How to thin a curve?

[TheBeat]

I make stuff in Mathematica and then import the result thereof as pdf into Designer.

Lines that are not straight have many, many nodes. How can I 'thin' the nodes, so that I only keep a couple , best the most essential nodes?

Attached an example of a pdf after import into Designer and selected.

[BlueLiner]

• Click on the stroke to select it.
• Select the node tool
• Click on simplify

 

[GarryP]

3 hours ago, BlueLiner said:

Click on simplify

That functionality is called “Smooth Curve” and it will not always remove any nodes.

It’s not the same thing as the “Simplify Curve” functionality that is available in some other software, which I think is what TheBeat is looking for, which doesn’t yet exist in the Affinity applications.

[HCl]

.

 

[Pšenda]

15 minutes ago, GarryP said:

it will not always remove any nodes.

So why is it described like this in Help?

Smooth Curve Smooth Curve modifies a line or shape, by adding and removing nodes, to create a rounder and softer curve effect.

[GarryP]

Because the Help doesn’t quite describe the situation fully.

Where the Help says “by adding and removing nodes” it might be more accurate if it said “by sometimes adding new nodes and/or removing some nodes, while always retaining at least two nodes, with some nodes possibly being moved”.

For example, if you have a curve with only two nodes, neither of the nodes should be removed when using the “Smooth Curve” functionality, otherwise you wouldn’t have a curve afterwards, but a node might be added if necessary.

[TheBeat]

Thanks for all your answers.

1.  I cannot find 'Smooth Curve'. Not as a icon, nor in any menu, nor in a right-click menu. Where do I have to look?

 

2.

Quote

Return wrote :   Select node(s)>right click menu when using node tool>Fit Curve Delete Node. This is by no means comparable to other curve smoothing options in other programs but at least it's a start.

This works but is not very usable, as it replaces the selected (part of) the curve with a straight line, discarding all the characteristics of the curve.

It is a start, but a very poor one. I am amazed that such a basic operation is not fully implemented in Affinity.

 

[GarryP]

12 minutes ago, TheBeat said:

I cannot find 'Smooth Curve'. Not as a icon, nor in any menu, nor in a right-click menu. Where do I have to look?

It’s on the Context Toolbar, under the main Toolbar. If you can’t see the Context Toolbar then use menu “View → Show Context Toolbar”.

12 minutes ago, TheBeat said:

I am amazed that such a basic operation is not fully implemented in Affinity.

You are not alone in that regard.

[TheBeat]

Thanks GarryP, I found it. I was mislead because the icon looks different than earlier on suggested (the sine wave).

I attached how it looks in my version.

I tried it on a curve and it actually worked quite well.

 

Is there hope that Affinity will develop their products more in the future?

I switched to Affinity because of the arrogance of Adobe and not wanting a subscription.

So is Affinity the way to go? 

[GarryP]

8 minutes ago, TheBeat said:

That’s not the “Smooth Curve” button, that’s the “Convert to Smooth” button which does a different thing.

8 minutes ago, TheBeat said:

Is there hope that Affinity will develop their products more in the future?

Serif have a good track record of adding new features to the Affinity applications, and do it quite often.

There was a bit of a ‘lull’ until recently because of various things (see elsewhere in the forums) but they have released lots of new stuff in the latest beta - most (if not all) of which I expect to come to the commercial versions soon.

7 minutes ago, TheBeat said:

I have no idea how and why my post "Reveal hidden contents" has been created and posted.

I don’t know what you did either, but you can hide that post via the ‘three-dots’ button at the top-right of the post.

[TheBeat]

That sounds hopeful.

 

Thanks.

[GarryP]

The current beta has some new curve smoothing functionality but, as far as I know (I’m not part of the beta programme this time round so I’m not up-to-date with all the goings-on), it only works when you are creating the curve rather than retroactively.

Maybe ‘retroactive smoothing’ will be added at some point soon, or maybe it won’t. We usually don’t get to know about things until they appear in a beta.

[HCl]

.

[TheBeat]

Quote

GarryP writes :That’s not the “Smooth Curve” button, that’s the “Convert to Smooth” button which does a different thing.

In that case, I still cannot find the "Smooth Curve" button. I have the Node tool selected, I have the Contextual Toolbar visible, but the little 'Sine" button escapes me.

Screenshot attached.

 

What is then the difference between “Smooth Curve” button and the “Convert to Smooth” button ?

[GarryP]

Sorry, because I’m not using macOS I didn’t realise that the “Smooth Curve” button looks almost exactly the same as the “Convert to Smooth” button in that OS, for some reason I won’t ever bother guessing about because it’s the Affinity UI and there are enough discussions about issues with that in the forums.

The one that could be seen in your earlier screen-grab was indeed the “Smooth Curve” button after all.

If in doubt, hover the mouse pointer over it to see what the Tool Tip says.

The “Smooth Curve” functionality attempts to smooth the whole curve but doesn’t quite do what most people think it should do.

The “Convert to Smooth” functionality change the selected nodes to smooth nodes (as opposed to sharp nodes or smart nodes).

[Pšenda]

5 minutes ago, GarryP said:

the “Smooth Curve” button looks almost exactly the same as the “Convert to Smooth” button in that OS

It must probably be a bug - see Help:

https://affinity.help/designer2/English.lproj/index.html

[GarryP]

Yeah, I’d say that there’s been some confusion a-happenin’ on the Serif ranch there.

I definitely don’t think that the “Smooth Curve” and “Convert to Smooth” buttons should look so similar.

The “Smooth Curve” button in the Windows application and Help seems to be the right one to me. (Edit: The one in the Dark UI Style, see below.)

Edited November 20, 2024 by GarryP
Added clarification.

[HCl]

.

[George-Frazee]

18 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Sorry, because I’m not using macOS I didn’t realise that the “Smooth Curve” button looks almost exactly the same as the “Convert to Smooth” button in that OS, for some reason I won’t ever bother guessing about because it’s the Affinity UI and there are enough discussions about issues with that in the forums.

Interesting. It looks as it should for me on macOS Sonoma 14.5, with AD 2.5.5

I can't report it since I can't reproduce it, but anyone who can should post it to the bug report forum.

[Pšenda]

3 minutes ago, George-Frazee said:

It looks as it should for me on macOS Sonoma 14.5, with AD 2.5.5

Try light mode?

[TheBeat]

Thanks for the video, Return.

I am on version 2.5.5 and do get the 6 buttons for Action. But the 'Sine' icon is not included.

I attach my toolbar :

 

as well in Convert as in Action I have a similar icon as button, the one I posted earlier.

In the Convert it is called "Smooth" and  the Action it is called "Smooth Curve".

[HCl]

.

[TheBeat]

Sorry, my last post seems redundant now 🙂

[GarryP]

6 minutes ago, Return said:

Wrong icon in the lightmode
Also on windows.

Confirmed. I've edited my earlier post to make it clearer.

[George-Frazee]

Also confirmed wrong in light mode.