How To fill simple vector patterns with Sketch --------------------------­------------------- Someone might wonder how to fill in polygons or bezier curves with simple patterns in the current versions of sketch (0.6.5 or 0.6.8). The fill menu only allows one simple line pattern and bitmaps. For most publications in black and white raster patterns are essential. There is indeed a trick to get acceptable vector patterns, though the handling is not perfect. The menu entry: Effects->Create Mask group allows clipping of several objects inside a top vector object. So what you can create a pattern and clip it against the object you want to fill. The duplication functions really helps to create patterns. Let's try an example: - Draw an ellipse - Now draw one 45 degrees straight line, which has to be bigger than the ellipse - Check the File->options distances for duplication. - Select the line and use Control-D several times. - Select all lines of the pattern with the selection tool. - group them. - move them over the ellipse so you have covered the whole area - now selected the ellipse and put it on top of all objects. - use shift to additionally select the lines - Effects-> Create Mask Group and you are done! Note that you can use shift click to access objects in the mask group. The dublication method also works on points, if you need raster fills. You get the idea. Check out pattern_examples.sk also available for simple examples from ftp://intevation.net/users/bernhard/sketch/ 23.1.2001 Bernhard Reiter