Transform Controls

The interactive controls for the native Transform live effect are as follows:

Stylism Transform Controls

A. Transformed Object Bounds

The bounds of the object after it has been offset, scaled, and rotated are indicated by a red rectangle with nodes at each corner. Dashed grey lines connect the corners of the rectangle with the original object’s bounds, indicated by a rectangle of solid grey lines. Each of the transform parameters may be changed by using the Stylism tool on this rectangle:

• Offset: Hovering the cursor over the bounds rectangle (except over an edge or corner) displays the current offset values (Option/Alt-clicking on the bounds toggles the readout between X/Y mode and distance/angle mode). Dragging the bounds rectangle (except on an edge or corner) changes the offset (hold Shift to constrain the motion to 45° increments around the general constrain angle). The rectangle may also be doubleclicked to enter the offsets numerically, either as the standard X and Y values, or as distance and angle values:

Stylism Transform Offset Dialog

• Scale: Dragging one of the corner nodes of the bounds rectangle changes the scaling. Holding Shift while dragging constrains the aspect ratio. To change only the horizontal scale or only the vertical scale, drag an edge. To specify the scaling numerically, doubleclick one of the edges of corners:

Stylism Transform Scale Dialog

• Rotation: When the cursor if hovering outside the rectangle but near one of the corners, the current rotation value will be displayed. Dragging from this location changes the rotation. While dragging, holding Shift constrains the rotation to 45° increments around the general constrain angle. Doubleclicking while the current rotation value is being displayed brings up a dialog letting you change the rotation value numerically:

Stylism Transform Rotation Dialog

B. Increment/Decrement Copies

The buttons marked with “+” and “–” increment and decrement the number of transformed copies, from 0 to 1000. Pressing Shift while clicking a button will change the value by 10 instead of 1. Pressing Option/Alt while clicking the button will change number of copies while also retaining the position of the last transformed copy:

Stylism Transform Copies Button Example

Each copy is joined by a thin red line (the copy chain line), and each copy except the first has its bounding box marked with a rectangle of solid grey lines.

C. Scale Strokes & Effects

Controls the Scale Strokes & Effects setting. When disabled, it shows three stripes of the same width; when enabled, three stripes of varying widths. Clicking the button toggles the setting.

Stylism Transform Scale Strokes Example

D. Reference Point

This nine-block widget is similar to the smaller version in the Transform effect parameters dialog, and specifies the reference point (position of the transformation point relative to the bounds of the original object).

E. Randomize

Toggles the Random parameter of the live effect. When disabled, the button displays “N” (for non-random); when enabled, it displays “R”.

F. Transform Copy Chain Tip

Marks the position of the last copy in the copy chain. When the cursor is hovered over it, a display of the current number of copies will appear. Dragging the control changes the number of copies, extending or shortening the copy chain:

Stylism Transform Copy Chain Drag

Dragging the copy chain tip with Option/Alt held down allows you to move the position of the last copy (and, therefore, all intermediate copies) while retaining the current number of copies. Stylism achieves this by calculating and applying the necessary offset values such that the last copy lands at the given coordinates. The scaling and rotation values are not changed.

Stylism Transform Copy Chain Drag with Option

Doubleclicking the control brings up a dialog in which the number of copies can be directly entered. If Option/Alt is being held down (so the coordinates of the last copy are displayed), a dialog in which the coordinates can be numerically entered is displayed.