Affinity Designer Shape Builder Tool

I have tried Affinity Designer before but did not like it. I found that for me, it was still much easier using Xara to do graphics work.

With the new release of Ver 2 to the Affinity suite, I have been looking at some videos on Ver 2 of the Affinity suite. In Designer there is a new Shape Builder tool.

Here is a video demonstrating it uses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1QtVdcklVY

I think this has some real advantages for logo's and such.

Just wanting to get some opinions on what people think of this tool and would this be something useful for Xara to develop? Also I know several people on here have been using Affinity have you tried Ver 2 and what are your impressions.

I am thinking Xara desk top is slowly being phased out because Magix has not released a new update since last May, where they use to release one around September/October time frame every year. The Pro+ is being updated constantly so there is plenty that Magix could update. I will not do a subscription plan so I am really considering the Affinity suite again.

Thanks
Ray

Ray, the tool looks fun but you are almost already there with Xara's current tools.
The big omission in the video was the preparation of the grids.

I would create my grid as 0px lines, use Smart Duplicate, Group, Clone and Rotate and finally Group.
Place over a smaller solid Shape and Subtract Shapes.
Drag the grid elsewhere; it has not been affected.
Finally, Break Shapes.

The only difference is you now delete or colour the cooker-cuttered sub-shapes.

Probably slower to apply but far more versatile.

Acorn

there again... it depends on what you are doing...

you can look on the affinity 2 shape builder tool as being a fill tool - something I and others were asking xara for 10 years + ago, when even inkscape had one..

as such you don't need to faff witn break shapes, which [nearly] always gives more shapes than you need so has to be tidied up, and can be quirky in it's stacking order - you just fill a gap with a shape and away you go

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by handrawn

there again... it depends on what you are doing...
you can look on the affinity 2 shape builder tool as being a fill tool - something I and others were asking xara for 10 years + ago, when even inkscape had one..
as such you don't need to faff witn break shapes, which [nearly] always gives more shapes than you need so has to be tidied up, and can be quirky in it's stacking order - you just fill a gap with a shape and away you go

---

handrawn, yes it is the inverse of the Affinity approach and you have lots of shapes to delete/deselect but there are always strategies.

Stacking order is usually unimportant after a grouping.

I do accept the joy of being able to hover inside a bounded region and voilà a shape.

Acorn

But Xara has the blend tool! ;)

I still can't come to terms with Affinity's - manipulating layers vs Xara's - manipulating shapes. It's much more intuitive to work at shapes level, which makes Xara always win for me.

With Affinity - Unless I'm doing something wrong - you don't seem to be able to move an item on a layer without moving everything on that layer. Which effectively means every single object HAS to be isolated on it's own layer. Just seems so wrong.

keith - try thinking of affinity 'layer gallery' as an 'object and group' gallery - ie there are no 'layers' in affinity, just base objects and groups, listed there - same as xara really once you get you head around it, without xara's top-level 'layers' [everything on the same 'layer']

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Acorn

handrawn, yes it is the inverse of the Affinity approach and you have lots of shapes to delete/deselect but there are always strategies.

Stacking order is usually unimportant after a grouping.

I do accept the joy of being able to hover inside a bounded region and voilà a shape.

Acorn

---

I have cursed [silently] break shapes in xara for the last 15 years or more because it is so time consuming when all I want to do is colour a b&W lineart cartoon - just drop in the colour is all I asked

and in this case stacking order is important... ;)

In my (unasked for) opinion, there isn't a shape shown in the tutorial that can't be done more quickly in AD 2. Reflexively, I upgraded, because I have money to burn (:)), seriously, because i like to keep up to date with new graphics technology. the best ad most fair thing I can offer is that if you get in on the ground floor with AD, with no knowledge of other vector programs, you'll soon become proficient as a designer, just learning in a unique way along a unique course specific to the program's features.



I STILL maintain that a major new feature for XD would be an editable polygon tool along the lines of what CorelDRAW has had for around a decade.


Create a polygon with n number of sides. Then modify any of its vertices to extend a path away or toward then center of the shape. Then if you want more "spokes", the transformations are non-destructive, and you can change, for example, 5 sides to twenty, or three.

Attachment 133177

If it weren't for an unjustifiably high price tag, the deal-breaking subscription model, and the fact that Corel Corp. has had a venture capitol firm at its head for ages, and they screw over the end user like we don't matter, their tech would be prevailing today, rather than Illustrator, I venture.

I also upgraded to Affinity Designer v2 but beyond a quick fiddle, I haven’t had much time to use the shape builder tool yet. It looks interesting and potentially useful though. For me the best new feature is the warp tool.

I use the Affinity apps nowadays because I swapped over to the Mac platform - maybe not the best move I’ve ever done. Personally I would not worry too much about the future and just try and get the most out of whatever software you have right now to get the job done. The investment that probably has had the most impact and enhanced my potential is getting a graphics tablet.

