Vector Flood Fill

[Hangman]

23 minutes ago, Benfischer said:

That does work, thanks. I had tried Force On but not force Off. Regarding the Shape Builder, that’s a fine solution, but I’m not actually trying to draw a planet, I’m just reporting a bug in the Vector Fill operation with this example. 

That was kind of my assumption, but yes, this is simply result of the way Affinity and other software handles antialiasing (note: different software uses different antialising algorithms whcih means the visual impact differs between different software and is more noticable as a result depending on the software used)...

I tend to view the end goal, i.e., what am I wanting to achieve with the final version of my artwork and once decided, use the tool most suited/appropriate to the task, if one tool doesn't give me the expected result then should I be using a different tool, hence the Shape Builder tool or the Subtract Boolean option, both of which overcome the issue you're facing...

The antialiasing issue unfortunately is visible on an onscreen pdf export as well, though likely not on a printed version so finding ways to avoid the issue is the approach I would adopt.

[Benfischer]

Thanks. For this case, the shape builder works but I was testing out non destructive techniques for a project I’m working on. I ended up using a mask to hide the ring portion, which works well and I don’t have to worry about the jigsaw pieces if I rearrange things.   The vector flood fill does work ok as a non destructive option, as long as the anti aliasing is accounted for.  Maybe Serif can add a note about that in the 2.1 docs. 

[lepr]

6 minutes ago, Benfischer said:

Thanks. For this case, the shape builder works but I was testing out non destructive techniques for a project I’m working on. I ended up using a mask to hide the ring portion, which works well and I don’t have to worry about the jigsaw pieces if I rearrange things.   The vector flood fill does work ok as a non destructive option, as long as the anti aliasing is accounted for.  Maybe Serif can add a note about that in the 2.1 docs. 

My Shape Builder example is non-destructive. I'm not sure that you realise that.

[Jon S]

If using the vector fill tool on a single closed path or multiple selected closed paths with no overlaps and no fill assigned to these shapes (as in screenshot) Designer crashes. This does not occur if the shapes are overlapping. I'm using the latest beta (1742) on Windows 10 22H2, MS Surface Pro 6.

 

[Ron P.]

Confirmed

[Komatös]

11 hours ago, Jon S said:

If using the vector fill tool on a single closed path or multiple selected closed paths with no overlaps and no fill assigned to these shapes (as in screenshot) Designer crashes. This does not occur if the shapes are overlapping. I'm using the latest beta (1742) on Windows 10 22H2, MS Surface Pro 6.

Confirmed too!

[Sean P]

Thanks! I've reproduced this - seems to be Windows only. I'll get this logged.

[Intuos5]

I would like to get access to the colour picker by pressing alt while using the Vector Flood fill tool. It does not appear this is the case in the latest beta (1742) on Windows 10.

[Intuos5]

Also, shouldn't the vector fill tool be part of the fill tool's set in the tools? At least that would help condense the toolbar for me.

[Intuos5]

I am getting instant crashes with a DXF import (build 1742, Windows 10.0.19045)

It doesn't matter whether I have visual bounds checked.

I copied some rectangles to a blank file and the issue persists, so here's the file:

Flood fill crash.afdesign

[4dimage]

1 hour ago, Intuos5 said:

I am getting instant crashes with a DXF import (build 1742, Windows 10.0.19045)

 

It doesn't matter whether I have visual bounds checked.

I copied some rectangles to a blank file and the issue persists, so here's the file:

Flood fill crash.afdesign

 

Yes, can confirm that with your .afdesign File.

But only when selecting the first rectangle before choosing the fillt tool and clicking inside the selected rect.

If i instead click directly in the first rect without selecting, it it will not crash. Instead it crashes when i select the rect after filling it. Very strange...

fa52313a-7634-4782-a7e9-a1bd7c12d237.dmp d7a0b35a-25b8-4f83-87e0-a4c64fcc5acf.dmp 56b684c5-d91a-4d81-a9fc-854617584a2a.dmp

[Sean P]

20 hours ago, Intuos5 said:

I am getting instant crashes with a DXF import (build 1742, Windows 10.0.19045)

 

It doesn't matter whether I have visual bounds checked.

I copied some rectangles to a blank file and the issue persists, so here's the file:

Flood fill crash.afdesign

Hi Intuos5,
Thanks for letting us know. The crash you're seeing there is a known issue as reported in the thread below. It has been fixed and will be available in the upcoming build. 

 

[Metz Apparel]

I'm getting a Calculations failed message when attempting to use the Vector Flood Fill tool on the entire drawing if select less of the drawing I can then use it but I cant select the entire drawing and fill it without the message poping up.

