How to get symmetric control handles?

[MEB]

Is there any modifier key for this? Can't find it on the help...

[EDITED ]Found it: press shift + drag until two small marks appear on the control handles.

[Ben]

Yes - you constrain handle direction with Shift, then it'll allow snap to magnitude.  I have realised that you might want to match both the magnitude of the adjoined handle on the same node, and the handle from the preceding node - will add that later.

[MaxClass]

On the subject of control handles.

 

I have noticed that there is a little ‘tick’ mark generally in the center along a control handle line.

 

1. What does this indicate?

 

2. Does it have any affect upon the handle in some way?

 

Max



[Ben]

As MEB says above, the tick mark indicates that the control handle has equal magnitude to it's adjacent partner.

[retrograde]

Hey MEB any chance of a quickie video to demonstrate what you're describing?  I'm unable to duplicate a symmetrical control handle move where a tick shows up. Excuse my ignorance but what does the term magnitude in this instance refer to? Cheers guys!

 

EDIT, I just found the little tick... 

[MaxClass]

After a little experimentation with handles it does works as described.

 

If you have a pair of handles on a curve node and you edit one side handle to a different length the little ‘tick marks’ will disappear. If you go to the opposite handle and adjust its length as soon as the other handle is the same length as the one you just lengthened a ‘tick mark’ will appear to let you know they are now exactly the same length.

 

Interesting addition to the concept of handles. Nice touch actually. A visual feedback that is actually quite nice once you understand it.

 

Max



[Ben]

It was an idea I had - just a subtle indication that you have a symmetrical node. No one else does it as far as I know. We already indicate collinear handles by virtue of the fact they naturally form a smoothed node type.

 

I actually have many more ideas for the Pen and Node tools. A lot of these things are extensions to our snapping engine, which I'm hoping will eventually set the standard.

 

For my own needs, I hope to add lots more features to help with alignment, finding complimentary angles, parallel lines, matched sizes, lengths and spacing, projects and intersections, etc. Just a matter of finding the time - we have many other features that need doing in the ever growing list. Taking inspiration from the videos people have uploaded of other apps doing spacing and sizing, I'm hoping we can come up with something even better rather than just copying them directly.