Line Cap and Curve Smoothing in LibreOffice Draw

LibreOffice Draw provides precise control over vector paths through configurable line caps, corner joint styles, and Bézier point smoothing types. This guide details the available line cap options, corner join behaviors, and vector node smoothing settings in LibreOffice Draw, along with instructions on where to configure them.

Line Cap Styles

Line caps define the shape applied to the unclosed endpoints of an open stroke or path. LibreOffice Draw offers three line cap styles:

• Flat (Default): The stroke ends squarely at the exact coordinate of the endpoint without extending beyond it.
• Round: Adds a semicircular cap to the end of the stroke with a radius equal to half the line width.
• Square: Extends the stroke beyond the endpoint by half the line width, terminating with a squared-off edge.

Line Corner (Joint) Styles

Corner styles dictate how vector segments connect at sharp angles along a path:

• Miter: Extends the outer edges until they meet at a sharp point.
• Round: Replaces sharp intersections with a smooth circular arc matching the line width.
• Beveled: Truncates the corner with a flat diagonal edge connecting the outer corners.
• None: Joins lines abruptly without additional styling.

How to Configure Line Caps and Corner Styles

1. Select the vector line or shape.
2. Open the Line settings by navigating to Format > Line in the top menu, or open the Properties deck in the right-hand Sidebar.
3. Under the Line section, locate the dropdown menus for Cap style and Corner style.
4. Select your preferred style and apply the changes.

Vector Curve Smoothing (Node Types)

When editing Bézier curves in LibreOffice Draw using the Points (F8) tool, you can adjust point transitions to control curve smoothness across nodes:

• Corner Point: Allows the incoming and outgoing tangent handles to move independently, creating sharp angles and abrupt changes in direction.
• Smooth Transition: Locks both tangent handles into a straight 180-degree line to ensure a continuous, smooth curve, while allowing each handle to have a different length for asymmetrical curvature.
• Symmetric Transition: Locks both tangent handles into a straight line and forces them to maintain equal lengths, creating a balanced, uniform curve on both sides of the node.

How to Adjust Curve Smoothing

1. Select the vector path and press F8 (or click Edit Points in the Standard toolbar).
2. Click on the node you want to modify.
3. In the Edit Points floating toolbar, select one of the transition modes: Corner Point, Smooth Transition, or Symmetric Transition.
4. Drag the control handles to fine-tune the curvature.