Edited April 27, 2023 by Metz Apparel
Add more info

[Hangman]

Hi @Metz Apparel and welcome to the forums,

Are you able to upload the file in question so we can take a look?

[Sean P]

5 hours ago, Metz Apparel said:

I'm getting a Calculations failed message when attempting to use the Vector Flood Fill tool on the entire drawing if select less of the drawing I can then use it but I cant select the entire drawing and fill it without the message poping up.

Hi Metz Apparel,

We are aware of an issue where some small loops on edges of shapes can cause this fail to appear. As Hangman has asked if you could attach the file that would be helpful, and a quick video showing the selection and what area you're trying to fill that generates this error would also be helpful!

[Metz Apparel]

Thanks for the Replies thats good to know about the small loops sounds like you guys are aware of issues. I attached the file. My trace job of a customers lawn mower probably isnt the best and I'm sure I probably have an issue in there somewhere probably all the loops and what not. As a test I copied it over to an old version of Adobe Illustrator to see if adobes live paint bucket tool had issues with it but that seemed to work fine I really hope you guys can get this prefected because it would be a time saver for me either that or I need to change the way I do things I'm just used to how Adobe is but I would love to switch fully over. I love the the software from what I've tried so far that and you guys offer it without subscriptions which is great.

Zero-Turn-Mower.afdesign

[4dimage]

Just tested the Zero-Turn-Mower.afdesign with the latest beta: 2.1.0.1781

The error seems to occur somewhere in this region:

The calculation warning message appears when simply selecting pathes with the fill tool active.

I deleted one part of the drawing after another, selected/unselected different parts of the remaining drawing, inbetween used the fill tool selection mode while having the pathes partially selected until Designer crashed completely. Here is the report.

98798663-23e7-472c-8b1e-012403fd21c0.dmp

 

[Hangman]

To be even more specific, it's this layer, highlighted using a black stroke... It shows the same 'Calculations failed message' when using the Shape Builder tool...

Alt clicking the left node handle for this particular node converting it from a smooth to a sharp node seems to fix the issue...

[Metz Apparel]

Nice figured I had something messed up in there thing has to be pretty spot on doesnt it no room for error. Thanks for the assitiance on fixing the issue.

[Bryan Rieger]

I haven't installed the beta myself (I always inadvertently end up opening old files in the beta which means the file can't be opened in the older, released app—which is a pain), but was wondering how this feature compares to the similar Illustrator tool? Does it also support live-painting of filled areas when lines, curves and shapes are moved, scaled, or even modified (see movie below, about 1/2 way through), or would you have to go back and remove/re-paint the areas should the geometry change? I'm just trying to figure out how I might be able to use this feature in my workflow.

 

[Just a Creative]

So this is how you comment on the actual tool. Well the vector flood fill tool needs be able to work without having to select vector. Instead it should also work if no vectors are selected creating a vector fill using the vector closest to the selected point. This way won't have to select all. Also there needs to be a gap tolerance in order to be able to select an area that might a small gap between the vectors instead of having to keep finding points that aren't connected/ fully cross and edit them to make the tool work\fill the desired area.

[R C-R]

1 minute ago, Just a Creative said:

Instead it should also work if no vectors are selected creating a vector fill using the vector closest to the selected point.

What if there are multiple vector objects equidistant from wherever you click?

[Mithferion]

On 4/27/2023 at 10:51 AM, rgba said:

Does it also support live-painting of filled areas when lines, curves and shapes are moved, scaled, or even modified (see movie below, about 1/2 way through)

Some of the results on the video seem a bit random to me. I like the idea overall, but when shapes overlap... not so much.

Best regards!

[Ben]

19 hours ago, Mithferion said:

Some of the results on the video seem a bit random to me. I like the idea overall, but when shapes overlap... not so much.

Best regards!

Having played with the Live Paint feature in AI, it does seem to get very confused very quickly.  It's sort of OK until you change the geometry a lot, then it doesn't really know where you intended the fill to be.
The feature also regroups your layers - so will change any ordering you might have had.  Fine, unless your ordering was exposed by occluded fills and strokes.

So, our approach doesn't mess with your original layer ordering (apart from if you insert fill layers in-between).  Also, we create post-editable fill objects - so when you are done, you can treat them like any other layer.

[4dimage]

beta 2.1.0.1790 - Windows, flow fill calculations error message

I tested Metz Apparels unmodified Zero-Turn-Mower.afdesign file again with this app version and still get the message when CTRL-select (or CTRL+a) the entire drawing with the fill tool active.

 

In DanG's bug fix list, this bug was listed under "Bugs affecting macOS".

Or should this be the final behaviour on all platforms ?