The controversial eraser tool

[pauland]

John, I have put the case that the eraser tool could be a great thing in some circumstances. I don't have to prove that it's better, I just put that view forward.

Many people using Xara don't see the point of an eraser tool. The video shows the tool being used to good effect and while you may not see any value in what the video shows, others may find it enlightening.

I don't know why I find myself involved in a petty battle of word semantics about whether an eraser tool is trying to emulate some bitmap tool or workflow, when many competing vector toolsets incorporate it already - erasing vector based shapes without translation to bitmaps.

Xaras workflow for doing such operations as removing sections of vector shapes by point manipulation or shape subtraction works but is downright clumsy in an organic workflow as shown in the video.

To be honest John, I really don't care if you like the easer tool or not. What really matters is that people who are currently using xara for illustration and cartoons continue to find that xara is the best possible tool for them to do their work.

I would say that the video shows a phenomenally fast workflow that could be achievable within Xara using the eraser tool if it were present and speed their workflow. You clearly disagree.

Out of curiosity, I had a play at crudely repeating the workflow shown in the video using a pure vector editor - Flash. I can draw the lines and fill them using a brush tool. I can put them in layers and erase the vector shapes with an eraser tool and replicate the workflow of the video exactly without using any bitmap based tools at all. After I've erased a section of the vector shape I can play with the nodes and drag around points.

I really wish that rather than trying to kick a suggestion into submission (that's all this is - a suggestion), you let other people who use the product to do work similar to that shown, to decide whether that's a good way to work rather than try and push aside a perfectly good suggestion.

Xara may not wish to implement an eraser, but I'd rather people using Xara for the kind of illustration shown in the video, have a chance to air their views and support the idea (or not) rather than it just be buried and then those users eventually decide that there are better ways to do their work without Xara.

It's not about winning arguments with me John, it's about users having a voice about what suits (or does not suit) their workflow. I might be wrong, but at least I've tried to show a suggestion for progressing Xara as an organic drawing tool, rather than keep the Xara drawing workflow preserved in a museum.

[covoxer]

others may find it enlightening.

Yes, and that would make them confused. I'd like to avoid this confusion.

many competing vector toolsets incorporate it already

But you have not used this argument, do you? Unlike most of your assumptions in OP, this one is actually true.

erasing vector based shapes without translation to bitmaps.

Yes, but I was talking about conversion of lines to shapes.

Xaras workflow for doing such operations as removing sections of vector shapes by point manipulation or shape subtraction works but is downright clumsy in an organic workflow as shown in the video.

Why do you think that in this particular example there is a need to remove sections of the shapes? Unlike in raster, you can place shapes on top of other shapes without removing anything. Similar drawing could be made without removing any parts of any vector shapes.

To be honest John, I really don't care if you like the easer tool or not.

With this approach I'm sure you do not expect anyone to care about what you post here, right? Then why do you even post?

What really matters is that people who are currently using xara for illustration and cartoons continue to find that xara is the best possible tool for them to do their work.

Are you trying to enlighten them?

I would say that the video shows a phenomenally fast workflow that could be achievable within Xara using the eraser tool if it were present and speed their workflow. You clearly disagree.

Yes, I do disagree that this is the only possible fast workflow.

I really wish that rather than trying to kick a suggestion into submission (that's all this is - a suggestion),

This is not a suggestion. Suggestions are already made in Dear Xara section. This here is some sort of agitation based on the false assumptions. Surely it may impress some not experienced users and confuse them about necessity of this feature. If you can't draw without eraser tool in Xara, adding it will not make you draw as effortlessly as on that video. So you make your point praising eraser tool, and I make mine.

Xara may not wish to implement an eraser

Xara wish to implement eraser tool. It's on the wishlist.

have a chance to air their views and support the idea

Already done in Dear Xara section.

It's not about winning arguments with me John, it's about users having a voice

No it's about you trying to confuse people. Intentionally or not. Users do have a voice without this.

[pauland]

it's about you trying to confuse people. Intentionally or not.

I really don't like that suggestion much.

I put up an interesting demonstration, invite comment and just get a kicking from a Xara employee/associate for my pains because he doesn't like a fairly innocuous suggestion about a useful tool that is everywhere else but in Xara software.

What you should be saying John, is something like this:

"That's an interesting video Paul. A number of people have already expressed interest in such a tool and it's on the Xara wishlist, so it may happen one day. It would be great to hear what others think.".

Instead we get a stupid petty argument with a developer berating a customer. Great PR for a thread that should have been a positive contribution.

[covoxer]

What you should be saying John, is something like this:

You want me to lie? No way.

[pauland]

You want me to lie? No way.

I was just hoping for behaving reasonably, actually.

[TDolce]

I've given up on this. After literally begging for one for years,...I now basically use other vector apps with eraser tools; there are plenty. I was told over and over by folks here that an eraser tool is not needed or that there are workarounds. Blah blah blah......

I use one everyday...and I love it. To each their own.

[angelize]

This is exactly why Xara needs an eraser tool, how many potential loyal users have gone to other software because of the lack of this tool? I can think of many potential uses for this.

[zaphodeist]

There again, a lot of loyal users have struggled on without Seriously can't imagine any loyal Xaran jumping ship because of it ... hardly disables the program(s) does it. I'd prefer to see the devs spend time and Xara's money come up with something that most of us can find useful, not 10%

[angelize]

note I said potential loyal users. We have just heard from one. There are surely many more who have chosen not to use xara because of it's lack of tools that other programs have had for years.

[zaphodeist]

We've probably lost lots of folk cos Xara is not a raster application and cos it doesn't work like other programs. I could respond with "Look how many folk have fallen for Xara cos it's not a raster application and because it works better than other programs." Swings and roundabouts. If erasers or whatever get included it's because Xara have a space for it and the idea has been around for a while ... at the expense of another idea that will then also be bemoaned as "essential".

I've got an idea ... let's give those devs the benefit of the doubt eh? They've done us proud so far ... or do you think they've been slacking? Such a vital tool and it's not in the toolbox? What can they be doing with their time?