Scalability - whut?

[TwangerMan]

As a newbie, I naively thought the point of vector-based design was scalability.  However, some of Affinity Designer’s artistic potential comes from mixing in what seems to be not-quite-vector DESIGNER PERSONA elements (ex: Texture Brushes) and/or functionality (ex: FX) into a project.    I say “what seems to be” because it is not quite clear to me, and it would help if Serif had a definitive explanation..is there such an animal.

Adding these not-quite-vector DESIGNER PERSONA elements (or whatever they are) complicates and possibly breaks scalability when it comes time to “share” your magnificence with the world - export to a file, and print in possibly various sizes.  And, please note, we haven’t even gotten to Pixel Persona yet!

So I am trying to understand how to “keep” scalability.  I got to this confusing point by discovering that exporting an A.D. project as a scalable SVG is not reliable.  From what I have read here and experienced myself, that is a given, even if the technical reasons are not well delineated.   Apparently there are a number of “things” one cannot do if you want to export as an SVG.  (Can someone point me to a list?)  So, if I cannot achieve scalability that way, how do I?

But perhaps I should backup and first ask - Once I add these not-quite-vector DESIGNER PERSONA elements to a project, do I risk breaking my project’s internally scalability within A.D. itself, so that those elements will pixelate as I zoom in?

As far as scalability outputting to a file, or more importantly, to print in a wide range of sizes…I could sure use some very detailed guidelines on how to understand this and how to get ‘er done, for current and future projects.

Back to the drawing board. Literally.

 

 

[loukash]

2 hours ago, TwangerMan said:

I am trying to understand how to “keep” scalability

It's simple:
Do not use anything that could rasterize parts of the content on export.
The hard part is to memorize what it is.

My personal "litmus test" is export to PDF/X-4: In a "perfect vector world", the Export window should display "Nothing will be rasterized".
If it doesn't while I thought it should have, then I'll go back and search for the culprit.

[RGray]

Hi, I would like to tag on a similar question to the one below. Are there true vector affinity (scaleable) texture brushes? I have bought some “vector” affinity brushes and have also made some “vector” brushes. However, am I understanding that no matter what you do because the brush is referencing a .png to make the file that it still is a raster based brush even thought it was created as a “vector”? For example, if I create a repeating  png pattern and save it as a 5000x50000 pixel (or larger) and then create a brush and select repeat instead of the other option and max out the scale, does anyone know what  the max limits affinity will allow to Bandaid this issue on the IPad? (Or desktop) 

[NotMyFault]

1 hour ago, RGray said:

Are there true vector affinity (scaleable) texture brushes?

As far as I know: no.

the only true vector brush is the basic round brush. Without pressure profiles. Even if create a texture brush having the same shape as basic brush, it will not be true vector.

One minor addition: start and end decorations like arrow heads stay true vector.

 

[loukash]

2 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

the only true vector brush is the basic round brush.

Under Pens, on top.
Or using the Pencil with Pressure enabled.

[JariH]

I wish to see a true vector brushes in AD2. Using the name "vector" in brushes is a bit misleading at the moment.

Scattering a shape or tracing a path with a vector shape would be much appreciated, please. 

[loukash]

Once you have your basic vector brush drawing using the standard Pen or Pencil with pressure, you can somewhat mimic a slightly more "lively" vector brush by adding more strokes with various widths and manual pressure profiles to the curves via Appearance panel. (And due to the Expand Stroke bug on heavy pressure profiles, the exported result might be even more surprisingly lively… )