Join Curves will not close a path

[MacMayhem]

I'm new to using Designer, but what I'm doing is extremely simple, head scratcher as to why Designer is making this a nightmare!

I have 2 overlapping circles. Took forever just to get the break curve tool to break them where I wanted them. Now 2 selected end points will not join together. Join Curves does nothing. Close curve will jump to the ends of both selected lines but doesn't seem to be actually closing them because if you add a fill it doesn't change. The lines then become criss crossed and you would definitely see a change filling that with color. Also another aggravating note, these were solid lines in illustrator, upon import some of these lines are broken into segments. The shape of lines haven't changed, but they are not complete lines upon import. Where they are broken there is a little red end point and nothing seems to be rejoining them easily. Designer has no issue selecting points and moving them but can't seem to join them.

Ideas?

Cheers!

[firstdefence]

upload the file you are having trouble with so we can take a look at this.

 

[MacMayhem]

Here ya go, thank you.

Cheers!

problem.afdesign

[gdenby]

Hi, MacMahem,

The file has 2 "curve" vectors, and 1 "curves" vector. Simple curves can be joined, but "curves" can not. Those have to be divided into the component curves for the node join command to join the pieces.

The node join curves tool will select the 2 closest nodes, and connect there. Not between selected nodes. 

[MacMayhem]

Thank you for the response.

First time I've ever heard of a "curve" vector and a "curves" vector as if they were somehow different, but I guess thats one for google in my spare time.

Regardless. In the future how do I get a clean illustrator file to import into Designer cleanly. Cuz, this sucks!

[firstdefence]

Exporting to PDF will likely get better results, Affinity can only use the PDF section of an illustrator file, it would be interesting to see the Adobe Illustrator file as well, as it's a bit odd that the left side curve also has a small section on the right inner curve!!

[firstdefence]

Had a doodle with the file and Saved with history so you can jog back and forth in the history panel. 

problem solved-ish.afdesign

[PixelPest]

The "point" order is essential to join curves; seems one curve is mirrored or drawn from the other end.

And 1 loose segment is hindering the join curves tool: so deleting that segment and reversing one curve will le you join the middle points to one:

[R C-R]

6 hours ago, MacMayhem said:

First time I've ever heard of a "curve" vector and a "curves" vector as if they were somehow different, but I guess thats one for google in my spare time.

In simple terms, an Affinity "(Curves)" layer is one that can contain several independent curves that share the same stroke, fill , fx, etc. properties.

Confusingly, it is possible to have a "(Curves)" layer containing only one curve, which can be done by deleting the nodes of all the curves except one, in which case applying a boolean Divide to it will change it back to a regular  "(Curve)" layer, but in general there are two or more curves in a  "(Curves)" layer.

Usually,  "(Curves)" layers are created in Affinity using booleans like Add (union) or Combine, which (often annoyingly) automatically closes any selected open curves the boolean is applied to. Add will create one closed curve if the selected curves overlap (whether they are open or curved).

As has been mentioned, "Join Curves" only works on open "(Curve)" layers; any selected closed "(Curve)" layers will be ignored by the "Join Curves" action. Unfortunately, joining connects the nearest nodes of each selected curve -- the direction of the open curve does not matter, nor does if any of the nodes are selected. 

"Join Curves" does not close the curves it joins. To do that, "Close Curve" must be done after joining.