Jump to content
You must now use your email address to sign in [click for more info] ×

Can someone post a quick tutorial on constraints?


Recommended Posts

Hi, I've managed to figure out most of the new features - Text Styles, and even Symbols to a large degree, somehow using Constraints seems to elude me? Nothing in Help yet! No tool tips! Just nudge me in the right direction would be helpful. Actually a tutorial of covering all the new items, even though subject to change, would be immensely useful.

Thanks – Timber

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Hi Timber,

There will be tutorials for all the new features soon. The Documentation team didn't have time to document all new features yet. They have access to the Beta at the same time as you.

All documentation will be ready/complete for the commercial release/update on the Mac App Store version.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've fiddled with it some. Since you figured out symbols, I'm assuming you've already found the constraints tab in the same spot. I'd drag it somewhere other than the same group that has the layers tab so you can work with both easily as you experiment.

 

Now create a new layer, and put a shape inside of that layer. Select the shape and click on the dotted line connecting the bottom edge of inner square to the bottom edge of the outer square in the constraints tab. Now if you select the bottom edge of the layer and change its size, you should see that the inner shape stays the same distance from the bottom of the layer. You will also note that its height does not change, at least as long as there is room for it in the layer. If, however, you change the left or right edge, the inner shape will move proportionally with the layer since you didn't select those edges.

 

Now select the rectangle again and select the dotted line running from top to bottom of the inner square. (Leave the bottom anchor selected too.) Now if you move the bottom or the top edge of the layer, you will notice that not only does the shape stay a constant distance from the bottom edge, but the shape also grows proportionally with the remainder of the space.

 

What I haven't yet figured out is what those two little icons in the lower right corner with the inward and outward facing arrows in the circles do. If someone else has figured that part out, I'd be grateful.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm lost at what constitutes a container? What is the bounding box that can be resized and the contents have contained actions?

Is it a grouping? Not sure what you mean by "bottom edge of the layer". Thanks for the generous efforts to enlighten me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Hi Timber,

 

Take a look at my quick test file I made the other day - it's just a simple example of a container (this is ANY object that is 'above' another in the layers panel tree hierarchy) and contents which are constrained. Changing the container will force the contents to be constrained as per the way they are defined. Hopefully the file will make some sense :)

 

resize_me.afdesign

 

Thanks,

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

OK, an Aha moment. Thanks to the generous feedback and examples of responders, I see that objects need to be a sub-layer or a nested-layer of another layer, i.e. the "container". Still unclear about the little icons in the lower right corner of the Constrain dialog do, but am now able to get it to actually work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hey Matt, forgive me if I have overlooked it, but maybe a comprehensive video covering the latest features would cover off a lot of the questions you guys are having to keep answering? If such a video exists please point me to it.  :)  Cheers!!

 

Edit - sorry I see where MEB has explained why there aren't videos yet. My bad...  :huh:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I just noticed that a constraints group will clip layer effects like outer shadows from that exceed the group. Is there a solution for this maybe? 

 

Thanks :)

 

 

I noticed this too.

A possible solution is to create a slightly larger "wrapper" to deal with assets effects.

You can find as example the iOS slider available in the Assets Studio, where the knob has its own shadow.

The white dog, making tools for artists, illustrators and doodlers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 months later...
  • Staff

Hi Daniele Salvatore,

Seems everything is right from your screenshot. There's no constraints applied to the grey rectangle (which is the container). Now select the red rectangle in the Layers panel and apply some constraints to it (if you haven't added some yet). Finally resize the grey rectangle on canvas and you should see the red rectangle honouring the constraints you have defined.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.