GRScott Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I am just starting to play around with the pencil, pen, and brush and noticed that the lines are smoothing. Do you plan on having a smoothing control for those tools? For drawing, this would be important not to have my lines straighten-out. Also,while going through the help menu I hit the back arrow in the upper left corner and it does not take me back to the page I entered from. Example, after selecting "About lines and shapes," I hit the back arrow and I don't return to were I can select "About lines and Shapes." I return to "Visual References." On the positive note, I love the ability to be able to use vector and raster in the same software. That is an all in one drawing program. AnthonyQuala, Notes, Jon Malcolm and 6 others 9 Quote Gregg OS X Version 10.14.6 iMac 27" 3.2 GHz i5- 32 GB Huion Kamvas Pro 20 iPad Pro 12.9" IOS 13 AD = OS IOS, AP = OS IOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MattP Posted June 27, 2014 Staff Share Posted June 27, 2014 Hi Gregg, The pencil and brush tools will automatically attempt to smooth your input to give you flowing curves. You should find that the brush tool smooths a bit more than the pencil tool as you tend to draw with larger nibs in the brush tool. DrawPlus used to have a slider that controlled how much smoothing would be applied, but I always found that no matter what I set it to, it was just never the result I was wanting. Instead, I've tried to make the smoothing better in Designer so that you just don't need a slider or anything - and I think it's really pretty good most of the time? If you want to make your curves look more like straight lines afterwards, then you could go to the Node Tool, select the nodes (drag a marquee rectangle over them in the Node Tool - I'll make 'select all' work in the future for the Node Tool to select all nodes) and from the context toolbar you can choose to convert to sharp points... is that maybe more like what you were after? If not, is there any chance you could show me an example of what you'd like to achieve? Cheers, Matt Jon Malcolm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRScott Posted June 27, 2014 Author Share Posted June 27, 2014 Hi Matt, Thank you for the reply. If I import/copy a picture of a tree to one layer, then on the next layer outline the tree, I would like my lines to follow the outline of the tree. Not be smoothed-out. In other vector programs, (examples) one a mac only program, and the other an open source program called Inkscape, I have no problem adjusting the smoothing. Inkscape really carries from one extreme (no smoothing) to another extreme (all most straight line from a curved jagged line). It really allows more control while drawing. I will attach a couple of examples in another new topic since, it appears I can't attach a photo to this post. Regards, Gregg Quote Gregg OS X Version 10.14.6 iMac 27" 3.2 GHz i5- 32 GB Huion Kamvas Pro 20 iPad Pro 12.9" IOS 13 AD = OS IOS, AP = OS IOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smartalec Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 I think this is a pretty important feature, actually. Something like the "Simplify Path" command in Illustrator. http://vectorboom.com/load/tips/techniques/some_ways_to_simplify_path_or_reduce_extra_points_in_illustrator/16-1-0-452 amphioxus, raspberryh and Peregrin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boudewijndanser Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 Flash has the simplify feature too. I think it's good to be able to control the smoothing, for maximum control. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhumbrecht Posted October 8, 2015 Share Posted October 8, 2015 I'm definitely missing my smooth tool from Illustrator right now. I love the amount of control I have over the individual anchor points in Designer, but sometimes its very hard to get them exactly where they need be for a smooth shape! Some sort of smoothing feature would be a great addition! Bri-Toon, Starfire, cadobir and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glynooli Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 For drawing in an intuitive manner, the smooth tool is invaluable, it has been a deal breaker for a few people I know. if you draw a line using nodes and then can smooth it before fine adjustment it works really well, to not have that capability and to have to do each point individually...ouch! cadobir 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRScott Posted February 19, 2016 Author Share Posted February 19, 2016 I thought I would come back to this subject again because more and more I have seen the need for smoothing. I just can't understand why Affinity Designer does not have that ability. Other programs use it with great success. It is very useful when drawing freehand. It takes time to have to alway go back and correct a line. Please reconsider this. I think there are a lot of other people that would like to have the smoothing ability. フィリップ, Spraypaintsensei, cadobir and 4 others 7 Quote Gregg OS X Version 10.14.6 iMac 