Pentagrams v Heptagrams

[cdw]

As Affinity Designer had an interesting update I thought I'd give it a try... to my chagrin I found I couldn't make an Heptogram (7-pointed star) but I could make a pentagram (5 points). For some reason the Heptogram seemed to break itself into 7 smaller triangles - this only happens when you connect the last point; before that it just looks like regular lines overlapping each other. I'm sure there's a  perfectly good reason for this happening but, I'll be dammed if I can work it out! Can anyone shed light on this? Thanks in advance.

[Bit Disappointed]

26 minutes ago, cdw said:

As Affinity Designer had an interesting update I thought I'd give it a try... to my chagrin I found I couldn't make an Heptogram (7-pointed star) but I could make a pentagram (5 points). For some reason the Heptogram seemed to break itself into 7 smaller triangles - this only happens when you connect the last point; before that it just looks like regular lines overlapping each other. I'm sure there's a  perfectly good reason for this happening but, I'll be dammed if I can work it out! Can anyone shed light on this? Thanks in advance.

Sounds like this is happening - try changing stroke align setting to centre:

 

[cdw]

I tried everything but that!

Many thanks for the speedy correct answer... I can now rest easy 😂

[Bit Disappointed]

5 minutes ago, cdw said:

I tried everything but that!

Many thanks for the speedy correct answer... I can now rest easy 😂

You're welcome. It was a pleasure to prevent you from coming close to a nervous breakdown. 🙂

[cdw]

The only problem now is, when using the Shape Blender Tool (I think they call it that!) to try and create an intertwined look for the Heptagram, it doesn't do a very good job at all; it leaves lines all over the place. A work in progress mi thinks. I shall spend a few more hours on it (tomorrow) and see if I find it useful. Thanks.

[Bit Disappointed]

44 minutes ago, cdw said:

The only problem now is, when using the Shape Blender Tool (I think they call it that!) to try and create an intertwined look for the Heptagram, it doesn't do a very good job at all; it leaves lines all over the place. A work in progress mi thinks. I shall spend a few more hours on it (tomorrow) and see if I find it useful. Thanks.

Now you lost me, though! 😄

Can you share an example? And figure out what the tool is actually called? 🙂 

[cdw]

Hi Bit Arts,

The tool in both Illustrator and Designer is helpfully called the Shape Builder Tool.

You can see from the attached file what I was trying to do... I'm sure this used to be really easy in Illustrator but now it's a pain in the ass! I had to create 7 versions of the double heptagram and use the Shape Builder of the seven separate sections (deleting all that wasn't needed). What a malarky. I started way back in the late 80s with this stuff, and to my way of thinking, things have just got more (unnecessarily) complicated. I like being challenged but, this is plain stupid; what happened to things just doing what they are supposed to do? 😂

[GarryP]

I’ve attached a video showing one way to create what I think you want.

Important: Don’t forget to move the origin of the curve to where the guides cross before you start duplicating the curve, otherwise the Point Transform work won’t be right.

  

[cdw]

Nice work! I think I remember, way back when in the 80's, originally doing something similar to create the original version I did. The problem is: why does it have to be so bloody difficult; it should be pretty obvious how to do this. You live and you learn! Once again thanks for your help; it just goes to show: a problem shared is a problem halfed 😀

[GarryP]

You’re welcome.

It’s probably more difficult than it looks because you are trying to create a shape which weaves in and out of itself from a set of layers which can’t do that.
A bit like trying to make something which looks 3D in software that can only do 2D.

I think I might add the video to the Tutorials section so more people might see it and, hopefully, get some use from it.

[lepr]

An alternative method using Spiral Tool and not requiring Point Transform Tool:

 

 

[cdw]

Clever!

[Bit Disappointed]

15 hours ago, cdw said:

Hi Bit Arts,

The tool in both Illustrator and Designer is helpfully called the Shape Builder Tool.

Okay, I can see I was really exhausted yesterday, of course you meant the shape builder tool. But you've been assisted in the meantime.

I'd better take getting a good night's sleep more seriously. 

[cdw]

😇

[firstdefence]

Nice use of a new tool @lepr