As a newbie I am learning as I go, at 63 I find tech a bit daunting but still trying to get this old dog up to date.Can anyone tell me the best way to get this a drawn shape to be square.
I have drawn a rectangle which is 400 mm high. The distance across the top is 150 mm I have managed to get the distance across the bottom to 200 so it is a tapered rectangle shape.
As I did this manually with the line tool it sits out of square.
What do I need to do to get the lines although different lengths top and bottom to sit square on my plan and not lopsided.
Also just in case anyone asked to see I have copied the shape but can not seem to paste it on here ??
Hi Robert! Welcome to the forum, and kudos for continuing to learn!
If you hold shift while drawing a line, it will lock to 45 degree increments.
You can then use the input fields in the top bar menu to set the length.
This part of the toolbar is very powerful once you get the hang of it - it’s more than I can explain well in a forum post, so we have a video guide on the documentation page for this feature, which I think will put you well on your way. Give it a watch, and let me know if you have any questions after giving it a go:
The video is here:
Thank you for speedy reply but I do not think that is what I need.
Imagin a straight line vertically down the page I draw a odd shape box over this line freehand.
The sides od the box are 200 mm tall, the top of the box is 200 mm wide but the bottom is 300 mm wide. As I have drawn freehand the top is 50% either side of the centre line but the bottom is 40% one side of the line and 60% the other so my box is out of square. If I new how to attch a file I could show you the shape, it would then become clear. I take all this as a challenge and will get there.
Its like a lot of videos on you tube they are good but not exactly what I need, why is the video I need never on there. LOL
Yes managed to get the shape on here hooray. Now you can see it is not in alignment. This is the shape I want and need the sides are the correct length the top is the correct length and the bottom is the correct length but the top and bottom are not aligned vertically.
If I understand the question, you want to make either the top or the bottom line parallel to the X axis.
Do this:
- Select the shape
- Start the
Edit Nodestool - Hover the mouse over the line
- Tap the
Akey
That will snap the line to be parallel to the X axis and rotate the rest of the shape accordingly.
If that’s not what you’re trying to do, a few sketches may help us see what you want.
Nope not that either but you have got the idea.
When I hit a it aligns one side with the x axis but the other is say 15 degrees out. what I need is both side at 7.5 degrees out so it sits square.
I would use the align tool as Ed described to align one of the desired shapes to be where you want it to be, and if the opposite side (say the top, if you align the bottom) is not where you want it, use the delete function when in node edit (press d to delete the line segment - not the delete or backspace key) to delete that out of whack line, and redraw it horizontally.
I would draw the two lines you want horizontally at the proper lengths, like so. Use the numeric edit bar to space the two apart - you can enter simple math if you want to offset by a set amount (+# into the entry field to add on to the number)
Then Select All (drag a box around the two items, or Ctrl+A - then go to Arrange > Align > Horizontal Centers
Then you can just connect the dots.
You could also draw one half, and Duplicate `Alt+D’, then mirror across line or mirror, via the Arrange tab again.
Will lightburn ever add a dimensioning feature to the measurement tool?
I will solve the task by drawing 2 shapes, no.1 150x400, no. 2 200x400 (on top of no. 1) and then use the lovely scissors to cut away the unwanted parts.
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Thank you Colin
I can work with that, have used since you posted in a few minutes. So brilliant.
I would show you what I have done but it would take me an hour to remember how to screen shot and put it on here. Maybe tomorrow.
I did see how to do it but just can not find the post about screenshot, I think it was \\shift and control click image and then Shift A to put to post. But who knows.
That will be attemped tomorrow.
Thank you.
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That sounds like a great idea to put over on Fider
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Windows Snipping Tool is SHFT+WinKey+S
Unfortunately, I must retract this statement. It is not possible, without additional steps, to use scissors for the task.
Claude
Does not work if you need to go between the grid points on a fixed measurement IE 26.5 mm. for the top line. and 15 mm for the bottom.
All help appreciated though.
You can draw another rectangle with the desired width and snap the nodes to the corners:
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