27" 3.2 GHz i5- 32 GB Huion Kamvas Pro 20 iPad Pro 12.9" IOS 13 AD = OS IOS, AP = OS IOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvis Posted March 6, 2016 Share Posted March 6, 2016 I would like to request this too. This happened in affinity designer today. I had a shape with very few nodes and I used the "subtract" function to remove a completely different part of the object. For some reason affinity "re-drew" the entire object and added several hundred/maybe thousands of unnecessary nodes. If It'd had a simplify-function I could have fixed it, but this time I had to backtrack several steps and undo loads of work that took time to redo. I've wanted a simplify-function several times before, but today I would have really needed it. The picture shows a screen shot of before and after the issue occurred. cadobir and LilleG 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted March 6, 2016 Staff Share Posted March 6, 2016 Hi luvis, Welcome to Affinity Forums :) The boolean operation shouldn't lead to superfluous nodes in first place. Can you provide us the file with the objects involved in the boolean operation (subtract) so we can test new code against it please? You can delete all the others. Thanks. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvis Posted March 8, 2016 Share Posted March 8, 2016 Thanks for the reply. I'm sorry to say that I didn't keep the error saved so I've already fixed this and can't remember exactly how to reproduce it, however, should it occur again, I will repost and remember to save the misstake. I found two ways to fix issues with too many nodes. 1 quickest - Export as svg to illustrator, use "simplify path" in illustrator and then reopen in Affinity. 2. Second option is to redraw the entire shape which might take forever =). I would rather not need the use of Illustrator though to fix the issue of too many nodes which occur every now and then, like when turning fonts into outlines, sometimes there will be unnecessary nodes. I love the option of simplify with fonts in illustrator because you can even change the look of the font slightly if wanted. So even if the issue I posted about now was a one time bug, I still really like the option of smoothing / simplify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMalcolm Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 There is an option when you've got the path selected to hit a button in the tool bar that does smoothing. I use it all the time. (I found Affinity was often far less forgiving than AI was of my slightly shaky hand while drawing slowly. Part of me wishes I could have the button auto pressed every time I draw a shape. But I appreciate having the option to not do it if I so choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvis Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 There is an option when you've got the path selected to hit a button in the tool bar that does smoothing. I use it all the time. (I found Affinity was often far less forgiving than AI was of my slightly shaky hand while drawing slowly. Part of me wishes I could have the button auto pressed every time I draw a shape. But I appreciate having the option to not do it if I so choose. Thank you for telling me about this! I'm unable to find the setting though, would you mind uploading a screenshot of this in the panel? I'm unable to find it. If this is true I'm going to dance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted March 9, 2016 Staff Share Posted March 9, 2016 Hi luvis, With the Pen or Node Tools selected go to the context toolbar and click Smooth Curve from the Action section. However i believe this is not exactly what you are asking for. Currently it's not possible to simplify paths using a slider or similar to remove more or less nodes while keeping the path intact. Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madame Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I find that when I have a bumpy line I select the nodes in the bumps and delete them. Then it's easier to smooth the lines afterwards. But a real smooth line tool/action/menu would be very welcome! Harster13 and LilleG 2 Quote - Affinity Photo 2.3.0 - Affinity Designer 2.3.0 -Affinity Publisher 2.3.0 MacBook Pro 16 GB MacOS Sonoma 14.1.2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadobir Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 I agree. I was just examining the options for smoothing a curve in a specific case: I drew a line with a pressure contour; I expanded the line to produce an outline; then I chose Node Tool > Actions > Smooth. The results were not quite as good as I hoped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bri-Toon Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I am loving the beta, but in all honesty, having to work with many nodes per path does keep me from wanting to use Affinity for linework. I don't mind even if a smoothing feature is not added since I never used it in Illustrator. However, I find there needs to be more control over fidelity. Double clicking on the pencil tool in Illustrator will show a fidelity slider. After