Affinity Designer : Snapping issue

[razorpig]

I have a problem which I feel sure must have a very simple solution but for all my efforts, I can't find it.

Referring to the image, I have a non-vertical line which I simply want to rotate and snap to the horizontal axis ( shown in red ). I've moved the rotation centre but can't figure out how to snap it to the horizontal position. I can use the node tool but this doesn't preserve the length.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Joachim_L]

Use the tool for Point Transformation and hold the CTRL key while rotating.

[GarryP]

A great answer, however it’s worth noting that the Point Transform Tool isn’t available by default in the Toolbar.
You need to use menu “View → Customise Tools” and then drag the tool to the toolbar to use it (a bit of ‘hidden’ functionality) is, by default, available via the little drop-down arrow of the Node Tool.
Also, the modifier key on (English, at least) Windows is CTRL.

Edited October 30, 2019 by GarryP
Got it wrong the first time.

[razorpig]

@Joachim_L Perfect ! Thank you so much

[carl123]

 

 

 

1

35 minutes ago, GarryP said:

A great answer, however it’s worth noting that the Point Transform Tool isn’t available by default in the Toolbar.
 

Isn't it the one that shares the same space as the Node Tool?

Accessible via the drop-down arrow 

[GarryP]

Yup, you’re absolutely correct. I’ve just reset my toolbar and it’s where you say it is.
Good catch. My earlier post has been edited accordingly.

[razorpig]

@carl123 You're correct - it is nested under the Node Tool. I just reset the program defaults to double check.

[razorpig]

@GarryP Thanks for the CTRL tip - that one had me confused for a minute until I Googled it. I even tried pressing S + T + R + G and dragging :-D

[Joachim_L]

@razorpig Sorry for this. Forgot that I was not writing in German.

[razorpig]

@Joachim_L No apology necessary. Many thanks again for your help - very neat solution.

[R C-R]

I must be missing something because even when I use the Point Transform Tool & the 'rotate only' modifier key (which is the CMD key on Macs), I cannot snap the non-vertical line to the horizontal axis.

Adding Shift to constrain the rotation angle to 15° increments works, but unless the non-vertical line is at some 15° incremental angle to an axis to begin with, this does not snap the line to either axis.

[razorpig]

@R C-R In my original example I was snapping to the grid, but without it, you're correct, the snap settings don't appear to work. I've tried Align to nodes of selected curves on the context toolbar, also Snap to object bounding boxes, Snap to shape key points and Snap to object geometry under snapping options. None of these work but dragging out a horizontal guide and snapping to that is a workaround.

Do we think this is a bug? I thought Snap to shape key points should probably work, as we are using the point transform tool.

 

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, razorpig said:

None of these work but dragging out a horizontal guide and snapping to that is a workaround.

Well, DUH! I had not thought about snapping to guides as a workaround. It indeed works perfectly. So does snapping to the grid, which means that combined with some of the advanced grid options that allow any arbitrary angle to be set for one of the axes, the line can be rotated & snapped to any angle you want. Very cool!