Jump to content
You must now use your email address to sign in [click for more info] ×

Copy & paste vector between this and other apps, Blend tool


Recommended Posts

Hello, 

 

I'm testing the app and let me say it's very promising.

 

One thing I'm missing now is the ability to copy & paste vector between this and other apps, like Fontlab, Glyphs and Illustrator. I can do this between these apps and it is very handy, me being a type designer and using more than one app at the same time.

 

Also a tool similar to Illustrator's Blend Tool would be nice, maybe extrapolation as an extra added :)

 

Brilliant work, anyway!

 

Best,

Frank

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree, some sort of blend tool is an essential part of a designers tool kit. My wish would be for a smart blend tool that is interactive in how it's implemented (number of steps, spline replace or adjustment, transparency opacity on beginning and/or end...)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

I have never been keen on blend tools but if someone could post an actual real use case then we can look at it. I have only ever seen a blend used in either the marketing of the actual feature or someone using it inappropriately in some 80s era logo or mug design. The worse kind of blends I have seen are going from one shape to another changing colour as they go. Sorry to sound a bit grumpy but I wince whenever I see one.

 

I'm sure they can be used to great effect so please prove me wrong.

 

Keep the suggestions coming, it's great to get feedback.

 

Many thanks,

TonyB.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm still on vacation but I will get back home tomorrow. So, I can't post an example right now.

However, I will describe what I use the bleend for.

I mainly use it to create shading of organic shapes. Or to create highlights of organic shapes (not simply round).

It is really a must.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's a great way to line up or lay things out too, lines for instance where you can control the amount and the distance between each and if you reposition the objects that you're blending the whole thing updates in sync. I've used it to blend 2 different colours together in a series of steps to find a good "in between" colour, or to create a series of windows in a hi rise building you create one row of windows at bottom and top and blend it to the amount of floors you need... it goes on and on... a really powerful tool that does a lot of the heavy lifting in a designers toolkit.

 

In the attached images from my portfolio you can see lots of blends. The windows are blends of grouped shapes, the trellis and fence on the rooftop, the glass patio roof and even the flowers. The lines on the wallpaper and floorboards under the cat, the lines in the guys hair, and tons of uses on the train, boat, bridge and buildings...

post-305-0-54209000-1407138802_thumb.png

post-305-0-82142900-1407138853_thumb.png

post-305-0-71352200-1407138909_thumb.png

post-305-0-54663900-1407138948_thumb.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Really great illustrations, retrograde!  :)

 

I still keep thinking that these effects can also be achieved easily through power duplicate/a general purpose duplicate command with parameters (transform per iteration and how many iterations to do). I also used to view the Blend Tool as a pre-requisite, but I'm really not missing it yet... I'll have a think on it...

 

Thanks,

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi MattP, thanks. I'm not familiar with the "power duplicate" command. Is this something in the app now or are you guys working on a prototype? Whichever way you achieve this type of duplication, with control and a way to convert to curves for further manipulation or to send to a client (without AD) if needed would work for me. The blend in illustrator isn't perfect and I'm sure this may be an opportunity to imagine some improvements or a different spin. We just need some sort of tool to handle repetitive shapes with some sort of control. Thanks!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
  • 11 months later...

Hello, I just started a account so that I could comment on the blend tool.

 

I have to agree with everyone here. I was testing out Affinity Designer for work and I needed to create a number of lines for a grid, but needed them to be blended so that I could easily change the number of lines if need be. I have to admit I was a little shocked that there is no blend tool in AD. I would appreciate it if Affinity would consider adding it in the future.

 

I don't use the blend tool everyday, but when I do, it is very crucial to the work that I am doing.

 

Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

+1

 

Sorry, but Blend Tool is essential. I was really close to purchasing AD but this is actually a deal breaker and I can't give up my CS subscription to migrate to AD until this is added. Duplicating doesn't even come close to the power of what can be done with Blend. Unless I don't understand something about how to use it properly. Have I missed something?

 

Cheers,

Robert

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

+1

 

Come on guys, Illustrator, Xara, CorelDraw, InkScape, and even Photoline (which focuses on image editing!) have non-destructive blend tools. It really is an essential tool for all sorts of effects and shading.

 

I have no problem in offering something like a blend tool for dynamic duplication of objects etc. but I can't currently accept it's the best way to shade objects. I just think we should offer a better way of shading that doesn't use such a crude method. This is why I keep asking for good examples so we can invent a better way. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Tony, I agree not so much for shading. It's more for repeating elements and then being able to add or subtract elements after the fact by editing the blend. Creating complex arrangements quickly and with control.  Power duplicate is good for some situations but you can't go back and make adjustments as easily. Something like an array tool would be great. 5 element copies across 8 down sort of thing... :-)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Blending between shapes is essential.
Not only for shading, of course. But for truly "organic" shading, it is a must.

Check out this example, from step 7 and up:

 

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/creating-with-vector-blends-in-depth--vector-4560

 

Also, check out this example:

 

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/creating-a-detailed-eye-from-stock-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-5600

Another great example:

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-hand-whisk-using-gradients-and-blends--vector-6053

And this is just for shading.

I remember using Blend in FreeHand to create in-between shapes for animation purposes or to create a mix between shapes (ditching the start and end shapes and keeping the generated shapes)

 

So, please, please, PLEASE!!!! Add a Blend tool.

 

Oh, and please make it dynamic. So, if I adjust the start and/or end shape, all the in-between shapes get updated.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

Blending between shapes is essential.

Not only for shading, of course. But for truly "organic" shading, it is a must.

Check out this example, from step 7 and up:

 

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/creating-with-vector-blends-in-depth--vector-4560

 

Also, check out this example:

 

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/creating-a-detailed-eye-from-stock-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-5600

 

Another great example:

 

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-hand-whisk-using-gradients-and-blends--vector-6053

 

And this is just for shading.

I remember using Blend in FreeHand to create in-between shapes for animation purposes or to create a mix between shapes (ditching the start and end shapes and keeping the generated shapes)

 

So, please, please, PLEASE!!!! Add a Blend tool.

 

Oh, and please make it dynamic. So, if I adjust the start and/or end shape, all the in-between shapes get updated.

 

 

This is exactly my point. Using duplicated interpolated objects to create the shading shown in your links is terribly crude.

 

We need a much better method of creating high quality shading.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Staff

For creating "curved" organic gradients it is the best (only?) way.

 

 

It may be the best(only) way in Photoshop and Illustrator but we need to be better. We will add mesh fills but I also find these difficult to control easily so I would still like to find another solution for organic gradients.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have never used blending for shading, but seeing those examples from rui_mac were mind opening. I had never even thought of it for that! I would typically use a mesh tool to perform that kind of shading, but the mesh tool isn't so easy to shade like those irregular shapes.

 

I think it's great that you guys are challenging the typical way of doing things and look forward to when you release these tools

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Guidelines | We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.