bringing it up to about 10, you can draw the shape you want without any smoothing or too much correction, and you will have very few nodes to work with. That's what I want in Designer. Fewer nodes but constrained shape is the win. I find that when I have a bumpy line I select the nodes in the bumps and delete them. Then it's easier to smooth the lines afterwards. But a real smooth line tool/action/menu would be very welcome! Yeah, but using the pencil or brush tool more frequently than the pen tool results more frequent correction. I'm trying to just draw a frog character freehand, and to get the exact shape of just an eye delays my workflow. As DavidMalcom mentioned, drawing slowly causes the lines to be more jagged. That really makes it hard for illustrators and designers to work. I had to do the linework in Illustrator and bring it into Designer to finish my job on time. Quote The website is still a work in progress. The "Comics" and "Shop" sections are not yet ready. Feel free to connect with me and let me know what you like or what can be improved. You can contact me here, on my contact page, YouTube channel, or Twitter account. Thanks and have a great day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikas Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Upvote for something like Illustrators Simplify path. Do we need to move this to feature request? mondze, Huelo and barrycosta 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olie Murphy Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Flash has the simplify feature too. I think it's good to be able to control the smoothing, for maximum control :wub: Peregrin 1 Quote Meaningful Quotes Solitaire Game Author Quotes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff MEB Posted July 21, 2016 Staff Share Posted July 21, 2016 Thread moved to Feature Requests section. ikas and Neosim 2 Quote A Guide to Learning Affinity Software Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herbert123 Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 It is hard to believe such an essential feature is not part of Affinity Designer. Photoline has a simplify curve option (and it does not even focus on being a vector app). InkScape can do this. ClipStudio offers a really nice simplify vector line brush tool to simplify curves. And of course many other vector illustration packages such as Illustrator, CorelDraw, Xara... Animation software that works with vectors all offer it: Anime Studio, Toonboom, Flash... Heck, even Freehand has an option to do this. And Freehand is positively ancient! In short, I am afraid it is somewhat odd and slightly bewildering for a modern dedicated vector package NOT to offer it from the get-go. Bri-Toon and ikas 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LCamachoDesign Posted August 4, 2016 Share Posted August 4, 2016 I'm just going to add the Lazy Nezumi does not recognize the Affinity window (at least on Windows), so we can't even use that for line stabilization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peregrin Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 I agree that line smoothing is an incredibly important tool to have. I would also like to add that the ability to do the opposite is equally important for illustrations. https://forum.affinity.serif.com/index.php?/topic/23355-roughen-curves/ It's really hard to draw a rough-looking curve within a reasonable amount of time, and I constantly wish I had a way to make curves look less uniform without wasting too much time on a single curve. BennyD, retrograde and amphioxus 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfred Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 I'm just going to add the Lazy Nezumi does not recognize the Affinity window Lazy Nezumi Pro works fine in Affinity Designer. I used it to draw this. You may not see a flashing red rectangle when you hook the AD window (I didn't) but you should see the message 'Window hooked!' in the LNP status bar. (at least on Windows) As far as I know, LNP is only available for Windows. Bri-Toon 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...
Bri-Toon Posted August 16, 2016 Share Posted August 16, 2016 Alfred, I just read your post. I had no idea that Lazy Nezumi worked with Affinity Designer. Or if I did, I forgot because Designer was Mac only at the time. May I ask how Nezumi controls the nodes? And how do you actually use the stabilization? I used it before on Photoshop and Illustrator, and I got confused with the amount of options it carries. The stabilization is pretty much the only thing that tickles my interest. I did get a lot of popups in the past, but I hope it was just a problem with my computer at the time. Quote The website is still a work in progress. The "Comics" and "Shop" sections are not yet ready. Feel free to connect with me and let me know what you like or what can be improved. You can contact me here, on my contact page, YouTube channel, or Twitter account. Thanks and have a great day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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