To create a Smart Shape (graphic) crescendo or decrescendo marking

Note. View the Slurs, hairpins, and other shapes QuickStart Video for an overview.

1. Click the Smart Shape tool . The Smart Shape palette appears.
2. Click the Crescendo Tool or Decrescendo Tool .
3. Position the cursor in the measure where you want the marking to begin so that the cursor arrow points to the staff to which you’re attaching it. This is particularly important when you’re working in orchestral scores; if you accidentally attach a Smart Shape to the wrong staff, it won’t appear in the correct staff when the parts are extracted.
4. Double-click; on the second click, hold the button down and drag to the right until the hairpin is the correct length. Human Playback, which is active by default, interprets hairpins automatically and performs them during playback. See Playback Controls for details. If you have disabled Human Playback and wish to add a playback effect to hairpin crescendos manually, see Smart Playback.

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