Xtream Path 2: Smart Rounding Effect

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From the sample file effect_smartround_01.ai

The Smart Rounding effect adds a curve to any corner point of path or text. By adding a pair of smooth points to replace the corner point, any angle can be rounded, regardless of shape. The effect gives you control over the shape of concave and convex corners independently. The difference between the filter and the effect is this: While the Smart Rounding filter permanently changes the path of an object, the Smart Rounding effect alters the appearance of the object without making permanent changes. You can re-open the Smart Rounding effect dialog box and alter the settings using the Appearance panel.

With any object that includes one or more corner points selected on the artboard, use the menu command Effect> Xtream Path> Smart Rounding to open the dialog box. Check the Preview box and you'll see the appearance of the object change as you change the values in the dialog box. Note that the selected object's path itself remains unchanged, despite the alteration of the object's appearance.

TIP: When using the Smart Rounding effect (unlike the Smart Rounding Filter), you don't need to create outlines from type. Apply the effect to a type object and the type remains editable.

TIP: If you want to cancel the effect, delete 'XtreamPath2 Smart Rounding…' entry from 'Appearance' panel.

Here's how to control the Smart Rounding effect:

Maximum Length along Convex Angle
This field determines the maximum distance along the path for placement of a corner's new smooth anchor points. For complex paths, Smart Rounding may use a smaller value to avoid conflicts with existing anchor points.

Maximum Length along Concave Angle
This field is used to independently control the rounding of concave corners. As with convex corners, a smaller value may be used to avoid conflicts with other anchor points.

TIP: While the Maximum Length fields measure in points, you can enter any of Illustrator's standard units of measure and Xtream Path will convert to point on the fly. For example, in the Maximum Length field enter 1 in and hit Tab or Return/Enter. The value is automatically converted to 72 pt.

Maintain Ratio
When this option is selected, you can change the value in either field above and maintain the existing relationship between the two fields. For example, if the maximum length for convex angles is twice that of concave angles, changing either field results in a new value for the other field, maintaining the 2:1 ratio.

Curvature Constraint [Recommended]
Loosen the curvature constraint which the rounding affects the segments. If maximum value of chamfer is excessive, it may create the unexpected result. Therefore, in principle selecting this option is recommended.

Ignore Angles Above
The value specified here determines which angles of the original object will be converted. Any existing angle equal to or greater than the value in this field is ignored. For example, if the maximum target angle is set to 90 degrees, right angles are left unchanged. If you change the value to 91 degrees, right angles are rounded.

Preview
Check this box to see the result of the effect prior to its application. The artboard is automatically updated as you change values. When the effect is applied to extremely complex paths, you may want to uncheck Preview until you've entered your target values.

Cancel/OK
The cancel button terminates the effect dialog box without changing the selected object; the OK button applies the effect with the selected settings.

Pop-up menu
In the lower-left corner of the Smart Rounding dialog box is a triangle that gives access to the pop-up menu.
You can reset the window settings to 'Default Settings' or name the current settings and save as the preset menu.
For how to use the preset menu, please refer to 'Preset Menu.’