Blending objects

Blends let you merge one object into another using a series of intermediate objects (called ‘steps’). This process is sometimes called 'morphing' or 'tweening'. The two objects can be any of LX's object types including bitmaps and even other blends. The intermediate steps are calculated by Xara LX when the object is displayed on screen so blends take up virtually no memory.

image\PRCARROW.gif To blend between objects

1. Choose the Blend Tool.

2. Move the pointer over the first object.

3. Drag to and release over the second object.

Tips

image\BULLET.gif When blending between two objects with the same number of points you may find selecting the 1 to 1 Button on the Blend Tool Infobar gives better shaped results. See One to One Node Mapping button for more details.

image\BULLET.gif Sometimes the steps are not the shape you want. For extra control, you can drag from a corner (or handle) on one object to the corner of the second. Blending between different corners produces different blends. This is how you can put twists in blends.

image\BULLET.gif The blend steps are not separate objects. To make them selectable, you need to convert the blend to simple editable shapes. See Converting blends to shapes.

image\BULLET.gif Blending objects in different layers moves the objects into the same layer.

image\BULLET.gif If you blend between two bitmaps, the blend shows the first bitmap for all steps except the last. (See Blending bitmaps for a way of getting round this).

image\BULLET.gif For details on how to blend between two blends, see Creating two-way blends.

Movie—click below (not working in this version)

Blending objects

Blends

Blend Tool