Control handles snap improvement

[MEB]

Please see the attached picture for a clear explanation.

 

Basically i would like that when i'm adjusting the control handle of a curve with the node tool it automatically snap to the axis of the opposite control handle direction to get a smooth curve. 

 

I know this can be achieved changing a cusp node to a smooth one, but usually when we do this the software adjusts both control handle positions, meaning we loose the original position of the control handle we weren´t touching. Then we have to readjust the curve again.

 

With this improvement i can quickly get a smooth curve messing with just one control handle knowing that it will snap to the exact axis to get a smooth curve without screwing up the other control handle position.

 

This could be achieved trough the use of a modifier key. I would prefer the software do this automatically by default (pressing the modifier key would make it to override the snap). But it could be the other way around (only snapping when we press the modifier key).

 

Hope i'm being clear :huh:

[Ben]

I am about to do an overhaul of the node tool, mainly to address snapping, and to improve on the options we have for fixing point tangents.  It was first on my list, but I foolishly thought I'd get some gradient tool fixes done in a day or two - been doing that all week.

 

BTW - Just finished the gradient tool overhaul, so now it does end point snapping, angle snapping, stop point and mid point snapping, and proportionally movement of stop points.

 

Any other suggestions for the node tool welcome.  I'll start work on it on Monday.

[MEB]

Thanks Ben, You guys are amazing. I think i´m running out of ideas for snapping!

Affinity Designer is covering a lot of ground already. I'm quite excited with it :)

[MattP]

This sounds like a great improvement - looking forward to using it! :)

[MEB]

Any other suggestions for the node tool welcome.  I'll start work on it on Monday.

 

 

Hi Ben, 

Here's another small improvement i would like to see. Right now the handles can snap to the axis defined by the opposite handle as i requested in the first post. This works fine for smooth nodes. However there's one case where this still doesn't work.

If the previous segment is a straight line (see attached image for clearer explanation), there's no opposite handle to define the axis to where our handle will snap. In this case would be useful if the handle we want to adjust could snap to the axis defined by the straight line itself.

[Matthias]

Good idea, MEB!

Fits nicely with this wish from here:

 

1) When alt-clicking and dragging a cusp node it would be helpful to drag one bezier handle out of it. Another alt-click and drag: second handle. Something similar can already be done by done by dragging the path between two nodes. The difference is that this alters the handles of both neighboring nodes which I often don’t want when I do precision work.

[Ben]

Ah, yes - that should be a relatively simple fix.

 

I'm also adding some snapping options to the Node/Pen tool for snapping to other on-curve points in the selected curve.  It'll be an additional (and complimentary) snapping option to the general snapping.

 

Over time I hope to add more useful snapping features as people identify them.  I can imagine loads...   ;)

[MEB]

Thanks for taking a look Ben.

 

I suppose you're talking about tangents and stuff like that :)

[Ben]

:)

[Ben]

Ok - next Beta, I've gone one step further - expect the following improvements to off-curve handle snapping:

 

- Snap to tangent for cusp nodes.  If there is an opposite off-curve it will smooth the point (as it did before) otherwise it is left as a cusp.

- Snap to normals (right angles to tangent).

- Snap inline with next on-curve point.  Helpful for correcting to straight lines.

 

All the above now also use colour highlighting to show when a snap is made.  Also have right angle and inline indicators between respective points.

 

Have a play, it will all make sense.

[MEB]

Definitely a lot more to play with in the next beta than i expected...

I'm not even sure if i understood exactly what you're talking about here  ^_^

[Ben]

Well - just grab some off-cube handles and drag them around - they will start to snap to 'other things'.

 

 

The above examples shows snapping in line, and snapping to right angle (normals).

 

You can now easily make a curve section perfectly straight by snapping both the off curve points to be inline.  It also works for off curve handles of smooth points.  This will allow you to straighten a section following on from a curve.

[MEB]

Thanks Ben. Got it now (the examples helped a lot). You're taking snapping to a whole new level. I don't know any other application that comes close to this...

[Ben]

Well, we are not trying to be just as good as the rest. We want to set the standard!

 

I have loads more ideas for snapping. Just need the time to do them all.

[Jamchild]

Please tell me there's going to be the ability to snap to points on the same curve as the point you're dragging. Right now, if I have a curve with only two points and they're not exactly aligned to the same x or y value, I should be able to turn on snapping and drag one point and have it snap to the x or y value of the other point in the same curve. Right now, inexplicably, curve points only snap to the x and y values of points in *other* curves, not in the curve in which the point itself exists.

[MattP]

On the pen or node tool context toolbars, select the 'Snap to selected curves' option and it'll do what you're asking :)