Super Elipse

[jensrbhansen@adobeforums.com]

Is there a way (or a PlugIn) to make a Super Ellipse in Illustrator?

Link (Middle of page):

Super ellipse <http://www.mathematische-basteleien.de/eggcurves.htm#Super%20ellipse>

[Scott_Falkner@adobeforums.com]

You could draw a normal elipse, then select just the four paths (but not the points) and scale from centre.

[John_Kallios@adobeforums.com]

Something like this? <http://share.studio.adobe.com/axAssetDetailSubmit.asp?aID=5912&back=http%3A%2F%2 Fshare%2Estudio%2Eadobe%2Ecom%2FaxBrowseSubmit%2Ea sp%3Fc%3D123>

:)

[James_E._Talmage@adobeforums.com]

I don't know what your purpose is, or what kind of mathematical precision you want. I also don't know the precise math by which AI constructs its Bezier curves. But you can quickly draw a similar shape by:

1. Draw an ellipse.
2. Select>Object>DirectionHandles
3. Scale Tool: Click outside the ellipse toward the upper right. ShiftDrag at a diagonal to scale proportionally about the current center.

Two other thoughts occur to me:

Canvas 9 has a fun and useful Equation Editor feature which lets you define a path in terms of cartesian or polar equations. Just invoke the command, enter the equation in the dialog, and Canvas draws the path. Kinda like a graphing calculator right there in your drawing program.

Flash uses quadratic splines, so I don't know how well its CurveTo function would be able to draw the shape as an actual path. But I imagine you could replicate the equation quite directly in FlashScript and have it animate a dot following the path. You could make input sliders or fields to adjust the equation's variables up and down and watch the "path" redraw itself in real time.

JET

[jensrbhansen@adobeforums.com]

Thankyou very much for your suggestions.