Affinity Photo - Constrain drawing tools to straight lines

[robtmann]

It would make drawing straight lines for design work much easier.

 

PIXEL and BRUSH TOOLS

Holding down Shift Key constrains tool to straight vertical and horizontal lines.

[JimGoshorn]

Did you try click once where you want the line to start and then shift click where you want the straight line to end?

[robtmann]

I did and it makes a straight line, but if you want a perfectly vertical or horizontal line, there's no substitute for holding the Shift key down and then starting a line.

[JimGoshorn]

That is in Designer when using the pen tool so hopefully they will include it in Photo in the future. For now, all we have is shift click in Photo  :(

[howaboutsunriseland]

I know this is an old post, but I would really like to have this feature. Show the sketch artists some love?

[LilleG]

The only solution I've found for this lack is, as seems to be the norm on so many common functions, a multi-step work-around.  Since using the "click on the beginning, shift-click on the end" usually has me tapping around like a blind person feeling for the curb, I've started first placing a guide where I want to draw the straight line.  Then the click, shift-click works fine.  But the more usual method of "click, hold down a modifier and draw" would be so much simpler.

[Nlbrmn]

 

It would make drawing straight lines for design work much easier.

 

PIXEL and BRUSH TOOLS

Holding down Shift Key constrains tool to straight vertical and horizontal lines.

 

 

+1 This would be SO handy to have in Affinity Photo. I'm actually a bit surprised that it isn't in the application already.

[A_B_C]

+1000

 

(… not exaggerating …  ;))

[viceverser]

YES!!! I specifically came here to request this feature... Is there an actual 'request' area?? Or just this? I really hope this is added soon. :)

[A_B_C]

Yes, this is the actual “request” area, viceverser … as witnessed by the fact that this subforum is called “Feature Requests” …  ;)

 

But thank you for adding your voice to this thread. Yes, we need that function … so badly …  :)  ^_^

Cheers, Alex

[Coldlogic]

I just switched from Adobe Photoshop to Affinity Photo.  I agree with those requesting the ability to hold shift to ensure that I can make vertical and horizontal lines only...that would be so much easier than the current method.

 

Thank you developers for reading this!!!

 

Pete

[PatrikSelin]

This feature would be welcome.

[Rauhassa]

Being a Photoshop user for over 12 years and recently moved on to Affinity.
Beside it's a very promising software, it also lacks in several features - this one mentioned above is one of them and I must say, it's a pretty damn important one. So if you would be so kind to implement it as soon as possible, you will make the world a better place

[Tupaia]

+1 for SHIFT-constraining a brush stroke!

It's one of these nifty little features long-time Photoshop users have their muscle memory trained to...

Thanks!!!

 

[Yamanote]

It's heartening to see this feature request getting reiterated again  I'll keep hoping for the best.

[GFS]

I'll add my name to this one.

 

BUT!

 

It should not be just horizontal or vertical, it should be any angle:

 

Modifier key to set the line by click-drag. Then release and you've set the angle.  Draw your line, or lines, then Modifier click again to dismiss the constrain.

 

Simple and incredibly useful for precise accurate work.

[Yamanote]

22 hours ago, GFS said:

I'll add my name to this one.

 

BUT!

 

It should not be just horizontal or vertical, it should be any angle:

 

Modifier key to set the line by click-drag. Then release and you've set the angle.  Draw your line, or lines, then Modifier click again to dismiss the constrain.

 

Simple and incredibly useful for precise accurate work.

 

I understand the utility in the method you describe, but I do think there is also value in the simpler approach as well, as it is less cumbersome and more fluid for sketching purposes, allowing for gradual layering of value, coverage, grain, gradients, while also not interrupting the overall experience of drawing as much as a procedure that would require multiple steps (in your case it would be a matter of initiating a "press", "align" and "release" action with your fingers in that order, as opposed to just a "press" or a "release" at the respective ends of the period spent working in the constrained mode).

 

It is also worth keeping in mind that, as demonstrated in Corel Painter, 45-degree diagonal angles could easily be supported as well within the same modifier-behaviour utilised in Photoshop. Straight lines could also be made arbitrarily by clicking between end points with the modifier key activated.

 

Perhaps there is a way to enable all solutions, depending on the users preferences?

[GFS]

Good points Yamanote.

[Tupaia]

The solution could be a 'base grid' = 'construction plane', which defines the 2D space to which everything relates. Now it's fixed to the page.

Every CAD or 3D program has this, but of course it makes also sense in 2D

This plane would be placeable/rotateable freely.

 

In Photoshop or Illustrator, if you click/drag the corner of the page ruler, you can place the origin at least - something not possible in Affinity yet.

If you could also rotate this base point, you would get what I mean.

 

The Transform panel should reflect the base plane, as well as guides, and also brush strokes.

It would be sufficient then to have SHIFT-draw snap to 45° angles, like we know from Photoshop etc.

 

If we think it through, the Transform Panel could have a mode "page/world" (the values would be relative to the page), and "plane" (values would be relative to the base plane).

That's how it works in 3D software, called differently, of course.

 

Best

Eugen

[Yamanote]

A very good suggestion! Your description sound similar to the grid feature that is utilised by FireAlpaca, although more refined.

Indeed, it does sound like it would be the best solution for everyone, and there are even real world examples that demonstrates the viability of such a feature.

 

 

[Tupaia]

In fact, Illustrator has this already, although a bit hidden and unhandy.

If you open the General Preferences of AI, there's a 'Constrain Angle' parameter - which is exactly this.

 

However, I'd prefer this being some litte axis icon that can be dragged out of the ruler corner and rotated freely by some handle.

Of course, as always, there should also be a way to enter the position/rotation numerically.

 

[Tupaia]

... and of course the same thing would fit well into Affinity Designer.

 

[altae]

+1 for this feature request

[Vincent Boudewijn]

Bump, vital feature!

[Dieuwer]

Extra bump! This just simply needs to be there