Symbol Constraints / Resizing

[Guest Blars]

Is it possible to resize symbols (Stretch them using grips) and not have the symbol "smear?"   For example, if I draw two "concentric" rectangles centered over eachother with equal offsets between each edge, turn that into a symbol, and stretch the edges using the grips, the offset distances change and become unequal.  How can i maintain the equal offset within symbols?  Are there constraints that can be applied to the linework within the symbol to prevent the 'smear?'  I want to prevent the asymetric stretching of edges.  Thanks.

[barkest]

Edit the 2D symbol and move the original shapes, or offset them (original mode) or double-click and use the edit tools in move edges parallel mode (If I understood the question correctly)

[Guest Blars]

Editing an altered symbol will change all instances.  I'd rather not make new symbols for each instance because there's not much point in having symbols at that point.  In the image i uploaded with this post... The image on the far left is the original symbol.  If i "stretch" the symbol from the control point at center right, i could get the center symbol.  But what i really want is to have the original symbol resize to look like the image on the far right.  are there 2d constraints that can do this?  Thanks.

[Kevin McAllister]

39 minutes ago, Blars said:

Editing an altered symbol will change all instances.  I'd rather not make new symbols for each instance because there's not much point in having symbols at that point.  In the image i uploaded with this post... The image on the far left is the original symbol.  If i "stretch" the symbol from the control point at center right, i could get the center symbol.  But what i really want is to have the original symbol resize to look like the image on the far right.  are there 2d constraints that can do this?  Thanks.

 

I think this is the perfect scenario for a Marionette object. You wouldn't be able to scale it using the edit handles, but you could make it so

1. you entered the original rectangle size and it generated the offset
2. or you entered a percentage of the original size for x and or y and it adjusted the offset to the new shape.

The symbols will always scale proportionally so the offset will change.

 

Kevin

[Marissa Farrell]

I'm seconding Kevin's suggestion of Marionette!

 

Let me know if you're interested and I can help you out.

[AlanW]

If you don't necessarily want the symbol to remain a symbol in the drawings you can edit the Symbol definition to be convert to a group and each one will stand alone.

[Pat Stanford]

Constraints won't impact the object if it is in a container that is scaled, so they probably won't help you with what you are asking.

 

If you draw the two original rectangles, you can add Constraint Horizontal Distance constraints from the bottom inner corners to the larger rectangle corner on each side. Do the same, but with the Constrain Vertical Distance constraint.

 

If you resize either the inner or outer rectangle, the other will change to keep the proper distances.

 

Select both and Group them. If you scale the group, the constraints don't hold. If you Edit Group and scale either of the rectangles, the constraints do hold. The same applies for objects inside symbols. Scale the symbol and no constraints. Edit Symbol and scale either rectangle and it works.

 

Looks like this is you opportunity to learn to do some puppetry. ;-)

[Guest Blars]

How might this be done in marionette?  I've not used that before.  Thanks.

[Pat Stanford]

The attached file has a simple marionette object that draws two concentric squares. These are wrapped into Marionette Objects so they work like PIOs. You can duplicate the object and change the parameters for each instance individually.

 

The two parameters you can enter are the Size and Offset. Size is the overall size of the larger square. The Offset is the desired spacing from the edge of the larger square to the edge of the inner square.

 

If you right click on one of the objects and choose Edit Script, you can see the Marionette network.

 

The Dim nodes have names so they show up in the OIP and can have their values changed from there.

 

The Int (integer) and Mul (multiply) nodes are there to properly size the smaller square as the offset is from one size and not the actual desired size of the square.

 

The Point2D node creates the proper starting location of the smaller square in relation to the larger square.

Concentric Squares.vwx

[AlanW]

@Pat Stanfordhi great to see you dipping your toe into marionette. With your vector script and programming knowledge I am sure I and others can learn lots from you. Thanks

Nicely described also.

Edited April 3, 2017 by Alan Woodwell

[JanezicDesign]

Resurfacing to ask about this. I’ve messed with Marionette a bit, but my main hold up was doing this with lighting devices. Is it possible to have a lighting device record attached to a marionette object, so that it’s flexible with all of the options of the marionette, but seen as a lighting device? Or hanging position? Or accessory?

 

that’s been my main pain with it, but if that’s possible I’ll be revisiting Marionette objects to include that.