Removing Debris from Merged Objects

[Boldlinedesign]

I made overlapping strokes and then did layer>expand stroke, to convert it to fills. I then hit the "divide" option to split up the fills where they overlapped so I could erase the extra. i then wanted to merge the remaining pieces together to make a solid fill shape, so I hit the "add" option (in the upper right corner near the "divide" option). This worked great, as it became one general shape, but it left a lot of debris - leftover nodes and partial lines of nodes...I included a picture of the same section in outline view mode and in regular mode.
Anyone know a solution for this? Or a better way to accomplish what I was doing in order to avoid the debris leftover? Thanks!

 

[firstdefence]

What are you going for here, i.e why were you making that shape?

 

Was this done with pen and tablet or mouse?

 

[Alfred]

If you’re adding the shapes, any extra where they overlap will disappear. So there’s no need for the dividing step beforehand.

[firstdefence]

easiest way is to Zoom in and select the node tool (A) select unwanted nodes and press delete.

 

[MEB]

Hi Boldlinedesign,

Welcome to Affinity Forums

The debris is a result of some issues with boolean operations that we intend to improve in future version. To delete them change to the Node Tool drag a marquee around the debris/nodes and press the delete key on your keyboard.

[Boldlinedesign]

Thanks for the help everyone - what I am doing is inking characters and creating corners and edges with overlaps and then erasing the excess. I included a picture of a hand in this post showing how I overlap everything. This way I can control the line width and get the exact edges I want. The example I showed earlier in this thread was the corner of the sleeve cuff above the thumb. 

 

12 minutes ago, MEB said:

Hi Boldlinedesign,

Welcome to Affinity Forums

The debris is a result of some issues with boolean operations that we intend to improve in future version. To delete them change to the Node Tool drag a marquee around the debris/nodes and press the delete key on your keyboard.

 

I cannot get a marquee to show when I use the node tool and drag - but I can get one with the move tool. Is there a setting I need to adjust? 

thanks!

 

[MEB]

The vector objects must be selected otherwise you can't pick their nodes with the Node Tool. So select all vector object first, then change to the Node Tool and drag a marquee around the nodes you want to delete (or click on a node or shift-click for multiple node selection and press the delete key).

[firstdefence]

If you want cleaner strokes and cleaner expands and joins/adds try using the stabiliser tool that appears along the top menu bar when you select the brush tool, this will help you obtain neater strokes and consequently less or in most cases no surplus nodes.

 

 

stabiliser improves merged strokes.mp4

[Boldlinedesign]

Ok I understand now - once I click on the vector i can go back dragging a marquee around the loose leftover nodes and delete them - thank you! Awesome

When this happens in Illustrator, I either use the minus pen tool (minus sign) or I use the blob tool to cover over that area and it automatically merges it all cleanly.
My two biggest feature requests are a blob tool and a smooth tool like they have in Illy. 
Really loving Affinity Designer more and more as I figure out solutions that held me back from accomplishing what I assumed I still needed Illustrator for.

I assume the layer>gometry>divide is the same exact function as  the "divide" tool in the upper right side, correct?

Thanks for your help with this so far!

[MEB]

 

2 minutes ago, Boldlinedesign said:

I assume the layer>gometry>divide is the same exact function as  the "divide" tool in the upper right side, correct?

Yes, it's the same thing.