Changing the shape of slurs

You can change the shape of individual slurs and move slurs/slur handles graphically, for example, if you want to adjust an endpoint relative to an individual notehead. You can do this for the current layout and frame chain only or for all layouts and frame chains.

This only changes the appearance of slurs, and does not change the rhythmic positions to which they are attached.

Prerequisite

  • Graphic Editing is selected in the Engrave toolbox.

  • You have chosen the appropriate property scope for local properties.

Procedure

  1. In Engrave mode, select the whole slurs or individual slur handles you want to move in any of the following ways:
    • Ctrl/Cmd-click multiple slurs.

    • Select a whole slur and press Tab to cycle through the handles until the one you want to move is selected.

    • Click the handle you want to move.

    • Ctrl/Cmd-click individual handles on multiple slurs.

    Tip

    You can show handles on all items, not just selected items, by choosing Engrave > Show Handles > Always. This can make it easier to select individual handles on multiple items.

  2. Move the slurs or handles in any of the following ways:
    • Press Alt/Opt-Right Arrow to move handles to the right.

    • Press Alt/Opt-Left Arrow to move handles to the left.

    • Press Alt/Opt-Up Arrow to move slurs or handles upwards.

    • Press Alt/Opt-Down Arrow to move slurs or handles downwards.

      Tip

      If you want to move items by larger increments, you can press Ctrl/Cmd as well as the standard key command, for example, Ctrl/Cmd-Alt/Opt-Left Arrow.

    • Click and drag the slurs upwards/downwards.

    • Click and drag the handles in any direction.

    Note

    You cannot move whole slurs to the right/left, you can only move them upwards/downwards.

  3. Optional: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for any other slurs or slur handles you want to move.

Result

The selected slurs or slur handles are moved. Depending on the handles you selected, this can change the shape of the corresponding slurs. If the property scope was set to Locally, this change only takes effect in the current layout and frame chain.

Tip

The following properties in the Slurs group of the Properties panel are activated automatically when you move the corresponding slur handles:

  • Start offset moves the left endpoints of slurs. X moves them horizontally, Y moves them vertically.

  • End offset moves the right endpoints of slurs. X moves them horizontally, Y moves them vertically.

  • Start handle offset moves the left control points of slurs. X moves them horizontally, Y moves them vertically.

  • End handle offset moves the right control points of slurs. X moves them horizontally, Y moves them vertically.

For example, if you move a whole slur upwards and to the right, all of its handles are moved so all properties are activated. You can also use these properties to change the shape of individual slurs by changing the values in the value fields.

Deactivating the properties resets the corresponding handles on the selected slurs to their default positions.

After Completing This Task

You can also change the angle of slurs without affecting their overall shape.