Why is my pen tool unusable/broken? (Affinity designer)

[CornyJackson]

I used the pen tool on this program way back when (probably late 2017) and had no problem tracing my sketches into vector art. Now when I alt click a node (in 1.7) it turns the entire line straight instead of just removing one handle. Is this supposed to happen? Because right now the tool is virtually unusable.

[R C-R]

To remove just one node handle in 1.7.x alt click on the handle, not the node.

[2989]

On 6/21/2019 at 8:51 PM, CornyJackson said:

I used the pen tool on this program way back when (probably late 2017) and had no problem tracing my sketches into vector art. Now when I alt click a node (in 1.7) it turns the entire line straight instead of just removing one handle. Is this supposed to happen? Because right now the tool is virtually unusable.

I’m having the same problem I only get straight lines there is no other options for getting a curved line

[Hokusai]

2989,

Do you have pen tool set to Polygon Mode? That would be my guess, when you have the pen tool selected, make sure the Mode is Pen Tool and not one of the others. The Pen tool is the first option in the Mode settings. Polygon tool is the third. 

Hokusai

[thatGuy]

alt+clicking adds a cusp without tangents, alt+dragging creates a cusp with one handle (tangent to the next node).

if your last node is a cusp without tangent handles you can alt+drag to add one handle, which will then result in a curved contour to the next node you add

 

[Jowday]

On 6/21/2019 at 9:51 PM, CornyJackson said:

I used the pen tool on this program way back when (probably late 2017) and had no problem tracing my sketches into vector art. Now when I alt click a node (in 1.7) it turns the entire line straight instead of just removing one handle. Is this supposed to happen? Because right now the tool is virtually unusable.

Welcome to a usability challenged program line.

Is this what you are trying to do: delete one node using only the mouse - and then watch Affinity Designer doing its best to preserve the shape of the curve without this node?

1. I think you cannot delete a single node with the mouse alone in Affinity Designer - even with the node tool. 🤬
2. Designer just deletes nodes when you delete them - it doesn't (kind of) preserve the shape like Illustrator or Inkscape does out of the box
3. To preserve the shape when deleting a node you have to press control + alt + backspace (on Windows at least)

So...

1. Why not, Serif?
2. Why not, Serif? It is a setting in Inkscape fx. if one doesn't need it. Artists do - and that is who you serve more than anything.
3. Why, why... so clumsy in a intense and long workflow. Fx during manual tracing of drawings. And anything else for that matter.
4. And while we are at it, why can I force a smooth node into a sharp point with click + alt but not force a sharp point into a smooth point with the same combo? No logic. No help.

Ho hum + UX = Deluxe.