Xtream Path 2: Smart Rounding (Selected Corners) Filter

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From the sample filter_smartround_sc_01.ai

Like the Smart Rounding filter, the Smart Rounding (Selected Corners) filter adds a curve to any corner anchor point. By adding a pair of smooth points to replace the corner point, any angle can be rounded, regardless of path segment shape. The filter gives you control over the shape of concave and convex corners independently. The difference between the two filters is basic: While Smart Rounding works on a selected object in its entirety, Smart Rounding (Selected Corners) is applied to one or more selected corner anchor points.

Select one or more anchors points of an object, then use the command Filter> Xtream Path> Smart Rounding (Selected Corners). You then apply the filter to the selected corners, leaving the unselected anchor points unchanged. In this example, the original object is shown in the middle. At the top, the star's inner corners are selected and the filter is being applied. At the bottom, the filter is being applied only to the star's outer corners.

Here's how to control the Smart Rounding (Selected Corners) filter:

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 (Selected Corners) 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 filter prior to its application. The artboard is automatically updated as you change values. When the filter 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 filter dialog box without changing the selected object; the OK button applies the filter 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.’

TIP: The Smart Rounding (Selected Corners) filter can be recorded in an Illustrator Action to simplify repeated application. Not only will recording the filter in an Action speed up its application, it ensures uniformity from object to object. If you've got a number of objects, or a number of illustrations, that need to have identical corners, record Smart Rounding in an Action and assign it to an F-key combination for one-step filtering. Assign the F-key combination in the New Action or Action Options dialog box.