FR: Compress or Expand selected objects positions (Transform tool Mode)

[X-Raym]

Hi !

 

This thread is a follow-up of the discussion we had on another thread, to summarize and clarify the ideas: Q: Compress or Expand selected objects positions ?

 

Context

I was looking for a way to compress or expand selected items positions with Transform Tool on a multi objects selection transform area, but I didn't find one.

It would in fact behave exactly like the Transform tool when changing scale, but instead of changing scale and anchor points positions, it would only change anchor points positions (so in the end, it will scale items apart/closer from/to each others).

This would allow to compress / expand spaces between objects, around the Transform area anchor points, which can be extremely efficient to make objects closer or farther together without having to modify their positions individually. The more objects are involved, the more useful and necessary this feature get. It prevent lots of clicking and dragging which would be extremely useful for accessibility as well.

The FR could be resolved as a custom modifier keyboard shortcut (CTRL + ALT or something) with Transform Tool, or a dedicated Transform Tool mode switch on the toolbar (like a "preserve scale" button).

 

Demo

Here is a demo (see how shapes are now close together - dark red - but scale didn't changed. Only anchor point positions):

Workaround

Here is the current workaround for that It works but it is not very satisfactory as it is quite slow and require copy pasting etc.

1. select items
2. note one object width as ref,
3. scale with transformation tool,
4. then set transformation to object independently,
5. enter the initial value in width

Here is a demo video of this:

 

 

Thank you for considering this request, it would be awesome ! Bringing object closer/farther together is I guess a common task in everyone projects

Cheers !

Edited May 9, 2020 by X-Raym
added workaround steps

[dominik]

15 hours ago, X-Raym said:

Here is the current workaround for that It works but it is not very satisfactory as it is quite slow and require copy pasting etc.

1. select items
2. note one object width as ref,
3. scale with transformation tool,
4. then set transformation to object independently,
5. enter the initial value in width

Here is a demo video of this:

 

Hello @X-Raym,

this is an interesting suggestion.

While what I want to add is a mere improvement of your workaround and not a solution it still speeds up the process in some cases.

1. Transform the selected items by a percentage value in the transform panel (e.g. type 'w100px*0,8'). This shrinks the group of selected objects to a width of 80%.
2. On the context toolbar of the Move Tool click on 'Transform Objects Individually'.
3. Type into the width field the current value plus '*1/0,8'.
4. This transforms all selected objects back to there original width. This saves you to do this individually to all objects.

This of course only works if you know the factor of transformation. It won't work with an visual adjustment only. In this context your suggestion remains valid.

Cheers,
d.

[X-Raym]

@dominik

Hi, thanks for the suggestion !

This makes me think that the best way to integrate this feature would be indeed to have it has a Transform Tool toolbar button mode switch. This way it will work with mouse, but also with values entered right in the Transform panel.

[X-Raym]

Look a real time demo of this feature in Blender (note, because it is a 3D software, it use Gizmos handles instead of regular scale/transform tool, but you see how a simple checkbox can do the trick):

[X-Raym]

This can be done in VectorStyler with Spacebar key:

 

Would be nice to have it in Affinity Designer as well...