps above a second time (select the second shape, choose the Repeat tool, click the Make Repeating button, and adjust the repeat handles). Because each one has its own set of repeat handles, each shape can repeat at a different interval or at a different place along the path.

Each shape in this pattern has its own repeat handles, and none of the repeat handles are anchored.

Locating repeatable paths

To see which parts of a stroke are repeatable, choose the Repeat tool in the Toolbox. Each repeatable shape is surrounded by a dashed line. You can click on an object anywhere within that dashed area to see the repeat handles and to select the repeatable shape.

Removing repeat handles

To make an object non-repeatable, select it with the Selection tool, then right-click, and then click Do Not Repeat from the context menu.