Line (Stroke) Width Tool

[Bryan Rieger]

I just wanted to say thank you for adding the ability to move width profile points along the curve. It's the little things that make such a difference. It's especially welcomed while working on an iPad with an Apple Pencil.

 

[Frozen Death Knight]

Just a thought! It would be nice if it was possible to make the curve width auto-snap to the node points when transforming the nodes with the Node Tool.

 

[Frozen Death Knight]

Also having issues getting good results out of Expand Stroke from some of my Line Width Tool experiments.

[Frozen Death Knight]

It would also be nice if the artefacts on heavily bent curves could be reduced.

 

[Aurea Ratio]

Reduced? These types of artifacts are not supposed to be there at all! Also, they don't occur at extremes, but almost immediately when you make more than minor adjustments. I won't be using Affinity for work involving line width adjustments, as it's such a flawless feature in other programs that also create beautiful, beautiful bezier curves. This model is something Serif should consider whether they really want to continue with, or if the current stroke width architecture might need to be discarded soon.

[Aurea Ratio]

A nap didn't help my impression and tolerance of the model. On the contrary. I would rather call it a disruption tool.

Well, Serif. It's going to be an uphill battle to sell this tool to me. You are in the process of throwing good money after bad money. 

Anyway, during the short time I struggled to use the 'innovation', I discovered that there were some sharp nodes I was fighting with or against, but I had to go into the node tool to change them to smooth nodes. Then back to the node width tool.

You should consider a user-friendly and visible way to switch node types.

[loukash]

39 minutes ago, Frozen Death Knight said:

having issues getting good results out of Expand Stroke

Still not fixed, obviously…  

^ Just checked using my above test stroke which I have then saved as an asset.

[EricP]

56 minutes ago, loukash said:

Still not fixed, obviously…  

^ Just checked using my above test stroke which I have then saved as an asset.

trying to replicate the nice circle design with 0 to 100% pressure curve, I found that rendering has some issues at higher zoom levels. This is the same design at different zoom levels (on Macbook M2)

zoom levels.afdesign

[Benfischer]

5 hours ago, Aurea Ratio said:

Reduced? These types of artifacts are not supposed to be there at all! Also, they don't occur at extremes, but almost immediately when you make more than minor adjustments. I won't be using Affinity for work involving line width adjustments, as it's such a flawless feature in other programs that also create beautiful, beautiful bezier curves. This model is something Serif should consider whether they really want to continue with, or if the current stroke width architecture might need to be discarded soon.

I also get artifacts like that. Also some jaggies and cusps as seen in the video. I see it on iPad and Mac. It seems to happen mostly on the pencil or pen tool, which draws a path with essentially no stroke width. I don’t see it on the vector brush yet.

its a nice feature though!

[bbrother]

13 hours ago, Aurea Ratio said:

I instantly saw the jagged artifacts after pulling a few nodes - you could too, Serif. This is not ready for beta testing. 😞

13 hours ago, Aurea Ratio said:

I will not test further until there is a serious build.

Certainly, many of the issues described here are already known to management and development teams. However, testing for known issues, even obvious ones, is also important because it helps them analyze the impact of these issues on the overall customer experience.

So keep testing and share your feedback, even the obvious ones. They certainly don't take them lightly😉

 

[Hangman]

2 hours ago, anto said:

If you merge curves and then apply the Line Width Tool, it applies to all objects

I would say that is expected behaviour... if you change the normal stroke width, fill colour or transform the width or height of merged objects it affects all objects equally.

[Ἀριστοτέλης]

Thanks you so very much for implementing these changes, your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated; particularly on the Line Width Tool and New Pencil Curve algorithm. In my opinion, these much-needed and expected enhancements will significantly improve our work.

### Feedback ###

Line Width Tool
- Adjust Line Weight: When enabled, selecting a path or curve results in the width approaching zero unless manually adjusted by dragging. It would be more intuitive if a single click preserved the existing width, allowing adjustments from that baseline.
- Control per Section: Modifying the width of a specific section affects the entire line disproportionately. Ideally, control should be exercised between selected nodes, enhancing precision and allowing for multiple node selections to define the change scope.
- Width Adjustment within Nodes: The tool does not permit node selection while active, seemingly disconnecting node control from width adjustments. A dual control system affecting line and width nodes would be preferable.
- Artefacts and Cursors: Adjusting width can cause the line to become jagged, especially near newly created nodes, indicating work in progress. Additionally, the dual cursor functionality (plus and circle) appears redundant as they do not offer distinct actions.
- Deactivating Adjust Line Weight: Turning off this feature does not alter functionality, which could be confusing.
- Shortcut Key: The Ctrl shortcut (macOS) for controlling width directly from the curve is highly useful.

Allow Point Reordering
- Node Interaction: When reordering points, width often flips at the node rather than extending smoothly. A more intuitive behavior would be for the width to continue across the node.

Snap to Curve Nodes
- Node Snapping: The feature currently allows for snapping only when width is minimal; otherwise, it jumps erratically. Smoother control when snapping to curve nodes would be beneficial.

