Modify shape of png

[Vophsigem]

Hi, I'm trying to create washi tape. I've seen numerous tutorials on the concept including files types, but can't find anything on Designer. I've tried several things myself in Designer and it's not working. The scenario: open a png in Designer mode, create nodes and use the nodes to change the shape to look like washi tape, i.e. tape that's torn or ripped on both ends.

I've tried:

• the pixel persona
• creating a line using the pen
• using the node tool
• using the change node tool
• using the pen tool
• saving the png to the afdesign file type

Everytime I try using one of these, it creates a curve layer ON TOP of the layer that I'm trying to modify. I see this being EASILY done in other programs so I'm stuck as to why this is so difficult in Designer. I LOVE the program, just need to get this figured out. Please help. Thanks!

[v_kyr]

PNGs are bitmap/raster image files and not vector files, thus there aren't any vector curves and nodes. What you can do instead is, use a PNG as a background template, lock it and slightly lower it's transparency so it functions as a sort of background layer template (like a tracing paper). Then manually redraw/retrace the shape with the Designer vector tools as plain vectors. Afterwards fill the created vector shape with some pattern (vectors, or a bitmap image via the fill tool, or reuse some styles) etc.

When drawing with vectors it's normal that it mostly (vector tool dependent) creates a new curve layer on top of the previous vector curves on the layers stack (in the layers panel), you have to group coresponding curves and best name the group layers, so you now afterwards with a look onto the layers panel what's inside of those groups.

A simple example washi tape (vectors) ...

• washi_tape.afdesign

 

Here are 10 more complex such tapes with a slightly shadow applied (Wishi 1 ... Wishi 10), again all vectors, I grouped them all together, so a Wishi # named group contains subgroups, aka ...

• Wishi 1
  • Wishi 1 pattern
  • Wishi 1 shadow
• Wishi 2
  • Wishi 2 pattern
  • Wishi 2 shadow

... and so on.

The Wishi # pattern and the Wishi # shadow groups contain the coresponding curves:

• wishi_washi.afdesign