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	Xara X. The Mould Tool




		The Mould Tool is used to change the shape of a selected object or group of objects. There are 8 preset Mould Shapes called Envelopes, because they envelope (used as a verb) the selected shape and facilitate the transformations. In addition to the presets, there is a Default Envelope used for curved shapes, and a Default Perspective used for straight sided modifications. To apply a simple Envelope shape, select the object(s), select the Mould Tool, and click one of the Envelope Shapes on the Infobar. If you don't like the envelope, you can click another shape or click the Remove button to remove the transformation.

The Envelope Shapes are broken into two groups, Curved sided shapes and Straight Sided.

The names of the shapes (pay attention there will be a quiz at the end of this section) are a. Default Envelope, b. Circular, c. Elliptical, d. Concave, e. Banner. (f. and l. are Paste Envelope and will be covered later). g. Default Perspective, h. Left, i. Right, j. Floor and k. Ceiling. The results of these envelopes is pretty much the same as the icons.

In addition to the Envelope Shapes there are four modifiers which will be covered later. a. Toggle Grid, displays a grid to show the distortion. The grid is to illustrate the distortion only and is non-printable, pressing this button again, removes the grid. b. Remove, restores the object to its original shape. c. Detach Mould, permits the envelope to be edited without the object redrawing after each modification, pressing Detach Mould again, applies all the previously made changes. d. Rotate Contents, rotates the object in 90 degree increments within the envelope shape, and e. Copy Envelope, which will be covered together with Paste Envelope later on.


	Pressing Rotate Contents, rotates the selected object within the envelope shape as shown here.


	Pressing Toggle Grid displays a grid representation of the envelope shape. Pressing Toggle Grid again, removes the grid shape. (No surprised here, eh?)