wrong path and selection behaviour

[Thomahawk]

Now that with the Canva team, there will soon be more staff to work on details, it should finally be possible to fix the generally bad behaviour when working with paths and pixel selections.

PATH
Working with the pen tool, then having a path completed, clicking with the pen tool again on that path or an other path with the intention to add a point on the line, a vector point is shown reacting with the path, one must assume it does add a point onto the existing path. But it does not. After adding another point, the main path is suddenly deactivated and the new points stand alone. They were not added, like one expected from the behaviour.

1. there is no reason why it should not be possible to add a point with the pen tool, so as to not make it necessary to change to the node tool.

2. but if it should not be possible to add to a path, it can not be that it looks like it does.

PIXEL SELECTION
Making a pixel selection with the freehand selection tool can be a longer process, until an object or a part of it is fully surrounded. Frustrating then when the form is finished and the whole selection disappears (and even command-Z is not possible to bring it back) because one forgot that the selection mode was still set to subtract. Or one has a selection and wants to add to it, but forgot the mode is on subtract or new.

Why does this happen? Because the user gets mislead when when the tool is drawing a line without or outside an existing selection. It should only be drawing where there is something to subtract. Same when adding while on subtract or new mode, the existing path should immediately disappear, not after the whole work of drawing a selection that disappears together with the existing path in the end.

OK I hope this helps to understand an artists working process when using those tools.

[loukash]

1 hour ago, Thomahawk said:

1. there is no reason why it should not be possible to add a point with the pen tool, so as to not make it necessary to change to the node tool.

And you can:

1. hold the Command key to activate the temporary Node tool mode
2. klick on the curve
3. voilà

[Thomahawk]

On 3/27/2024 at 4:20 PM, loukash said:

And you can:

1. hold the Command key to activate the temporary Node tool mode
2. klick on the curve
3. voilà

yes of course. but that does not speak against it.

[loukash]

1 hour ago, Thomahawk said:

that does not speak against it.

It does, because on the other hand you may want to start a new curve that directly snaps to an already selected curve without creating a node on the existing curve.
Hence we have this modifier that allows us add a node directly with the Pen tool.

Sure, it could be also vice versa. But switching the behavior after 10 years of muscle memory is yet another argument that speaks against it…  

[Thomahawk]

yes, that is true. but then again, it can not look as if it would be reacting and adding to the existing curve and then doesnt. Can't have both ways.

Ten years of training the false muscle reaction. Not exactly an excuse not to start doing it right.