Handles and Nodes
Handles allow you to move, alter, resize, rotate or delete a pattern.
Square handles move diagonally. Moving a square handle resizes the pattern proportionally.
Wedge handles move vertically or horizontally. Moving a wedge handle will resize the pattern dis-proportionally along the horizontal or vertical plane as you pull the handle.
Pattern Anchors
One main difference in the handle types is how the pattern is anchored. If one handle is moved another stays in place (remains anchored).
Edge Anchor Handle – (F9) Purple –The anchor is the handle directly opposite the one being moved.
Center Anchor Handle – (F10) Orange – The anchor is the center of the pattern. Handles will move the pattern OUT (or in) from the center.
End Point Handle – (F11) Blue – The square handles are only on the start point and endpoint of the pattern. The movement of a square handle will change the size of the pattern proportionally. Unlike other handles, the End Point handles can move in any direction (360 degrees). If the pattern starts and stops at the same point, there is NO end point handle available.
Stretch Handle – (F12) Grey – The anchor is the opposite handle. Moving a handle will stretch the pattern in more than one direction affecting the areas to the left and right of the moved handle. A stretch handle can be moved 360 degrees.
Universal Handles – (F8) — Shows three of the most commonly used handles at the same time. The handles can be used interchangeably without changing handle types.
Node View – (F7) – Displays the pieces of a single selected pattern. Nodes show the segments.
Pink = End point nodes are at the beginning and the end of each pattern segment.
Blue = Arc nodes create the curvature of the line between the pink nodes.
Snap can attach any pattern node or the end of a pattern (using End Point Handles) to the end of another pattern or to a grid intersection. When engaged, Snap will display a pink dot whenever it successfully attaches to the end of another pattern or a grid intersection.