(Meanwhile the Affinity apps are still on special offer until 25 Jan)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Boy

But Xara has the blend tool! ;)

---

Yes, but lacks the rounding corner tools, something that I'm asking for years sadly.
The shape buider tools is something that can be useful in many situation, but as Acorn said you can find ways to accomplish something similar.
Another thing that I miss is the ability to change the thickness of the lines node by node.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Marco D

Yes, but lacks the rounding corner tools, something that I'm asking for years sadly.
The shape buider tools is something that can be useful in many situation, but as Acorn said you can find ways to accomplish something similar.
Another thing that I miss is the ability to change the thickness of the lines node by node.

---

As we all know and expect, Xara will never save the day and deliver all these worthy proposals.

While waiting for Line width by Node, I clone the shape and Break at points.
Each segment can then have a different width and stroke.
Never liked doing it like this but at least the shapes produced are now SVG (XPro+) and not a clutch of PNGs and so I can tweak the SVG if i choose.

Acorn

can you clarify this for me - are you saying that in pro+, when you convert an artbrush line to shape and break points, you now get a vector [SVG] ? thanks

.. no matter, I have been unsubscribed from pro+ long enough to requalify for a free trial, can check it out myself... :D

thanks again

appears not; art brushes are still not true vectors... pity, that might well have brought me back into the fold...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by handrawn

appears not; art brushes are still not true vectors... pity, that might well have brought me back into the fold...

---

If the Art Brush design is fairly simple then it renders as Shapes after your Convert Line to Shape, hence SVGable.

Acorn

if I take one of the ink and paint [art] brushes - the shape is vector, but the texture does not appear to be a vector fill

if I export a quickshape with vector fill, it stays vector; an art brush does not [unless I am doing something wrong]

I hope this is not unacceptably off-topic: Abode Illustrator has had a path shape tool since version 5 I believe. And any export or editing retains its vector format. You have to "simpify" the altered path before you can import into, say, Xara, as a path and not a bitmap.

Creature House Expression (free, no longer in development, and belongs to Microsoft) can deal intricately and extensively with changing the width at node points and that program goes back to the last century :)

Seems to me that if the engineers on Xara were allowed to, and I think it has to do with letting us define a custom stroke rather than picking from a limited list, they do so if only TPTB would allow it.


Attachment 133184

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by handrawn

can you clarify this for me - are you saying that in pro+, when you convert an artbrush line to shape and break points, you now get a vector [SVG] ? thanks

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Acorn

If the Art Brush design is fairly simple then it renders as Shapes after your Convert Line to Shape, hence SVGable. Acorn

---

@handrawn, we obviously work and think differently but without examples, it is difficult to discuss what these differences are.
I was working with a Default line with one of Xara's Strokes but I could build my own Art brush that remains a vector.
Here is a simple Motion Path of the resultant SVG: Attachment 133185.
It does require Shapes as SVG (I'm using XPro+v22.5).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gare

I hope this is not unacceptably off-topic: Abode Illustrator has had a path shape tool since version 5 I believe. And any export or editing retains its vector format. You have to "simpify" the altered path before you can import into, say, Xara, as a path and not a bitmap.
Creature House Expression (not free and belongs to Microsoft) can deal intricately and extensively with changing the width at node points and that program goes back to the last century :)
Seems to me that if the engineers on Xara were allowed to, and I think it has to do with letting us define a custom stroke rather than picking from a limited list, they do so if only TPTB would allow it.
Attachment 133184

---

@Gare, I have never understood why we are stuck with Xara's Strokes (e.g., 'goldfish'). I would think this obstacle would the the first and simplest to address.
Any line converted to a shape, inherently can have its nodes adjusted, but clearly it, no longer being a line, removes its intrinsic worth.
So no, you are not 'off-topic'. Thank you for raising it.

Acorn

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Acorn

While waiting for Line width by Node, I clone the shape and Break at points.
Each segment can then have a different width and stroke.

---

I took this to mean shape as in an object with nodes around it's perimeter

What interested me was what happened if you broke such a shape, not a line, but a shape

it is not clear to me in your example which route you took...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by handrawn

I took this to mean shape as in an object with nodes around it's perimeter
What interested me was what happened if you broke such a shape, not a line, but a shape
it is not clear to me in your example which route you took...

---

handrawn, yes, i probably thought I had explained it all (to myself at least).

I took a Shape and with the Shape Tool, selected all the nodes then broke them.
As individual lines, i then applied a Line width, brush and Stroke to each (or all).
Finally, I converted Lines to Shapes.

Acorn

its the convert lines to shapes that confuses me, because sometimes it gives bitmaps, not shapes; you mentioned bitmaps, hence the question given i am not using pro+, and it did not seem too different when I tried the trial

I really don't understand why sometimes it gives a shape and sometimes a bitmap

I'll have to go into it a bit more, as things stand, not enought info to work on

but thanks again

I think the new Shape Builder tool is a terrific step forward from Xara's Boolean operations (which I use extensively). Affinity's new tool speeds up the operation extensively without the need to ensure what shape is on top of another and the constant need to clone cutting shapes. Further it works not only on shapes but lines as well which is almost impossible in Xara.

