How to copy or cut a part of a path/curve???

[MEB]

Hi Andro,
Yes and I've filled quite a few internal requests either suggested or by my own but in the end its user's feedback/requests that help to determine which ones are picked/implemented and which ones don't (among other criteria).

[Andro]

OK thanks, I've posted in the feedback section. Hope it gets attention.

[prophet]

On 1/5/2022 at 10:32 AM, MEB said:

dragging a node over another one in other shape and waiting a couple seconds will copy/mimic that node's properties to the node you are dragging

Cool. Learned something new today. What an interesting feature.

[NotMyFault]

On 1/5/2022 at 4:32 PM, MEB said:

Hi @Andro;
Welcome to Affinity Forums
Thanks for your feedback. This isn't available as you are aware but there's still another way to "replicate" a path that may be useful in certain circumstances. Please check the clip below for details: dragging a node over another one in other shape and waiting a couple seconds will copy/mimic that node's properties to the node you are dragging (make sure the cursor switch to the duplicate cursor). Regarding copying path nodes, I suggest you create a new thread (if there isn't one already) in the Feature Request section and add you voice there as it's the first place the developers look for feedback from users. Thanks.

 

Hi, i tried to replicate this method on iPad and failed. Is there any special pre-condition or flag to be triggered?

[onepixelpunch]

Wow. It blows my mind that this hasn’t been implemented yet. It is FUNDAMENTAL to my vector design workflow, especially with logo work. I desperately want to ditch Illustrator, but seemingly “little” things like this are killing my attempts. 

[DesignByAdrian]

I don’t know about other designers, but I don’t have the time to wait “a few seconds” in a drawing application. 

[thomaso]

15 minutes ago, DesignByAdrian said:

I don’t have the time

Don't let time go to waste: "While you wait, think."

[Andro]

Lol, it's hilarious how Affinity doesn't care about this at all. Such a simple detail that makes all the difference and the only reason I use their software.

[PixelPest]

On 8/11/2022 at 2:08 PM, NotMyFault said:

Hi, i tried to replicate this method on iPad and failed. Is there any special pre-condition or flag to be triggered?

Just count nodes - put in the same amount with the Pen tool - select both curves with the Node tool and all the nodes you want to align - drag one onto the blueprint and wait a sec:

[thomaso]

5 minutes ago, PixelPest said:

Just count nodes - put in the same amount with the Pen tool - (…)

Though it looks magically impressive: Can someone tell me the advantage of this workflow, respectively of the effort to code this option? It appears to be at least not more cumbersome to copy an existing object + delete unwanted nodes, without node counting + rough drawing first.

Also the missing alternative of the option to simply copy selected nodes + paste them as new object appears, in my humble non-coder idea, as a simpler programming solution then this magical feature.

Any hints for what use this magic was developed? … which seems to work some way coincidentally with closed curves:

[PixelPest]

For closed path it seems to take the start and end nodes into account:

[thomaso]

Thank you*, yes, it seemed to be indicated in my last trial, too. – But isn't it all rather cumbersome, compared to the (missing) alternative of copy & paste? For what purpose?
*perfect shape rebuild:)!

[NotMyFault]

3 hours ago, PixelPest said:

Just count nodes - put in the same amount with the Pen tool - select both curves with the Node tool and all the nodes you want to align - drag one onto the blueprint and wait a sec:

Still unable to reproduce  on iPad

[R C-R]

11 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

Still unable to reproduce  on iPad

Same for me. Works only in the desktop app.

[Alfred]

17 minutes ago, NotMyFault said:

Still unable to reproduce  on iPad

 

3 minutes ago, R C-R said:

Same for me.

Make that (at least) three of us!

[Zmip]

Again: wow! Every time I try to do some thing trivial in Affinity Photo or Designer, I end up Googling how to do it, ending up on this forum, only to find out that such trivial things are just not possible. Not once or twice, but every - single - time I get stuck doing simple things, like indeed, copying one single letter within a complex compound path. Wouldn't even have to think about it about how to do it in Illustrator, completely straightforward. 

I hate to break it to Affinity, but I'm going to take my loss on purchasing licenses for Photo, Designer and Publisher, and going back to the dark side. I truly hate Adobe and their greediness (Illustrator user since version 1.1 here, circa 1986), and their bloated software isn't even that good ever since they started hiring cheap engineers abroad. But they do have the basics covered, and don't create funky features no one needs or understands, like shown in this thread.

