ideas to create childrens dot to dot drawing pictures

Have a project for special needs kids 

Creating 100 dot to dot picture - ie join the dots by moving through numbers or letters.

Any time saving methods greatly apreciated..

 

The graphic outlines are not the issue the dot and path creation is...

 

  • First, create a separate segment for the path you want the dots to follow and then use the Blend tool. Once you have the dots set, break apart the Blend and delete the segment. Like this...

    Patti

    • Thankyou clever kind people..

       

      Both methods are extremely handy for what I am doing now....

      I would also love to know how you get the macro window to show on the desktop in Corel (using x5) at the moment- have to keep going back to the dropdown.

      Adding the macro window to the toolbar does not show the macros..

       

       

      • You are welcome, Patty´s solutions is much better than mine (as I forgot  about Blend tool).

        Re. adding macros to desktop - see http://www.gdgmacros.com/getting_started_with_macros.php

        Best regards,

        Mek 

        • signs2u said:
          I would also love to know how you get the macro window to show on the desktop in Corel (using x5) at the moment- have to keep going back to the dropdown.

          When I recorded that Paste at Node video I reduced the size of my CD window, so I created a new floating toolbar with only those two macros on it.

          1. Go to Tools>Options and under Customization, select Command Bars. Click New to add a new toolbar and then give it a name.The toolbar will be floating when you create it, you can move it to the Properties bar later.

          2. Switch to Commands, choose Macros from the drop-down list (click down arrow at top beside File). Find the macro module and drag the icon to your new toolbar.

          It will use the default icon (sort of like a tag?), but you can add a custom icon if you want by going to the Appearance tab and using Import. More information about customizing toolbars and icons is in the Help files.

          Patti

        • Great, Pranderson. Congrats.

          • Hi.

            That's excellent Patti. You are the blend master, of course.

            Here's a macro to accent Patti's method. It will auto-number all points on your blend. Use before breaking apart blend, select blend and run. Enjoy!

            ~John

             

            Sub blendNumber()
                Dim sr As ShapeRange, sText As Shape, s As Shape
                Dim i&, dSize#, x#, y#, j&, xOffset#, yOffset#
               
                ActiveDocument.ReferencePoint = cdrTopLeft
                dSize = 9 'font size
                xOffset = -0.1
                yOffset = 0.1
                i = 1
               
                ActiveDocument.BeginCommandGroup "Number Blend"
                For Each s In ActivePage.Shapes
                    If s.Type = cdrBlendGroupShape Then
                        If i = 1 Then
                            s.Effect.Blend.StartShape.GetPosition x, y
                            Set sText = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(x + xOffset, y + yOffset, CStr(i), , , , dSize)
                            i = i + 1
                        End If
                        For j = s.Effect.Blend.BlendGroup.Shapes.count To 1 Step -1
                            s.Effect.Blend.BlendGroup.Shapes(j).GetPosition x, y
                            Set sText = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(x + xOffset, y + yOffset, CStr(i), , , , dSize)
                            i = i + 1
                        Next j
                        s.Effect.Blend.EndShape.GetPosition x, y
                        Set sText = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(x + xOffset, y + yOffset, CStr(i), , , , dSize)
                    End If
                Next s
                ActiveDocument.EndCommandGroup
            End Sub

            • Thankyou so very much

              Patti.. I am smiling - was getting very sore wrist from endlessly clicking..

               

              .....John.

              Could I also ask what line in the macro to change to increment the alpha characters.

              use both numbering and a -z 

              I am so very grateful...

              • Hi.

                Try this variation:

                 

                Option Explicit

                Sub blendNumber()
                    Dim sr As ShapeRange, sText As Shape, s As Shape
                    Dim i&, dSize#, x#, y#, j&, xOffset#, yOffset#, strABC$
                   
                    ActiveDocument.ReferencePoint = cdrTopLeft
                    dSize = 9 'font size
                    xOffset = -0.1
                    yOffset = 0.1
                    i = 1
                   
                   
                    ActiveDocument.BeginCommandGroup "Number Blend"
                    For Each s In ActivePage.Shapes
                        If s.Type = cdrBlendGroupShape Then
                            If i = 1 Then
                                strABC = ColLett(i)
                                s.Effect.Blend.StartShape.GetPosition x, y
                                Set sText = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(x + xOffset, y + yOffset, strABC, , , , dSize)
                                i = i + 1
                            End If
                            For j = s.Effect.Blend.BlendGroup.Shapes.count To 1 Step -1
                                strABC = ColLett(i)
                                s.Effect.Blend.BlendGroup.Shapes(j).GetPosition x, y
                                Set sText = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(x + xOffset, y + yOffset, strABC, , , , dSize)
                                i = i + 1
                            Next j
                            strABC = ColLett(i)
                            s.Effect.Blend.EndShape.GetPosition x, y
                            Set sText = ActiveLayer.CreateArtisticText(x + xOffset, y + yOffset, strABC, , , , dSize)
                        End If
                    Next s
                    ActiveDocument.EndCommandGroup
                End Sub

                Private Function ColLett(Col&) As String
                    If Col > 26 Then
                        ColLett = ColLett((Col - (Col Mod 26)) / 26) + Chr(Col Mod 26 + 64)
                    Else
                        ColLett = Chr(Col + 64)
                    End If
                End Function

                • Thankyou again...  Can I add a circle with each of the increments
                  ie one event to create the dot and number or alpha character..? ( I live in hope )

                  Also if its curved the offset (have tried a few changes but get this result

                  • If I were going to do this, I'd probably use a blend, like Patti explained

                    But don't forget if it's just circles you need, you can also do that with Fit Text to Path

                    Some folks find that option a little easier to tweak

                    Use a font that has a round 'period'. You can adjust the spacing globally with the right hand arrow when you select the Shape tool

                    If you duplicate the path,  the number spacing can be adjusted with the Shape tool as well

                     

                    Just another idea, like I said, I'd probably go with the Blend option

                     

                    Starting week number 3 without heat, power or electricity so any chance of me being able to post a visual using the Fit Text to Path alternative .........is only a pipedream

                    Thanks for all the kind thoughts and wishes many have sent me in the past days, I really, really appreciate your concern

                    xoxoxoxo

                     

                     

                     

                     

                    • Thanks ..... will test that out also

                      3 weeks, hope the world is a little kinder to you soon..

                  • signs2u,

                     

                    I would take a curve that create a backbone of “dinosaur” then add nodes in place “a” and “u”. In that places break curve apart. Prepare appropriate number of circles and subsequently use macros CurveDivider and PasteClipbdAtNode (see http://community.coreldraw.com/forums/t/36399.aspx?PageIndex=3).

                    Same I would do with letters.

                     

                    Best regards,

                     

                    Mek