How to Fill an Empty Space

[Boldlinedesign]

is there a way to auto-fill a negative shape surrounded by and existing fill? If I wanted to fill in the circular hole in the image attached? 
I know I could do it prior to expanding the strokes, or I have seen people create a whole new shape with pen tool set to fill-only.
Are there any other better options yet?

 

[Callum]

Hi Boldline design,

I'd do this by creating a new shape with the Pen Tool and setting it to fill only.

Thanks

C

[Hokusai]

@Callum,

I think that Boldlinedesign is talking about a feature like LiveTrace that is found in Illustrator. To my knowledge that kind of function hasn't been added to Designer as of yet although I'm looking forward to it being added too. I don't need the ability to vectorize things but it would be great to be able to fill negative spaces without having to draw or use shapes (much like using the magic wand but with vectors). 

Best regards,
Hokusai

[dominik]

1 hour ago, Hokusai said:

much like using the magic wand but with vectors

Once we have 'convert selection to curves' this would be possible. But I see certain problems if a selection is not a sharp line...

Back to topic: @Boldlinedesign's task can not be achieved automatically, yet. One could use a copy of the object and with the Node Tool delete all nodes that are not part of the inner ring. The result is a vectorobject than then can be filled.

d.

[Boldlinedesign]

@hokousai - yes like a live paint option - something easier than creating a whole new shape fill or deleting points.

One thing I liked in Illustrator was the ability to put a different color fill behind the shape with a negative space and then select both and press "merge" - or several other pathfinder options and have it "cookie-cutter" the back shape thereby creating a fill color that fits that negative space perfectly.

When I try this in Affinity Designer, it essentially deletes the foreground shape with the negative space and leaves the back fill shape as it was...

This ability to cookie-cutter a custom shape in illustrator using the pathfinder is used extensively in my work.
Not that I want Affinity to copy adobe, but is there a reason Affinity has not added this kind of workflow?