Jump to content
You must now use your email address to sign in [click for more info] ×

Designer V2, Object Blend Missing?


Recommended Posts

On a quick look, Designer V2 has some impressive new features, and to be honest ones that I had never thought of and may prove extremely useful. But, unless I'm missing it, still no object blend. This is a much requested feature and a standard in vector software for about 30 years. I imagine I'll still get the upgrade, but this is extremely disappointing and forces me to use other software at times because this one feature is missing. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is possible with a few objects and a different workflow in AD. But object blend has been a standard in vector software for realistic shading and highlights for forever. When the object's shape doesn't fit one of the gradient styles available (IOW it's not a simple shape like a cylinder or a sphere) you need more flexibility in the shapes you blend to and from. A gradient mesh feature (which is also common in other software) would have been a workaround and is sometimes easier. Designer should have both, IMO. As it is, one is left resorting to raster "painting" to simulate these missing tools. But I should take a clue from the name of the software - "Designer". It's a program that is more design oriented than illustration oriented. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Hi @Barry Meyer,
Welcome to Affinity Forums :)
Thank you for your feedback. You have not missed it - it's not available in Designer. We are aware it's been requested quite a few times and it is indeed a feature that fits well in Designers purpose (graphic/web/app design and illustration). It's just simply impossible to add everything at once no matter how old/standard the feature might be. Affinity apps are still relatively recent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, MEB said:

Hi @Barry Meyer,
Welcome to Affinity Forums :)
Thank you for your feedback. You have not missed it - it's not available in Designer. We are aware it's been requested quite a few times and it is indeed a feature that fits well in Designers purpose (graphic/web/app design and illustration). It's just simply impossible to add everything at once no matter how old/standard the feature might be. Affinity apps are still relatively recent.

I understand that "back in the day" this was a very easy feature to program. Objects had fills and strokes, and that was about it. It was simple math to find the in between positions of the nodes and colors. Then objects started having gradients, transparency, special effects, and so on. How do you blend an object that has a radial gradient with one that has a linear gradient? You don't, it doesn't even make sense. So my suggestion is that objects need to have similar "attributes" to be blend candidates. I'm not a programmer, but if seems to me that if you limit blend candidates in this way, it would be an easy feature to add. Also, as I said in a response above, a gradient mesh would be a substitute in some situations. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm not sure how to answer "basic" vs. "advanced". Blending along a path came along after the blend feature first originated. I think the original blend first appeared in early versions of Illustrator. Then Illustrator, Freehand, and CorelDRAW started having feature wars. That's my recollection anyway. Soon after, Xara introduced transparency, which added an additional complexity to blending 2 objects. But Blend along a path has been around a long time as well. I would consider it a basic feature that would be easy to implement nowadays. I'm not a programmer though. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, MEB said:

Hi @Barry Meyer,
Welcome to Affinity Forums :)
Thank you for your feedback. You have not missed it - it's not available in Designer. We are aware it's been requested quite a few times and it is indeed a feature that fits well in Designers purpose (graphic/web/app design and illustration). It's just simply impossible to add everything at once no matter how old/standard the feature might be. Affinity apps are still relatively recent.

Hope this is added soon. I can do the simple repeatable object using a calculator and power duplicate. It's not a deal breaker. But as @NBG shares (BTW, +1 like, my other likes are currently on credit), it indeed somewhere near top of the list as it opens up so many possibilities. Especially for pattern, asset makers, etc... I still remember fondly hitting Expand on a very delicate pattern and running out of memory in AI... aaaah..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.