Making precise drawings with freeform curves?

[peter]

When drawing an object with 2D symmetry (e.g. a vase), how can I make it
perfectly symmetrical?

Right now I first create the outline with a hand drawn straight line polygon
(already it is not exactly symmetrical), then edit the lines into curves,
and change the points into smooth points. It is impossible to make the left
and right side exactly the same with this method.

When a point is turned into a smooth point, a control line and two nodes
appear. Is there a way to enter numeric angle values for the line and length
to the two nodes? This way I can make the line precise.

I'm using publisher 2003. If the 2007 version would help me with this
project I'd like to know.

 

[Ed Bennett]

When a point is turned into a smooth point, a control line and two nodes
appear. Is there a way to enter numeric angle values for the line and length
to the two nodes? This way I can make the line precise.

Publisher is not a draw or CAD application. Inkscape from
www.inkscape.org is a free software vector graphics application that
will give you much tighter control over objects you create, although
specifying numeric values is still not possible without manually editing
the SVG code.

 

[Erin T.]

Could you copy and paste the line that is the first half of the vase, then
use the "arrange" menu to flip one of them horizontally so it is a mirror
image of the other?