Dash Sequence

Dash Sequence

Related Information

Dash Palette

Dash Inspector View

Vector Hatch

Numeric Entry

Palette Aids

Lines, curves, and outlines (borders) may be drawn as dashed lines. The dash pattern may consist of any number of repeating sequences. To show this panel select "Dashes" from the Tools Menu which is on the Main Menu.

In order to change the "Dash-Space Sequence" of a graphic’s dashed line it must be the selected graphic in the top window of EazyDraw. If no graphic is selected the parameters on the panel represents the dot format that will be used when creating new graphics. Follow the Target Graphic(s) link for more information on this topic.

These parameters do not apply and are disabled unless Dash is checked at the top of the palette.

The Integer and stepper Sequence value is used to specify the individual dash-space sequence that is reflected in the Length and Space parameters. This value does not apply unless the pattern has more then one dash-space pair. The "Dashes" value above must be greater than one.

You may independently change the length of the dash line and the length of the space. These lengths are measured in Fine Scale Units (inches, mm, or points) as shown by the Units Button found at the upper right hand corner of the palette. You may change either value by typing in a new number.

A dashed appearance is normally drawn with breaks in the line (or curve). This is the case if the Space Color checkbox is not checked, then "nothing" is drawn in the dash breaks of the sequence. If the Space Color checkbox is checked the line or curve will be solid and the dash apperance created by altering two colors. One color is derived from that specified on the Color and Style palette, the other from the Color Well adjacent to the Space Color checkbox. Of course one or both of the colors may still utilize opacity.

The example to the right demonstrates a few possibilities for using dot-dash lines.

If Outline is not used (Outline checkbox on Color and Style palette is not checked) then a dash line is not drawn. The Space Color setting is not invoked for a graphic with no Outline. If you wish to color dash gaps instead of the dashes, use the Start setting on this palette to slide dashes for this same appearance.

The Cap style is applied to the ends of each line sequence of a dash pattern. This may add one half of a line witdht to the length of each dash of a dashed line. This parameter is found on the Styles Panel, follow the link above for more information.

Dashes are also used in vector Hatch fill.