Mind you I still find it frustrating to use software that doesn't have Undo/Redo icons!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill

... Mind you I still find it frustrating to use software that doesn't have Undo/Redeo icons!!!

---

I'm with you there ... IMHO it's a stupid shortsighted omission.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill

Mind you I still find it frustrating to use software that doesn't have Undo/Redo icons!!!

---

I’m surprised at that, but not surprised I didn’t know. The undo/redo buttons are one of the first things I normally hide when setting up a new user interface. I much prefer using the keyboard shortcuts. The iPad version of AD does have them though, as well as an option to hide them!

You could use the History Panel as a clickable undo/redo option.

Attachment 133197

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonopen

I’m surprised at that, but not surprised I didn’t know. The undo/redo buttons are one of the first things I normally hide when setting up a new user interface. I much prefer using the keyboard shortcuts. The iPad version of AD does have them though, as well as an option to hide them!

You could use the History Panel as a clickable undo/redo option.

Attachment 133197

---

I would use edit menu undo/redo with mouse/pen....

Jono/HD I agree that you can use keyboard shortcuts (if you have a keyboard) or use the Edit or History Menu but no undo/redo icons is a glaring fail. The affinity forum is full of requests/searches for these icons. There is even vocal opposition against the requests, pleas to keep the UI clean etc. It has many icons put to back/front, boolean op icons etc. etc., why no undo/redo icons.

Within Xara I use these icons regularly, as I do Ctrl+ Z & Ctrl+Y, but to fail to have such universal icons is stupidity.

I hear you egg... but perhaps affinity is following the adobe model here: photoshop and illustrator do not have the buttons, they are predicated on keyboard shortcuts being the best methodology for almost everything

if it makes you feel any better I remember spitting blood when xara took bitmap tracer out of right click context menu years ago; took me months to get used to it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Acorn

@Gare, I have never understood why we are stuck with Xara's Strokes (e.g., 'goldfish'). I would think this obstacle would the the first and simplest to address.
Any line converted to a shape, inherently can have its nodes adjusted, but clearly it, no longer being a line, removes its intrinsic worth.
So no, you are not 'off-topic'. Thank you for raising it.

Acorn

---

I registered this request with Charles back when, back when....he agreed at that time that it would be nice to be able to define a vector stroke—I'd have loved it if only they'd copied what Creature House had done in Expression. But the next thing I knew, we had/have groups of drawings bound to a path. And when you export them, try to deconstruct them, or give them a cross look, they turn into bitmaps.

I can brush off this apparent failing because a lot of other programs degrade vectors to bitmaps when there's an element that can't be retained—Affinity designer, depending on what you're exporting, flags you prior to the export. Typically, it's a dynamic screen (Raster) element; a drop shadow, a bevel, and extrude, yah-da-da.

Remember Livebrush ? you could export as vectors, SVG file format, but only if you sprung for the $10 pro edition, which Samsung did not include in their licensing of Livebrush and the defunct Adobe air dev platform.


I do not want to sound too pessimistic as a new year begins, but there's more of a chance McCarthy is voted in as Speaker, than Xara users getting more robust path tools.


That was an unfunny American joke.

My Best,
Gary

Attachment 133201

Quote:

---

That was an unfunny American joke.

---

10 ballots and counting...:eek:

Quote:

---

But the next thing I knew, we had/have groups of drawings bound to a path. And when you export them, try to deconstruct them, or give them a cross look, they turn into bitmaps.

---

what I was saying earlier, although acorn was not saying what I thought he was....

That's dynamic effects for you.

CorelDRAW and Illustrator can extrude objects; text, whatever...and when "degraded", made uneditable as the original shape, they're still a collection of vectors. To be fair, Xara bought the 3D engine, it's not pure Xara programming.

Still, if something's possible, I'd expect Xara of all toolmakers to be able to do it and do it better than the competition. Xara prompted Adobe, corel, and god knows who else to imitate the screen anti-aliasing, and then transparency with stops.

In the USA, boxing matches have a maximum of 12 rounds. I wonder if the House might adopt the same.


:O


g

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by handrawn

I would use edit menu undo/redo with mouse/pen....

---

My alternative pen/mouse methods...:D

Attachment 133203 Attachment 133204

btw this is the best mouse I've ever used (Signature M650L) Fits like a glove (L = Large) and very responsive.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gare

That's dynamic effects for you.

.....they're still a collection of vectors....

---

yes but, and this may be a consequence, illustrator art brushes do not, afaik, have live preview as you draw which is a pain - they do however allow you to mave autodeselect which is there in the UI where it should be

Quote:

---

In the USA, boxing matches have a maximum of 12 rounds. I wonder if the House might adopt the same.

---

maybe it should be a knockout competition :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jonopen

My alternative pen/mouse methods...

---

nice looking mouse :D but I prefer my mouse functions minimal; I have a habit of moving my mouse around 'idly' whilst thinking, things might 'happen' - bad enough xara's right click duplication ;))