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Scribus => Beginner Talk => Topic started by: jsg91 on July 23, 2014, 04:10:31 PM

Title: Combining shapes
Post by: jsg91 on July 23, 2014, 04:10:31 PM
I'm creating a poster and I've become a little stuck, at the moment I have 3 columns, with  the left and right having a curved inside border. I'm trying to make the central column also curved with the two sides maintaining the same distance all the way down. To do this I tried just copying my left and right column and combining them, however I can't get it to fill properly is there an easier way to make this central column, or a way to delete the lines inside the new shape? I really only need the curves from my original columns is it possible to cut them from the original shape? Thanks for your time.
Title: Re: Combining shapes
Post by: GarryP on July 24, 2014, 01:48:04 PM
jsg91, is this the sort of thing you mean?

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Title: Re: Combining shapes
Post by: GarryP on July 24, 2014, 02:09:16 PM
In anticipation of your answer - and because I'll be offline for a while - I'll go through the process very quickly.

* Draw a rectangle.
* Draw an ellipse to the left of the rectangle but overlapping the rectangle at a size and shape such that the curve that goes through the rectangle looks correct.
* "Properties / Shape" Edit...
* Icon "Open a Polygon", click on top node of ellipse.
* Icon "Open a Polygon", click on bottom node of ellipse.
* Button "End Editing"
* Click on top-right of ellipse and delete.
* Click on bottom-right of ellipse and delete.
* Duplicate the arc that you're left with and move the original to the right.
* Select duplicated arc and "Properties / X,Y,Z" "Flip Horizontal".
* Align the left of the duplicated arc to the left of the rectangle.
* Align the right of the original arc to the right of the rectangle.
* Align all objects about the vertical centre axis.
* Select left-hand (duplicate) arc and shift-select rectangle.
* Menu "Item -> Path Tools -> Cut Polygon".
* Select right-hand (original) arc and shift-select rectangle.
* Menu "Item -> Path Tools -> Cut Polygon".
* Move the left and right sections as necessary to make the gap (nudge with arrow keys?).
* Select each, right-click and choose "Convert to -> Text Frame".
* Add your text to the left-hand section.
* Link the text frames from left to right.
* Remove the outline colours if necessary.

And that should do it.

Obviously, if you want the curves the other way round you'll need to move the arcs as appropriate.

Sorry I don't have a lot of time to explain it in more detail right now but I hope you can follow it. (I hope I've not missed out any important steps.)
Title: Re: Combining shapes
Post by: jsg91 on July 24, 2014, 02:46:23 PM
That is the effect I'm looking for! I'll have a go with your guide I'm pretty sure I can follow it, thanks a lot.