I can’t join two nodes together. I don’t understand this behavior at all, please help.

[icetea]

So I just started using Affinity Designer yesterday on my iPad. I’m trying to draw a simple paper plane, but joining two triangle shapes doesn’t work. Even if I merge the curves, if I move the “joined” node it separates into two. I’ve been trying for an hour and it feels very frustrating.

 

I’ve attached a screen recording replicating the process.

[Aammppaa]

Hi @icetea, and welcome to the forum.

So, first suggestion... don't draw the triangle as 3 separate lines, rather as one continuous polyline, which will result in a closed curve (or shape).

See the help to find out more about Polylines.

https://affinity.help/designer2ipad/English.lproj/pages/CurvesShapes/draw_linesAndShapes.html

I'd also suggest watching a tutorial or two about using the pen tool, creating shapes, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtvVEv5udVA

Secondly... a single node can only ever connect to two other nodes, so your attempt to merge the two triangles is impossible, as you'd be asking a single node to connect to four others.

Why do you need to join the nodes anyway?

If you want the two triangles to move together, just group them.

Hope these pointers help!

[icetea]

Hi, thanks for the reply!

My understanding of vector graphics is very limited so I’ll definitely take a look at those links.

 

My idea was to have every node of the paper plane adjustable, so I could keep changing the shape. If you’ve ever done 3d modeling, I guess I’m thinking of each node being a vertex but on a 2d plane. I was also thinking of just grouping them and keeping them overlapping like in my video, but the idea of overlapping nodes just signals “bad idea” in my head. That’s why I wanted just one object in the first place.

I had no idea one node can only be connected to two others! I’m realizing that the way I think about this is completely wrong. It’s good to know that it actually is impossible, I’ll try to just group them.

 

Thanks again

[Oufti]

You could look at an example illustrated in this very similar topic:

 

[icetea]

7 hours ago, Oufti said:

You could look at an example illustrated in this very similar topic:

 

That is informative, thank you!

[KateT]

Glad someone else has asked this as it’s been annoying the heck out of me.  I’m pretty certain that back in the day (2000’s) when I used to use CorelDraw to create signs, you could join separate nodes and merge everything together to make one object. Perhaps that was just a Corel feature… at least I know now.