Visio Guy

Visio Discussions => ShapeSheet & Smart Shapes => Topic started by: Visisthebest on September 12, 2023, 12:58:33 PM

Title: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Visisthebest on September 12, 2023, 12:58:33 PM
You do not have completely free choice of which two color tones to use, but this is actually possible with a non-group shape.

The puzzle for you is how, hint: it is actually quite simple, I just did not expect this setting to have this effect on a line, but now it is quite obvious.

Challenge:

- The line must be around a rectangle.

- The thickness of the 'lines' must be exactly the same for the two color tones.

- If you are able to achieve this with line gradients I am very impressed (could be doable not sure, then you can choose from all colors), but it is much more simple than this.

Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Yacine on September 12, 2023, 05:42:18 PM
 ? ? ?
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Visisthebest on September 13, 2023, 09:49:39 AM
I will keep this as a puzzle to solve, but if anyone actually needs the solution to use I will post the answer here.

In the mean time, who can solve this conundrum? A single Visio shape does not allow lines to have more than one color (if gradients are off), so how can you create a two color tone line (half the line width one color, half the line width another color)?

(also, I am not using line patterns)

Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: wapperdude on September 13, 2023, 10:39:01 PM
You mean like this?  Clever.!
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Visisthebest on September 14, 2023, 07:24:06 AM
Yes, but there are some limitations in terms of the color tones you can use.

And I use it with the two tone color lines each being equally thick no white space in between, that may be a limitation as well of this approach.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Yacine on September 14, 2023, 08:41:27 AM
I can hardly stand the suspense.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Yacine on September 14, 2023, 08:44:18 AM
Quote from: Yacine on September 12, 2023, 05:42:18 PM
? ? ?


That must be a new forum record of likes to post length ratio. :D
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Nikolay on September 14, 2023, 09:16:51 AM
There is a story of a shorter post  :)
Quote
"In 1862, while on vacation, Victor Hugo wanted to know the readers' reaction to his newly published novel "Les Misérables."
He sent his publisher a telegram with just one character: "?".
In response, his publisher sent back a telegram with just one character: "!"."
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: wapperdude on September 14, 2023, 01:55:14 PM
Quote from: Visisthebest on September 14, 2023, 07:24:06 AM
Yes, but there are some limitations in terms of the color tones you can use.

And I use it with the two tone color lines each being equally thick no white space in between, that may be a limitation as well of this approach.
If you try to eliminate the white space, the colors tend to bleed together.  Somewhat tempermental.  The look is cleaner with white space.  3 lines are possible too, but takes much finesse and patience.  Some color combinations are not as expected.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: wapperdude on September 14, 2023, 02:03:07 PM
Quote from: Yacine on September 14, 2023, 08:41:27 AM
I can hardly stand the suspense.

It's a girl.

P.S.  I'm not posting the Visio file...yet.  Will let Visisthebest do that.  Its his puzzle.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Yacine on September 14, 2023, 05:06:06 PM
Does the line need to stay editable?
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Yacine on September 14, 2023, 06:15:19 PM
Would still prefer line patterns.
Too limited in its applications.
Note the uneven width distribution on the vertical and horizontal lines.


@Wayne, you can prevent bleeding by setting up areas and do an abrupt change with two very close points.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Visisthebest on September 15, 2023, 09:34:17 AM
Yacine I assume you did this with gradients with sudden stops very impressive, I use something else which limits the choice of color tones but the lines are exactly equal.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Nikolay on September 15, 2023, 09:39:33 AM
Looks cool. But can you do it for a connector (http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=5180.0), i.e. make a two-colored connector, or a striped one?
Without using the line patterns?
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: Yacine on September 15, 2023, 10:03:59 AM
Quote from: Nikolay on September 15, 2023, 09:39:33 AM
Looks cool. But can you do it for a connector (http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=5180.0), i.e. make a two-colored connector, or a striped one?
Without using the line patterns?
Not with my solution.
It's anyway just an exercise, not a serious alternative to line patterns.
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: wapperdude on September 15, 2023, 07:36:50 PM
This would not work, in general, for randomly shaped 1D shapes.  There are cases that it does.  Connectors, with their auto-rerouting would be particularly troublesome.   Likewise, 1D shapes with interior steps / jogs would not behave well.

As Yacine states, don't give up those custom line patterns!
Title: Re: You can create a two tone border within the same (non-group shape!)
Post by: hidden layer on September 19, 2023, 07:55:56 AM
Quote from: Nikolay on September 15, 2023, 09:39:33 AM
Looks cool. But can you do it for a connector (http://visguy.com/vgforum/index.php?topic=5180.0), i.e. make a two-colored connector, or a striped one?
Without using the line patterns?
I did this but WITH a custom line pattern. I have few of them e.g. gn/ye. I tried to have access to the colors but I didnt got it :(

But its interesting... if not exciting ;)