recreate tapered arrow

Question

I am after recreating this in visio can anyone help?

Answer 1

I'd save it in a metafile (emf, wmf, etc) format and then import it into Visio, or start with the arrows_u.vss stencil.

al

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If this answer solves your problem, please check Mark as Answered. If this answer helps, please click the Vote as Helpful button. Al Edlund Visio MVP

Answer 2

To actually recreate that shape as a real Visio shape is not easy. Visio does have block shapes, but they are based on being vertical or horizontal to simplify the shadows. If you only need the shape as is, then Al's recommendation is the way to go.

If you want to recreate the shapes, then you will need to handle the shadow on the shape as the angle changes and the more subtle shadow created by the group of arrows. The actual tapering of the arrow is trivial. Visio is a 2d application and my preference would be to go with a true 3d application to properly handle the shadows.

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John... the original Visio MVP (since 1993) Visio.MVPs.org

Answer 3

I used Power Point  in the end then pasted into Visio. 

Step 1: Create a directional block arrow

Create a block arrow.

The first step is create a directional block arrow. The key is to size the arrow so the head of the arrow is the right size for the tapered arrow. 

Step 2: Rotate the arrow to the desired angle

Rotate with the green handle.

Focusing on the arrow head, you want to make sure it is rotated to the desired entry position. It’s important to position the arrow head correctly because you want to avoid having to adjust things later on when it would be messier and more work to fix.

Step 3: Convert the arrow into a Freeform shape

Now we need to edit the points so that it can be transformed into a tapered arrow. First, you select the arrow by left-clicking on it. Second, you click on the Drawing Tools > Format tab on the Ribbon. Third, on the far left you should see the Edit Shape option within the Insert Shapes module. Click on the Edit points to change the arrow into an editable Freeform shape.

Step 4: Edit the block arrow’s shape

With the arrow being a Freeform shape, we can edit its corner points to create a curved swoosh arrow. In order to edit the arrow shape, right-click on the arrow and select Edit Points. With the end points showing, you can now reposition the starting points of your arrow. You’re going to need to use the handles to adjust the angles of the corner points of the arrow to create the desired curve for the swoosh arrow. You can keep both of the starting corner points or delete one of them so the arrow starts from a single point instead.

I would recommend not touching the front three edit points that form the “V” of the arrow head. If you start playing with them you can ruin the integrity of the arrow. It will begin to fall apart like a cheap tent that has had its support poles removed.

Right-click on the arrow shape and then you'll be able to create the swoosh arrow.

cheers for the help

Answer 4

Hi icecurtain,

Thank you for sharing your solutions and experience here. It will be very beneficial for other community members who have similar questions.

Best regards.

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William Zhou

TechNet Community Support