Perpendicular Multi-Line Modes

Multi-Line modes can be activated and cycled through by pressing the A key when dragging the line from a path. When a Multi-Line mode is active, the Perpendicular Line tool will create multiple perpendicular lines from the path, not just a single one. There are three different Multi-Line modes:

• Multi-Line/Segment: Lines are drawn along the path segment.

• Multi-Line/Path: Lines are drawn along the entire path.

• Multi-Line/Anchors: A line is drawn from each anchor point of the path.

Perpendicular Line Tool - Multi-Lines Mode

While dragging in Multi-Line mode, there are additional keypresses available:

• Up Arrow/Down Arrow: Except when in Anchors sub-mode, the arrow keys adjust the number of lines (from 2 to 8000; retained across sessions).

• C: Toggles centering mode. When centering mode is enabled, each line is drawn centered on the path rather than just to one side (in this case the displayed length actually indicates half of the line). The centering mode is retained between uses of the tool.

Perpendicular Line Tool - Multi-Line Centering Enabled

• G: Toggles grouping mode. Normally the multiple lines that are created are put into a single group for ease in subsequent selection, but by turning grouping off, they will not be grouped. The grouping mode is retained between uses of the tool.

• O: Toggles overlap mode (available for Segment sub-mode only). By default, multiple lines are created along an entire segment; i.e. a line is created at its start and another at its end. However, this creates a problem if lines are first drawn from one segment and then from an adjacent segment, because the end of one segment is at the same position as the start of the next segment, and the two lines on the end will overlap. To remedy this, when overlapping is turned off, a line will not be drawn at the very end of the segment. The overlap mode is retained between uses of the tool.

• R: Turns on randomization (if off) and cycles it through three modes: Length, Position, and Length + Position. The randomization mode is retained between uses of the tool. In all three modes, the variation parameter can be adjusted (between 0% and 100%) by pressing the Left Arrow and Right Arrow keys.

In Length mode, the lengths of each line will be randomly varied by an amount equal to the random variation parameter, with the maximum value representing 0% variation. For example, if the length is being held at 40 pt, and the random variation is set to 75%, then the lengths can vary by 40 pt × 75% or 30 pt, resulting in final values of 10 pt to 40 pt.

Perpendicular Line Tool - Random Variation Mode

In Position sub-mode, the positions of each line will be randomly varied in the same manner.
In Length + Position sub-mode, both the lengths and the positions of each line are randomly varied.

Perpendicular Line Tool - Randomization Mode