DrawPlus X5: adding lines to shape

[scottreuman]

I'm trying to draw some maple leaves, some flat, which is easy to do, some curled so both sides show. I can't seem to add the line to the shape that would indicate the curl and show the back side of the leaf. Examples attached. I'm relatively new to DP X5 and apologize if this is a simple issue, but I sure can't seem to do it. Help appreciated.

[MikeW]

Nice looking leaves.

Drawing the undersides as separate objects is what I would do. This is because when I color them, they likely are going to be a different shade.

I do not believe you can accomplish what you are trying in the manner you would like. In other words, the main section of the leaf is a closed object. The backside demarcation would "break" that closed object and created a different closed object. One side or the other will always be "the" main object.

Take care, Mike

[scottreuman]

HI Mike. Thanks for the compliment. What you say makes great sense. What I think you're saying would be to copy the shape part of the leaf, let's call it the front. Then on another layer create the "back" side. But that back side now, I think, needs to be a shape made of the lower curves of the leaf separated from the balance of the leaf, then a new line, the lowest curve, to close that "back" side of the leaf. Then, finally, merge the layers and fill the colors. Yes? Is this what you envisioned? If so, I'm having trouble breaking the initial shape part of the leaf - preserving only the lower line of loops. I tried the little "break line" icon with no luck. What am I doing wrong? Again, many thanks for the help. Scott

[MikeW]

I'll post an example file in a bit. Things are beginning to wind down here at work and then I will have some free time.

It's one of those "a picture is worth..." things.

Take care, Mike

[MikeW]

Hi Scott.

I have attached a DrawPlus file. You'll be able to figure out what I did, I suspect.

In short, I made a copy of the leaf, deleted all the extra nodes I figured I did not want, moved the edited leaf over onto the same area of the main leaf object. Then deleted nodes off of the main leaf that stuck out beyond the "folded" portion.

As for the outline, there are two leaves at the bottom. Select the shapebuilder tool and click on the yellow (top) leaf. The center should have cut out of the brown leaf, delete the inner shape.

Take care, Mike