Snap to Widths on the Same Curve
- Utility and Functionality: The purpose and functionality of this setting remain unclear after testing.

Snap to Curve Geometry
- Improving Extension Behaviour: This setting somewhat smooths the behaviour when extending width across points. However, issues with jagged extensions and zero width upon initial click persist, making it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of the last three settings fully.

### Summary ###

The Line Width Tool, while essential and appreciated, needs to be more intuitive and simpler in its operation. Ideally, width control should be manageable between nodes or along the entire curve if no nodes are selected. Incorporating an "ease in" and "ease out" blend using a profile pressure option could enhance the transition, combining the best of both functionalities. The clarity and testing of the snapping options should be revisited once the tool's functionality has been refined to ensure no jagging, smooth control, and intuitive use.

[R.I.P. Affinity 26.03.2024]

Missing name on ipad. Hope you can fix it.
Overall its the same bugged pressure tool with better UI. Still numerours artifacts with no fixes for years. The tool is needed, but its current state is tooooo raw to work with.

[Viktor CR]

On 4/19/2024 at 12:49 PM, Frozen Death Knight said:

It's too small

You don't need to use this dialogue anymore. With this new tool, you can zoom the curve as large as you desire, right in the document view.

[Frozen Death Knight]

1 hour ago, Viktor CR said:

You don't need to use this dialogue anymore. With this new tool, you can zoom the curve as large as you desire, right in the document view.

It's still relevant because the Photo and Publisher Personas do not have this tool. Not to mention that the panel is still useful for doing stuff such as saving your curve profiles. It needs improvements.

[Frozen Death Knight]

On 4/20/2024 at 6:15 AM, anto said:

If you merge curves and then apply the Line Width Tool, it applies to all objects

 

 

You can also use Links to be able to achieve the same thing by switching between Photo and Designer.  Another reason why this feature needs to exist in all 3 programs.

 

[Frozen Death Knight]

I just had a thought. It would be nice if there was a Clear/Reset Profile button in the top toolbar settings for the Line Width Tool to be able to completely remove all the points from a curve in a fast and easy way. Double clicking all of them or using the Curves panel are a few more extra steps. Also, it would allow you to create a keyboard shortcut for the operator when the tool is active.

[Frozen Death Knight]

I also noticed that it isn't possible to break the start and end points from each other with the tool.

Old method:

Line Width Tool:

Also, the tool seems to make each curve curved and I don't see any way to make them straight lines between points?

[Hangman]

4 hours ago, anto said:

Line Width Tool also does not work on the first page in Publisher if document has more then 1 page.

This appears to be specific to a right-facing page document...

It works with a multi-page left-facing page document and with a multi-page non-facing page document, just not with a multi-page right-facing page document, though you can still edit the pressure map with a multi-page, right-facing document, you just can't edit the line width on the page by selecting 'points' on the object itself...

[jackamus]

I've been trying out the new line width tool but find it does not seem to be anymore versatile then the existing Pressure tool in fact less useful!

In example 'B' I was trying to use this tool to create the same line thickness as in 'A'. I created 'A' using the existing Pressure tool.

I would say for the new tool to be more useful the adjustment nodes need to be independently adjustable as when using the Pressure tool. The only advantage in the new tool is would be 'live' line width adjustment as you move a node rather than moving your gaze between line and Pressure tool tab.

When a new node is added the line thickness seems to defaults to zero.

Am I just simply not using the tool correctly?

Weight of line 2 .afdesign

[Frozen Death Knight]

Pretty fun and fast to work on clean line art with this tool I got to say!

[jackamus]

I understand that but about my original ellipse problem? Nobody has replied to that yet!

[Alfred]

58 minutes ago, jackamus said:

I understand that

You haven’t quoted or otherwise linked to whatever it is that you’re saying you understand.

58 minutes ago, jackamus said:

but about my original ellipse problem? Nobody has replied to that yet!

This thread is about the Line Width Tool. What is the relevance of your ellipse problem (which hadn’t even been mentioned here until now)?

[jackamus]

My original posting seems to have got lost so here it is again!

I was trying to use the line width tool to Make ellipse 'A' like ellipse 'B'. I did B using the Stroke Pressure tab.

'C' is the result of trying to use the line width tool. When a new node is added the line seems to default to a zero width!

I imagine I'm not using it correctly. Advice would be appreciated.

Weight of line 2 .afdesign

[AffinityMakesMeWonder]

19 minutes ago, jackamus said:

My original posting seems to have got lost so here it is again!

I was trying to use the line width tool to Make ellipse 'A' like ellipse 'B'. I did B using the Stroke Pressure tab.

'C' is the result of trying to use the line width tool. When a new node is added the line seems to default to a zero width!

I imagine I'm not using it correctly. Advice would be appreciated.

Weight of line 2 .afdesign 21.73 kB · 1 download

But, your attached document isn't made in Affinity Designer v.2.50 beta 1 - so, how could you use Line Width Tool then??