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Extruding objects

The Extrude command lets you create objects that appear to have three dimensions. Extrude vector and text objects in parallel style, and vector objects in circular and semi-circular (“sweep”) style.

You can rotate and scale extruded objects in three-dimensional space. You can set the placement, intensity, and color of a simulated light source for shading extruded objects. Solid color fill inks can be applied to extruded objects. Strokes and other inks are not supported.

To extrude an object:

Select an object for the extrusion you want to create:
- For parallel extrusion, select a text or vector object, or a group object containing one or both types of objects.
- For circular or sweep extrusion, select a vector object.
Choose Effects | Extrude to display the Extrude palette.
Select a preset or custom extrusion setting:
- Using presets: From the preset extrusion palettes, select an extrusion icon to extrude the selected object. The icons show the angle and position of the extruded object. Canvas uses a default extrusion depth for parallel extrusions, and a default Steps setting for circular extrusions.
- Using custom settings: Click the arrow to expand the palette. Choose an extrusion style, lighting color, and other options. Click Apply to extrude the selected object.
If you select Circular or Sweep style, an extrusion axis appears (see Completing a circular or sweep extrusion).


Extrusion palette	Rotate buttons


Parallel presets	Circular presets	Lighting presets

Completing a circular or sweep extrusion

When you set up a circular or sweep extrusion, specify the number of steps you want Canvas to use. The more steps, the smoother and less “blocky” the extrusion appears.

To specify the number of steps for a circular or sweep extrusion:

In the Extrude palette, enter a number between six and 60 in the “# of Steps” text box.

After you apply a circular or sweep extrusion to an object using the expanded Extrude palette, you need to set the extrusion axis, which is represented by a black bar. A mirror image of the selected object shows the extrusion at 180°.

To set the extrusion axis:

Drag the black bar right, left, up, or down, depending on the direction you want to extrude. The mirror image of the object moves as you drag the axis. Press Enter or double-click to complete the extrusion.

Circular and sweep extrusions


Original object	Axis	Circular extrusion	Axis	180º sweep extrusion

Extrusion options

Use palettes of extrusion and lighting presets in the Extrusion palette to modify extruded objects. If you expand the Extrude palette, you can use options to control lighting and rotation of extrusions. You can set these options before you extrude an object, or to edit an extruded object.

Before extruding a selected object, set up the options you want and click Apply to extrude the object.
After extruding an object, double-click it, change the settings you want, and click Apply to apply the settings.

You can control the color and position of the light source to change the shading of extruded objects. Canvas uses shades of gray to create highlights and shadows. Canvas then mixes the highlights and shadows with the color of the light source and fill color of the object.

Extrusion styles

In the expanded Extrude palette, select the extrusion style from the pop-up menu.

Parallel: Adds depth to an object, as though the shape were cut out of a slab of clay. You can create parallel extrusions with text objects and vector objects.
Circular: Extrudes a shape in a circular path. You can set the diameter of the extrusion path and number of steps (6-60) in the extrusion. You can apply circular extrusions to vector objects, but not text.
Sweep: Extrudes a shape along a circular path, and lets you specify the number of degrees (10 to 360) to extrude. You can also set the diameter of the extrusion path and the number of steps (6-60) in the extrusion. You can apply sweep extrusions to vector objects, but not text.

Extrude options

Extrusion style	Select an extrusion style. For Sweep style, also enter the angular length, from 10° to 360°.
# of Steps	For Circular or Sweep style, number of steps controls the number of facets on the surface of the extrusion. Enter a value from 6 to 60.
Light color	Choose a light source color from the palette.
Back/Front	Drag the slider to specify the depth of the light source in 3D space (along the Z axis).
Intensity	Drag the slider to adjust the overall brightness of the light source. Drag the handle to set the horizontal (X) and vertical (Y) position of the light source and preview the effect.
Light Source	Use the handle and Back/Front slider, or enter X, Y, and Z coordinates to set the position of the light source.
Ambient Light	Drag the slider to adjust the highlight and shadow contrast.
Rotation Angles	Enter X, Y, and Z values in degrees to rotate the extruded object in 3D space.

Extruding objects

When you drag a handle, Canvas extrudes the object outward, along the corresponding axis; i.e., dragging a handle to the right extrudes the object to the right and left simultaneously.

Editing extruded objects

Immediately after you extrude an object, the object is in extrusion edit mode. In edit mode, Canvas displays three axes, representing the three dimensions. Each axis has a handle, and when you roll the pointer over a handle, it changes to an extrusion pointer. Otherwise, the pointer appears as a rotation pointer.

When an extruded object is selected or in edit mode, the extrusion options are available in the Extruded palette as well as in the Properties bar.

To exit extrusion edit mode:

Double-click outside the object or press Esc.

To change the shape of extruded objects:

When an extruded object is not in edit mode, you can resize and reshape it like other two-dimensional vector objects:

Drag a handle on the bounding box to resize the object.
Place the object in Freeform mode to skew the object.
Use the Scale command or Properties bar to resize the object.

In addition to these two-dimensional editing functions, extruded objects have unique, three-dimensional properties. When an object is in extrusion edit mode, you can make it thicker, wider, or taller, and Canvas redraws the object to account for lighting changes.

To change the color of extruded objects:

When you extrude a vector object, Canvas uses combinations of a solid-color fill ink, shades of gray, and the light-source color to create a three-dimensional appearance.

In the Extrude palette or the Properties bar, apply solid fill inks and change the color of the light source.

When you change colors, Canvas redraws the object to show the interaction of the new colors with the object’s shape and shading.

To rotate extruded objects:

You can rotate extruded objects in several ways:

Click the rotation buttons on the Extrude palette or Properties bar.
Enter values in the Rotation Angles text boxes in the expanded Extrude palette.
Rotate and scale extruded objects interactively.

To rotate and scale an extruded object, the object can either be selected or in extrusion edit mode.

To place an extruded object in edit mode:

Double-click the extruded object with the Selection tool.

To rotate an extruded object interactively:

When you first apply the Extrude effect, the object might appear flat if it is facing you (with the Z axis pointing directly at you).

Rotate an edge of the object toward you.
With the rotation pointer, drag a side in the direction you want to rotate the object.

As you drag, Canvas displays a circle to show the space in which the object can rotate.
Drag inside the circle to rotate the object in all three dimensions.
Drag outside the circle to rotate the object on the plane that is facing you.

You can also rotate an extruded object in two dimensions, like other vector objects, choosing Effects | Rotate or Freeform. The object can’t be in extrusion edit mode to use these commands. When you use the Rotate and Freeform commands, Canvas does not reapply lighting effects as with three-dimensional rotation; i.e., the light source appears to move with the object, instead of remaining in the same place as the object rotates.