What is the process of forcing an object to take a certain form called?

The process of forcing an object to take a certain form is called "Constrain." In design and illustration, constraining refers to the practice of applying limitations or specific conditions to manipulate an object's dimensions, position, or pathway effectively. This technique is crucial for maintaining alignment, proportion, and spatial relationships within a design.

By constraining an object, designers can ensure that it adheres to a certain structure, which is essential in achieving the desired visual outcome and maintaining design integrity.

The other terms do serve important roles in design. For instance, anchor points are pivotal in vector graphic design as they define the points at which paths change direction. Paths represent the route that an object follows. Smooth points are specific anchor points that allow for flowing curves in bezier paths. While all these concepts are significant in design, they do not directly describe the act of forcing an object into a specific form. Constraining is the term that encompasses this controlling action effectively.