Hairline Stroke Width

[Nicole4481]

I've been using Affinity Designer to create files for use on a laser cutter and because there is no option for a hairline stroke (or near zero stroke width) I have to take my files into another program to change the stroke width before I can use the files on the laser cutter (The laser cutter views hairline or near zero stroke widths as a cut line). I love Affinity Designer but having to bring my file back and forth between different programs makes it rather frustrating. If you could please add an option for hairline or near zero stroke width (such as .001) it would make the process of designing files for laser cutting a lot less frustrating.

[Malauch]

Is setting stroke to 0,001 mm not enough? You can adjust decimal placeses for units in preferences. 

[Nicole4481]

I'm new to affinity designer so I didn't know you could do that. Thank you! This should make things a lot easier.

[JET_Affinity]

Regardless, the request for a hairline stroke weight setting is valid. (It's been brought up before in other threads.)

For those not familiar, a hairline stroke weight always renders at the smallest width possible on the output device, be it your monitor or an imagesetter. This is advantageous when drawing paths in detailed illustrations, during which we are constantly zooming in and out. Having stroke weight set to hairline feels more precise and is less distracting because the stroke weight is always drawn the same, regardless of zoom. The extreme zooming capabilities of Affinity as compared to other programs buttresses the point.

It's a great feature, a standard setting in PostScript, and it should be provided in every vector drawing software.

JET

[Neybar]

I know this is an old post, but I would like to add my vote for this feature.

Setting the line thickness to something really small works for laser engraving, but then it makes it hard to work with visually.

[JET_Affinity]

It's also another "low hanging fruit" opportunity to surpass Illustrator. Throughout the FreeHand vs Illustrator competitive years, FreeHand users knew what a huge advantage it was to work with hairline strokes in the normal full-color interface. The only way to get hairline editing behavior in Illustrator is to put it in its lame Outline Mode.

JET

[swhittingham]

PLEASE add the hairline function. This is really frustrating. It would solve so many issues for people.

[Horseflesh]

I also use AD with a laser cutter and I have never noticed the stroke width to change anything in how the cutter works. Maybe it's a difference in our cutter software--mine sees a stroke of any visual style as a cut line, and it cuts on the centerline. 

Regardless I support all laser-friendly enhancements!

[Roland Ricaurte]

I support this suggestion, a simple default setting could save a lot of clicks.

[flobnoit]

The previous thread I'd upvoted this idea on seems to have fallen into the "old posts" category, so I'll upvote here again!

[FunnyBunny]

+1!

 

[Eksdad]

Please add hairline. If I set the width to 0.001 pt, the line becomes invisible. I want the line to cut on the laser but I need to be able to see the line on the screen. CorelDraw does this but I don't want to use CorelDraw.

[loukash]

"Hairline" as a term used in the PostScript context roughly defines as the thinnest possible line that a device is capable to display or print. It's not an absolute value.

Affinity's internal "hairline" appears to be 0.000001 pt.
That's what it looks like at 674163821 % zoom factor:

Depending on your intended output device resolution, simply do the math yourself. That will be your "hairline" for that device.

~~~

(As a side note: While the Pan/Hand tool context toolbar field gives me zoom factor "674163821 %", the window bar above displays "674163840.0 %". A bug?)

Edited June 18, 2021 by loukash

[Eksdad]

I'm probably not using the correct terms. I am not a designer. I am just a guy that does some hobby stuff with a laser cutter. CorelDraw has a drop down labeled as "hairline" that allows me to still see the stroke line on the monitor yet sends the info to the laser cutter with a thin enough line width that the laser knows to cut instead of engrave. In AD if I choose view View Mode Outline, I can see the line on the screen and still have it set to a very thin stroke width that will cut on the laser. If I am in View Mode Vector, I can't see the line. I would like the ability to still see a very thin "hairline" stroke in View Mode Vector. It's not the end of the world and there are work arounds but CorelDraw has the feature and I would like it in AD. 

[sfriedberg]

No, @Eksdad, you are using the term correctly.  "Hairline" is a device dependent width.  To "do the math yourself" as @loukashsuggests is completely contrary to the concept and utility of hairline widths.  The Affinity suite should support hairline widths.

[Pšenda]

On 6/19/2021 at 4:20 AM, sfriedberg said:

The Affinity suite should support hairline widths.

... another type of line style (Hair Line Style) should be added.

[Ron P.]

Ok, so how thick is hairline? How is it determined? Other programs do have a Hairline preset, but would it be the same, or close to what Affinity may use?

The average Human Hair is between .04mm -.25mm. So something between those parameters? Or maybe use an animal hair, and if so which animal?

Hairline in digital design, art programs is term used to describe the thinnest possible line that can be displayed on screen or that a printer can make. So could that vary from screen to screen, printer to printer?

[FunnyBunny]

It is the thinnest line produced on the device it is presented on. Simple as that.

One pixel on monitors, single cut line on cutting machine, smallest unit on other devices.

[SureWeb]

2 hours ago, Ron P. said:

Ok, so how thick is hairline? How is it determined? Other programs do have a Hairline preset, but would it be the same, or close to what Affinity may use?

The average Human Hair is between .04mm -.25mm. So something between those parameters? Or maybe use an animal hair, and if so which animal?

Hairline in digital design, art programs is term used to describe the thinnest possible line that can be displayed on screen or that a printer can make. So could that vary from screen to screen, printer to printer?

One screen pixel regardless of zoom level

[Pšenda]

1 hour ago, FunnyBunny said:

It is the thinnest line produced on the device it is presented on. Simple as that.

... Therefore, "hairline" must be a specific type of line, and not some absolute value of 0.0000, which then causes display problems.

[FunnyBunny]

3 hours ago, Pšenda said:

... Therefore, "hairline" must be a specific type of line, and not some absolute value of 0.0000, which then causes display problems.

Exactly, that and as SureWeb said, no matter of zoom level. So it is a special solution that has to be programmed in special way. It isn't about putting a number.

[Old Bruce]

Designer uses a hairline for the Outline view mode. No matter the zoom level in outline mode all vectors are the same extremely thin width.

[sfriedberg]

14 hours ago, Ron P. said:

Hairline in digital design, art programs is term used to describe the thinnest possible line that can be displayed on screen or that a printer can make. So could that vary from screen to screen, printer to printer?

Yes, "hairline" is a device-dependent width.  It is the thinnest width a given device is capable of rendering, and therefore will be different for different devices.

[ra.skill]

Just a side note here in relation to laser cutting…. Can we please get measuring tool that can measure curved lines, please!

This seams like the most basic of basic tools and yet it’s missing. 
 

Ai’s version is a terrible dialog box that’s hidden deep in a menu system… I’m sure Affinity can do something creative with this… or if not just include curve measurements in the transform panel. 

[Bob Bobertson]

Are we still waiting for the implementation of hairline stroke? I can't find it anywhere. I also had to move the design to another application so that I could laser cut. Please add this feature. Thanks.