Chop (a possibly useful observation)

Lacking a proper "chop" command (where you get to invoke,
then draw your "cutter" path / polygon) I have been using the
Edit>Selection>Subtract function, where you have to make
your "cutter" object first. Don't get me wrong, there are cases
where a pre-drawn "cutter" is more efficient. Just not when
you're trying to make a simple cut right where you are, without
having to "RPN it" (operand first, then operator). Hard to be
more efficient at that, than "shiftC, drag, click" (Brand X chop
command motion,if you're infix).

This is not particularly burdensome, but I've seen that when
you do this your "cutter" gets blown away along with whatever
it sat on. So if the task is repetitive you have added repetitive
front activity to do, each.

What I noticed today, is that
1) The "cutter" evidently does not have to be on the same layer
(I was trying to cut "TANK" with "TANK", but I had an identical
sized "Text" object instead; it got cut, all the same).
2) When used to cut something of a different layer, the "cutters"
do not get destroyed.

So, if you want to make multiple "stampings" without having to
redraw, or duplicate-then-move (a plain old regular copy-from-to
would be so handy...) you can use a "cutter" that's from some
unused layer and it'll stick around, to be reused.

Comments

  • Hi Jim,

    I recall I once created the "separate inside/outside" function for cutting. This does not remove the shapes you've drawn.

    Here is how it works:

    1. two layers (red/yellow)

    1. First select red shapes (drag rectangle), then (with SHIFT) select yellow shape:

    1. Use Edit/Selection/separate first into inside/outside others (no idea how I came up with that name)

    As you see, the red shapes are now separated into left and right parts: "inside" yellow and "outside" yellow parts. The yellow shape persists and you can move/reshape it. You can also pick the pieces and delete or move them.

    Matthias

Sign In or Register to comment.