Before reshaping Bézier boxes and lines, make sure you understand the following definitions.

Point: A point connects line segments and defines where line segments start and end. Points connecting curved line segments have curve handles that control the shape of the curves. QuarkXPress offers three types of points: Corner, smooth, and symmetrical.

Corner point: A corner point connects two straight lines, a straight line and a curved line, or two noncontinuous curved lines. With curved lines, the corner point’s curve handles can be manipulated independently, usually to form a sharp transition between the two segments:

Examples of corner points

Smooth point: A smooth point connects two curved lines to form a continuous curve. The curve handles always rest on a straight line through the point, but they can be distanced independently:

A smooth point

Symmetrical point: A symmetrical point connects two curved lines to form a continuous curve. The result is similar to a smooth point, but the curve handles are always equidistant from the point:

A symmetrical point

Curve handles: Curve handles extend from either side of a point and control a curve’s shape:

Curve handles (upper left)

Line segments: Line segments are straight or curved line sections positioned between two points:

Line segments

When the Select Point tool is positioned over an active Bézier box or line, various pointers display indicating whether you can select a point, the curve handles, or a line segment. Click and drag using the pointers to reshape the Bézier box or line.

• To change the shape entirely, choose a different option from the Item > Shape submenu.
• To add a point to a Bézier box while working with the Bézier Pen tool , click a line segment. Alternatively, you can use the Add Point tool .
• To remove a point from a Bézier box while working with the Bézier Pen tool , click the point. Alternatively, you can use the Remove Point tool .
• To convert a point to another type of point while working with the Bézier Pen tool , Option+click/Alt+click the point. Alternatively, you can use the Convert Point tool .
• To move a point or change the shape of a line segment while working with the Bézier Pen tool , Command+drag/Ctrl+drag the point or line segment.
• To select curves or points so that you can move them or delete them, use the Select Point tool . Press Shift and click to select multiple points. Option+click/Alt+click a point to make it symmetrical.