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Part 39 – Using The Distort Tool Bounding Box

This article accompanies the thirty-ninth video in a series on my YouTube channel. If you’re not subscribed to my channel, here’s a link. Come on by and check it out. Hopefully you’ll find something you like.

In this 39th video of the series, I’ll show you how to use the Distort Tool in VCarve Desktop, VCarve Pro, and Aspire by editing the Bounding Box.
I introduced the Distort Tool in a previous video, and showed you how to distort vector objects and text using a single curve and between two curves. This time, I’ll show you how to distort vector objects using a Bounding Box.

I’ll show you how I create a standard ellipse, then modify that ellipse using the Distort Tool’s Bounding Box. We’ll get into distorting the vector using the spans and points that define the Bounding Box. Along the way, I’ll show you how to add points to the Bounding Box, manipulate those new points, then convert a span of the Bounding Box to a Bezier Curve for even more control over the final shape of the vector. We’ll then Bake the Distortion to finish converting the newly distorted vector to curves so we can edit the vector in Node Editing Mode.

FOR THE ABSOLUTE CNC BEGINNER

Don’t stress over any of this. It’s supposed to be fun, remember? You CAN learn this. You CAN do this. It’s not always super easy, but it’s never really super difficult, either. Just like anything else you want to do, there is no replacement for experience – and the only way to get that experience is to practice. Get into your CAD/CAM software, and learn it. Draw in it. Calculate toolpaths. Generate g-code. You don’t’ have to cut anything with it – it’s more important that you learn how to use the software than it is to start making chips.

That’s enough out of me. Below is a link to the 39th video in the series that’s geared toward the absolute Vectric software beginner.

I use Aspire version 10.019 in this video, but all of the information in the video applies to VCarve (both the Desktop and the Pro versions,) and Aspire software.

As usual, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to comment! If you don’t wish to make a public comment, click this Contact Us link, and submit it to me privately. I read ALL of the messages I get through my website, and I answer as many as humanly possible – unless you’re a spambot. Spambots get blocked – so there.

Remember, beginners – relax, take your time, and enjoy the process. It’s supposed to be fun, remember? You can do this. I’m living proof.

SUMMING UP

For more information on, or to download a free trial of VCarve Pro, visit the Vectric website at:

http://www.vectric.com/

Remember to click that link up at the top of the page to check out my T-Shirt shop!

Until next time, take care and have fun!