Paul Martin Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 I wanted to draw a simple cross, something like the one on the Swiss flag or a pharmacy sign and went to the shape tool. It has all sorts of wonderful options such as donuts (dunked and undunked) but could I find this simple, widely used shape? Nope. It could be that I have once again parked some brain cells inappropriately, I suppose... Anyway, it wasn't difficult to improvise. Create two rectangles, rotate one at 90 degrees, join. But why leave the cross out of the tool's basic shapes? Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt.farrell Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 The Square Star tool, set for 4 Sides and with the Cutout adjusted will give you this: There are also Preset for that tool: Then all you need to do is rotate it. Unfortunately, it's skewed if you try that, not a true cross. But I think it's the closest that Affinity provides. I've no idea why a true cross isn't available in the shape tools. Quote -- Walt Designer, Photo, and Publisher V1 and V2 at latest retail and beta releases PC: Desktop: Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, 64GB memory, AMD Ryzen 9 5900 12-Core @ 3.00 GHz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Laptop: Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, 32GB memory, Intel Core i7-10750H @ 2.60GHz, Intel UHD Graphics Comet Lake GT2 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU. iPad: iPad Pro M1, 12.9": iPadOS 17.4.1, Apple Pencil 2, Magic Keyboard Mac: 2023 M2 MacBook Air 15", 16GB memory, macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderings Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 seems like it would take longer to search for the image in the shape tool then just make it yourself. walt.farrell 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt.farrell Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 Yes, it would be better if the shape tools could provide it directly. Quote -- Walt Designer, Photo, and Publisher V1 and V2 at latest retail and beta releases PC: Desktop: Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, 64GB memory, AMD Ryzen 9 5900 12-Core @ 3.00 GHz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Laptop: Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, 32GB memory, Intel Core i7-10750H @ 2.60GHz, Intel UHD Graphics Comet Lake GT2 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU. iPad: iPad Pro M1, 12.9": iPadOS 17.4.1, Apple Pencil 2, Magic Keyboard Mac: 2023 M2 MacBook Air 15", 16GB memory, macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 The Rectangle Tool offers ‘Cutout’ as one of its corner types. Palatino, firstdefence, walt.farrell and 1 other 2 2 Quote Alfred Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for Windows • Windows 10 Home/Pro Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for iPad • iPadOS 17.4.1 (iPad 7th gen) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walt.farrell Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 Thanks, Alfred. I had forgotten that option, which makes it simple. Alfred 1 Quote -- Walt Designer, Photo, and Publisher V1 and V2 at latest retail and beta releases PC: Desktop: Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, 64GB memory, AMD Ryzen 9 5900 12-Core @ 3.00 GHz, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Laptop: Windows 11 Pro, version 23H2, 32GB memory, Intel Core i7-10750H @ 2.60GHz, Intel UHD Graphics Comet Lake GT2 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU. iPad: iPad Pro M1, 12.9": iPadOS 17.4.1, Apple Pencil 2, Magic Keyboard Mac: 2023 M2 MacBook Air 15", 16GB memory, macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 2 hours ago, walt.farrell said: The Square Star tool, set for 4 Sides and with the Cutout adjusted will give you this: There are also Preset for that tool: Then all you need to do is rotate it. Unfortunately, it's skewed if you try that, not a true cross. But I think it's the closest that Affinity provides. I've no idea why a true cross isn't available in the shape tools. Thank you, Walt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 2 hours ago, wonderings said: seems like it would take longer to search for the image in the shape tool then just make it yourself. Thanks - yes, that was what baffled me. I don't think the help system even knows what a cross is... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 18, 2021 Author Share Posted June 18, 2021 2 hours ago, Alfred said: The Rectangle Tool offers ‘Cutout’ as one of its corner types. That's easier to use and quick. If you know where to look! Thank you, Alfred. Alfred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarryP Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 Just out of interest, how would you expect a ‘simple cross’ shape tool to work, from a user’s point of view? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 Good question! I don't think I'd heard of "cut-outs" until Alfred mentioned them. The simple answer is that I expected a cross tool to work the way Serif Drawplus's version does, even though I know there is virtually no overlap in approach between the two programmes. I am completely flummoxed at the idea that anyone would think of using a "square star" tool, though Walt has kindly shown how it is possible. I will almost certainly use the modified rectangle approach as it's easier to remember, but it would be nice if somewhere in the help/tutorial there was a hint. Alfred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R C-R Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 1 hour ago, Paul Martin said: I am completely flummoxed at the idea that anyone would think of using a "square star" tool, though Walt has kindly shown how it is possible. There are several built-in presets for these shapes, two of which produce 4 lobed square stars. To access them, click on the gear icon in the context toolbar with the Square Star Tool selected. YThis works similarly for the other shapes. Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 Affinity Photo 1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 Thanks RCR. It helps, of course, if you know to look for these options. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 4 hours ago, Paul Martin said: The simple answer is that I expected a cross tool to work the way Serif Drawplus's version does, even though I know there is virtually no overlap in approach between the two programmes. I’d forgotten that DrawPlus has a ‘Quick Cross’! Generally speaking the Shape Tools in the Affinity apps are like QuickShapes on steroids but there are a few occasions where the legacy applications did it better, and I think this is one of those. Quote Alfred Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for Windows • Windows 10 Home/Pro Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for iPad • iPadOS 17.4.1 (iPad 7th gen) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R C-R Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 20 minutes ago, Alfred said: I’d forgotten that DrawPlus has a ‘Quick Cross’! Generally speaking the Shape Tools in the Affinity apps are like QuickShapes on steroids but there are a few occasions where the legacy applications did it better, and I think this is one of those. For those of us with no knowledge of DrawPlus, what is it about that app's 'quick cross' that is significantly better than using one of the already mentioned alternatives in Affinity? Aside from that, I think creating a set of cross Assets, say with some of the basic Christian crosses, would be the way to go for those who have more than the occasional need for such shapes. Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 Affinity Photo 1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 19, 2021 Author Share Posted June 19, 2021 26 minutes ago, R C-R said: For those of us with no knowledge of DrawPlus, what is it about that app's 'quick cross' that is significantly better than using one of the already mentioned alternatives in Affinity? Aside from that, I think creating a set of cross Assets, say with some of the basic Christian crosses, would be the way to go for those who have more than the occasional need for such shapes. I've been a slow convert to the Affinity range but, aided by lockdown, I have put in the hours to become (almost) profocient enough to see the technically excellent power made available by a newer technology. But ease-of-use is not the strongest point so for those of us who didn't get the college course or in-company training, it's pretty hard work at times. But I am getting there and it has become fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 26 minutes ago, R C-R said: For those of us with no knowledge of DrawPlus, what is it about that app's 'quick cross' that is significantly better than using one of the already mentioned alternatives in Affinity? Unlike the ‘Cutout’ corner style for the Affinity apps’ Rectangle Tool, which cuts out a square from each corner, the ‘Quick Cross’ in DrawPlus allows you to adjust the height and vertical position of the horizontal bar. I’m not suggesting that it’s hugely better, but it does seem a bit more flexible. R C-R 1 Quote Alfred Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for Windows • Windows 10 Home/Pro Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for iPad • iPadOS 17.4.1 (iPad 7th gen) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomaso Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 52 minutes ago, LondonSquirrel said: … some weird shape being discussed that requires a lot of manipulating. But a cross? "A computer enables us to solve problems we don't have without computer." Old Bruce and Aammppaa 2 Quote macOS 10.14.6 | MacBookPro Retina 15" | Eizo 27" | Affinity V1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixelPest Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 For me it´s: 😅 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R C-R Posted June 19, 2021 Share Posted June 19, 2021 5 hours ago, Alfred said: Unlike the ‘Cutout’ corner style for the Affinity apps’ Rectangle Tool, which cuts out a square from each corner, the ‘Quick Cross’ in DrawPlus allows you to adjust the height and vertical position of the horizontal bar. I’m not suggesting that it’s hugely better, but it does seem a bit more flexible. OK, but it is not hard to convert a 'cutout corner' or 4 sided square star to curves so it becomes very easy to adjust the heights & positions of the bars, to add more bars to create other types of crosses, & to save all these variations to the Assets panel for future use. EDIT: nothing exciting but crosses.afassets includes a few examples. Alfred 1 Quote All 3 1.10.8, & all 3 V2.4.1 Mac apps; 2020 iMac 27"; 3.8GHz i7, Radeon Pro 5700, 32GB RAM; macOS 10.15.7 Affinity Photo 1.10.8; Affinity Designer 1.108; & all 3 V2 apps for iPad; 6th Generation iPad 32 GB; Apple Pencil; iPadOS 15.7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 6 hours ago, R C-R said: OK, but it is not hard to convert a 'cutout corner' or 4 sided square star to curves so it becomes very easy to adjust the heights & positions of the bars, to add more bars to create other types of crosses, & to save all these variations to the Assets panel for future use. Agreed, but it’s always useful to be able to avoid converting parametric shapes to curves. This is especially true for DrawPlus, where there’s a Context toolbar option to swap one QuickShape for another. Quote Alfred Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for Windows • Windows 10 Home/Pro Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for iPad • iPadOS 17.4.1 (iPad 7th gen) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 4 hours ago, Alfred said: Agreed, but it’s always useful to be able to avoid converting parametric shapes to curves. This is especially true for DrawPlus, where there’s a Context toolbar option to swap one QuickShape for another. We all know ways to achieve the objective, it's just a matter of convenience and "productivity" (eeugh), but a cross is surely one of the simplest, commonest shapes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firstdefence Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 I think there needs to be a distinction between what many people would call a cross, for obvious reasons, a plus sign and an X Personally I think you are talking about a plus sign, what Walt initially drew was an X and crosses can have a multitude of forms from very simple to very complex. Quote iMac 27" 2019 Somona 14.3.1, iMac 27" Affinity Designer, Photo & Publisher V1 & V2, Adobe, Inkscape, Vectorstyler, Blender, C4D, Sketchup + more... XP-Pen Artist-22E, - iPad Pro 12.9 (Please refrain from licking the screen while using this forum) Affinity Help - Affinity Desktop Tutorials - Feedback - FAQ - most asked questions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Martin Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 1 hour ago, firstdefence said: I think there needs to be a distinction between what many people would call a cross, for obvious reasons, a plus sign and an X Personally I think you are talking about a plus sign, what Walt initially drew was an X and crosses can have a multitude of forms from very simple to very complex. You're making a very good case for a dedicated tool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted June 20, 2021 Share Posted June 20, 2021 1 hour ago, firstdefence said: crosses can have a multitude of forms from very simple to very complex 3 minutes ago, Paul Martin said: You're making a very good case for a dedicated tool... I think @firstdefence has made a good case for a set of assets! If memory serves, the ‘Quick Cross’ in DP only produces variants of a ‘plus’ sign (e.g. a simple Christian cross). We’d need several extra controls for a parametric shape just to be able to produce a Cross of Lorraine or the Maltese variant, never mind fancier crosses such as the Celtic ones commonly associated with Iona. Quote Alfred Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for Windows • Windows 10 Home/Pro Affinity Designer/Photo/Publisher 2 for iPad • iPadOS 17.4.1 (iPad 7th gen) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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