Measuring outlines

If you create an object in CorelDraw that is 5 x 5 inches.  Then add a huge outline to it, the measurement still reads 5 x 5.  In Illustrator there's a preference to measure just the main object, or to include the outlines in the measurement and control handles.  Does CorelDraw have the same setting?

  • In Object Properties tab you can select three options for outlines:

    • Outside outline
    • Centered outline
    • Inside outline.

    I think third option (Inside outline) results what you want.

    • Like This.  Selection includes outlines.

      • Then you can "Convert outline to Object". Although, once converted, it stays converted. However, basically you can achieve the desired result.

        • I'm not looking for a desired result. I'm looking for a desired workflow. To work freely with the flexibility of outlines, while also seeing the size of your objects in the measurements, including the outlines. Looking at a bunch of programs, I see that they all have some amount of problem with this, including Illustrator. While Illustrator does exactly what my image above shows, it struggles with precision of the size in the measurements. If it's supposed to be exactly 5 inches, including the outline, it comes out as 5.00215. It never hits exactly 5. The more you mess with it, the worse it gets. Serif DrawPlus places the selection handles out at the edges of the outline which is good visually, but the measurement readout reflects only the solid shape. Affinity Designer does exactly as CorelDraw. Apparently what I'm asking is a difficult thing to achieve.
          • Have you tried Designer?
            • Yeah, I mentioned it in my comment above. Affinity Designer behaves exactly like CorelDraw. The selection handles are aligned to the main shape while ignoring the outline.
              • In essence no, thats something you cannot do in Draw. The outline is not accounted for in object dimensions.

                Indeed this leads to other undesirable consequences like the outline not being taking into account when Smart Filling or snap or trim/weld etc, you have to convert outline to object before it can be taken into account.

            • One could use a macro for this.  You could add the result to the title bar as I have done for other info (see image below). The actual outline before converting to object is only the centermost point the outer part is nothing more than a visual for print if you wanted to cut the outermost point you would have to convert it to object but like stated once done you can't go back. I try to avoid outlines altogether if possible. Use contour instead.

              Basically the macro would measure the outline thickness then divide by 2. Could also set it to recognize what type of outline is present i.e. inside, outside or center then use different calculations for each.

              any macro coders want to give it a shot?

              • I haven't implemented it into the title bar like above but you could add it to the right-click menu or as an icon on the toolbar

                Sub RealSize() ' size including outline

                Dim s As Shape, x#, y#, w#, h#

                ActiveDocument.Unit = cdrInch

                Set s = ActiveShape

                o = s.Outline.Width

                s.GetSize w, h

                If s.Outline.Justification = cdrOutlineJustificationInside Then

                MsgBox (w) & "in w" & vbNewLine & (h) & "in h"

                Else

                If s.Outline.Justification = cdrOutlineJustificationOutside Then

                MsgBox (w + o * 2) & "in w" & vbNewLine & (h + o * 2) & "in h"

                Else

                MsgBox (w + o) & "in w" & vbNewLine & (h + o) & "in h"

                End If

                End If

                End Sub

                • If I wanted to use VBA to measure the size of the rectangle that just bounded something, including outline characteristics, then I might think about something like this:

                  1. make a copy of the item

                  2. convert it to bitmap

                  3. get the width and height of the bitmap

                  4. delete the bitmap

                  Some of that stuff can be faster if one does it with virtual objects rather than real ones.

                  Doing it that way would take into account not just line width, but also whether it was centerline/inside/outside, line caps, miters, etc.

                  • hmmm...yeah, that would be another way.
                    • Eskimo said:

                      If I wanted to use VBA to measure the size of the rectangle that just bounded something, including outline characteristics, then I might think about something like this:

                      1. make a copy of the item

                      2. convert it to bitmap

                      3. get the width and height of the bitmap

                      4. delete the bitmap

                      Some of that stuff can be faster if one does it with virtual objects rather than real ones.

                      Doing it that way would take into account not just line width, but also whether it was centerline/inside/outside, line caps, miters, etc.

                      I've thought about this some, and recently tried implementing it in a macro.

                      It is intended not just to measure, but also to resize things to specified "true size". When resizing, it checks (and preserves) the position based on the "true size".

                      Is anybody interested in trying this? I've run it under X7 and X8.

                      • I know this is old, but I'd like to try this out!

                    • Maybe you can use an inner contour instead of an outline. This can be problematic for numerous objects compared to the ease of using outlines, but you were referring to signs so you're most likely working on one sign at a time.
                    • Hi Everybody,

                      This may not be what was asked for -- but it's my variation for getting measurements of objects and outlines.
                      I am usually interested in keeping the outline as a  percentage of the object.

                      1. Set size of object and outline.  Set outline on the outside of object
                      2.  Object > convert outline to object
                      3.  Group object and outline
                      4. In Object Manager - switch from object to outline and look for size in the property bar.

                      It's possible to get variations on this but I have never tried any.

                      I put the above sequence on a tool bar so it goes faster than reading about it..

                      Phil