Knife Regrouping Tool

The Knife Regrouping tool is used for cutting a shape into smaller pieces. For example, imagine an arc splitting into thirds and each third floating into one of three separate lines. To make the editing easier, we would first want to split the arc into three parts using the Knife tool. After cutting, we can select one part of the arc independently of the others. We would then select the first part of the arc and morph it into a line, then repeat the process for the remaining parts.

To select the Knife tool, click on the Knife tool and the Knife Tool Control Panel will display.

The Knife Tool Control Panel behaves differently from other tool panels. By default, there is no active Accept button. Every cut with the knife is accepted without having to click the Accept button. This is usually preferred because the Knife tool is used quite frequently for single cuts. Requiring the click of the Accept button would simply add an unnecessary step. However, if you want to make the Knife Tool Control Panel behave like typical 3D control panels, click of the Accept each change and stick around… option. When the option is off, the Accept button will be available and if not clicked when you are finished cutting, then no changes will occur.

To perform a cut on a highlighted shape, click on the performers on each side of the cut location.

Regroup All will break all of the performers in the highlighted shape(s) into individual points. After the performers are broken up, you can reconnect the performers in a different order. Normally this is not used when all of the shapes of a page are highlighted. To highlight a smaller group of performers, select the group prior to clicking on the Glue tool. The Regroup All option is commonly used to change the grouping order of block shapes as shown.

Apply Pattern is available when only one shape is highlighted. To highlight a single shape, use the Pointer Selection tool to select the shape prior to clicking on the Knife tool. To use Apply Pattern, select a pattern from the pop up menu, and click Apply Pattern. The AB pattern will regroup a shape where every other performer becomes a member of the first new shape and the remaining performers become members of a second new shape. It is difficult to see any change on the field display. The first new shape is almost directly over the second new shape.

Divide Into allows you to divide the selected shapes into Halves, Thirds, Quarters, Pairs, Groups of 4, 6, or 8. Select the appropriate grouping you wish to apply from the drop down menu, then select Divide Into. If the Accept each change and stick around… checkbox is checked, the new grouping will not take effect until you select the Accept button.

The Undo Last button will undo the last knife that was done.

Revert button reverts the grouping order to its initial order.