Converting Objects to Different Types

You can do some effects, like using the Eyedropper, only to bitmaps. So how do you apply that to a polygon? Just convert it. You can apply gradients and bitmaps to text, but only if they're converted to bitmaps or 3D.

To convert, just right-click on any graphic in Draw, choose Convert, and you'll see what you can convert it to. Table 30-1 summarizes those options.

Metafile is a format specific to Microsoft Windows. Unless you've got a good reason, choose bitmap instead, since some of the features for editing rasters in Draw don't work with bitmaps.

Table 30-1. File format conversion

Image to convert	Conversion option	Comments
Polygon (square, oval, etc.)	Curve, contour, 3D, 3D rotation object, bitmap, metafile
Curve	Polygon, contour, 3D, 3D rotation object, bitmap, metafile
Contour	Curve, 3D, 3D rotation object, bitmap, metafile	A contour is a group of polygons that make up the object.
Line	Curve, contour, 3D, 3D rotation object, bitmap, metafile
Bitmap	Polygon, contour, 3D, 3D rotation object, metafile	See Converting a Raster Object (Image) to a Draw Polygon Object on page 827.
Metafile	Polygon, contour, 3D, 3D rotation object, bitmap	Conversion to 3D or 3D rotation object loses all color . Only black and white are used in the result.
3D object	Bitmap, metafile
3D rotation object	Bitmap, metafile

Converting a Draw Object to Another Draw (Vector) Type

1. Select a curve, line, polygon, or metafile (such as a GIF image you've pasted in from Image).

   Some types can't be converted; for instance, 3D object or 3D rotation objects can't be converted to any other shape. In addition, curves drawn with the Polygon curve tools are already considered polygons for this purpose, so they can't be converted to polygons.

2. Right-click it and select Convert.

3. Select one of the listed object types.

You can now edit the object based on its new type; if you converted a polygon to a curve, for instance, you can edit points using the curve icons on the object bar.

Notes on the different types of conversions follow.

Lines to curves

Converting a line to a curve lets you bend it and offers all standard Bezier curve editing features, such as the control handle (shown in Figure 30-43).

Figure 30-43. Converting a line to a curve

Polygons to 3D

You can convert any object to a 3D object or 3D rotation object; polygons and curves result in the most interesting effects (see Figure 30-44).

Figure 30-44. Converting a polygon to 3D

Curves to 3D Rotation

You can achieve surprising effects by converting Bezier curves to 3D rotation objects (see Figure 30-45).

Figure 30-45. Converting a curve to a 3D rotation object

Curves to polygons

Converting a curve to a polygon is possible, but doesn't result in many useful changes. Many more points are added, dragging a point results in a pointed shape rather than a curve, and the control handle is no longer available. Figure 30-46 shows two curves converted to polygons.

Figure 30-46. Converting a curve to a polygon

Making Other Cool 3D Shapes By Converting Any Object to 3D

The previous procedure tells you how to convert an object to 3D with relatively interesting results. However, the 3D conversion icon on the Effects tearoff menu gives you much more flexibility. Figure 30-47 shows the contrast.

1. Select an object that is a polygon, or convert a raster to a polygon. (You can get some pretty interesting effects applying this to a scanned photo.)

2. Click the Effects icon to display the Effects tearoff menu, then click the In 3D Rotation Object icon.

   

3. A line will appear to the left of the object. Drag the end to the left or right (in Figure 30-47, the top end of the line was dragged to the left a few degrees).

4. Click in the empty shape to the left of the object; the conversion will take place.

Figure 30-47. Converting to 3D using the Effects tearoff menu

Converting a Raster Object (Image) to a Draw Polygon Object

You can convert raster objects to Draw objects such as polygons and 3D objects.

For all formats but polygons, simply right-click on the object and choose Convert and the type of object you want.

If you're converting a bitmap (not a raster) to a polygon, the window in Figure 30-48 will appear. Choose the appropriate options and click OK.

Figure 30-48. Converting a raster image to a polygon

Note

If you convert a curved bitmap, such as the oval shown in Figure 30-48, then apply a different fill such as another color or pattern, the shape will change to a square or rectangle and you'll lose the original shape.

Converting a Draw Object to an Image

You can convert a Draw object (a vector graphic) to a raster type (Image object), so that it's composed of pixels rather than lines. This is useful if you want to samplechange all occurrences of a color in an image to another color. See Changing Selected Colors in Images Using the Eyedropper on page 833, as well as Chapter 31, Editing Images , on page 831.

Converting by Right-Clicking

You can convert most Draw objects to a bitmap or metafile. Simply right-click on an object or objects and choose Convert > type .

Using the Modify Menu

1. Select an object.

2. Choose Modify > Convert, then select the object type. See Converting Objects to Different Types on page 823 for information about each type.