Affinity products have some really nice features, and I love the general snappiness of their suite. But they're not for professional use, period. I hope they will someday make it happen, but for now: totally fine if time is not of essence, but not suited for professional workflows with clients breathing down your neck. 

[Andro]

On 11/11/2022 at 4:00 AM, Zmip said:

Again: wow! Every time I try to do some thing trivial in Affinity Photo or Designer, I end up Googling how to do it, ending up on this forum, only to find out that such trivial things are just not possible. Not once or twice, but every - single - time I get stuck doing simple things, like indeed, copying one single letter within a complex compound path. Wouldn't even have to think about it about how to do it in Illustrator, completely straightforward. 

I hate to break it to Affinity, but I'm going to take my loss on purchasing licenses for Photo, Designer and Publisher, and going back to the dark side. I truly hate Adobe and their greediness (Illustrator user since version 1.1 here, circa 1986), and their bloated software isn't even that good ever since they started hiring cheap engineers abroad. But they do have the basics covered, and don't create funky features no one needs or understands, like shown in this thread.

Affinity products have some really nice features, and I love the general snappiness of their suite. But they're not for professional use, period. I hope they will someday make it happen, but for now: totally fine if time is not of essence, but not suited for professional workflows with clients breathing down your neck. 

STANDING OVATION

[Supcat]

+1 to a simple "copy selected nodes only" menu option, if not just defaulting to that behavior when the node tool and one or more nodes are selected. That's a big classic Illustrator behavior that has a lot of utility and saves a lot of time versus the workarounds.

That being said, that drag-and-wait feature is kinda neat, I'll definitely try and find an opportunity to use it.

[pcote]

It's May 2024 now. Can't believe this is still an issue.

Affinity Team, just to let you guys know, I suggested your software to an architecture studio spanning few dozen of people because I thought you guys were on track for something good. I learned recently they ditched Affinity completely to go back to Adobe, which I didn't understand.

It has been a while since I last used Affinity Designer but I'm using it again since about 2 weeks and I'm impressed by your lack of carelessness about the little things that makes a difference. Why not follow industry standards if you guys want adoption? Select, cut and paste anything should work everywhere, including your software! This is beyond ridiculous! Your job is to make us SAVE TIME, not the opposite!

Now I understand why the architecture studio ditched your software.

I still want to like your software guys, but come on. Telling us your method is unorthodox and explaining how to do it instead is fine as a workaround. Taking more than a year to solve such a problem is ridiculous. Not doing anything in 6 years to improve this is inexcusable.

Sorry to be harsh but it seems you guys aren't listening to your users... or you aren't transparent enough to tell us what's going on.

[VEQ]

Totally agree. 

Using Affinity Designer is very frustrating in simple tasks. 
For example, I can't just simple scale and copy X sign. It should be able to select with double click and copy just what you want. In Designer it looks like this:

https://gyazo.com/c3db417f2befc3e382fe7c9333c6ae45 

What's more, there is no option to zoom (for example with shift) to the rounded %, like 100%, 125%, 150% etc. You have to use zoom tool - waste of time. 
And finally - exporting artboards to separate PNGs it is not possible. You have to export every artboard separately - another huge waste of time. 

So many years, and nothing happen with basics, instead you are adding more "cool" features. To be honest, I really want to switch from Illustrator, but you make it really hard. 

Edited July 12, 2024 by VEQ

[prophet]

1 hour ago, VEQ said:

exporting artboards to separate PNGs it is not possible. You have to export every artboard separately

Try the Export Persona.

[Hangman]

1 hour ago, VEQ said:

I can't just simple scale and copy X sign. It should be able to select with double click and copy just what you want.

If you create the graphic using non-destructive Compounds you could achieve this...

[R C-R]

4 hours ago, VEQ said:

What's more, there is no option to zoom (for example with shift) to the rounded %, like 100%, 125%, 150% etc. You have to use zoom tool - waste of time. 

I almost never use the Zoom Tool to zoom. Instead, I use the scroll wheel on my mouse, the Navigation panel, or the Zoom keyboard shortcuts. (Zoom to Selection is particularly useful for me.)

[VEQ]

Yeah, but scroll doesn't snap to rounded values. Why just don't add that options with holding SHIFT when scrolling, like in other apps? 

The second huge disadvantage is lack of "bitmap to vector" - you have to use other apps or online sites. 😶‍🌫️

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, VEQ said:

eah, but scroll doesn't snap to rounded values.

Why does that matter to you? In what workflow is it important to be able to do that?