The controversial eraser tool

[covoxer]

it has to fit the vector approach one way or another

It's "another" in this case.
Vector eraser IS a vector tool. But with some drawbacks.
Imagine you have drawn lots of quick strokes. They are all lines. Now you trim them a little bit with eraser. Let's say half of them were affected by eraser. They were converted to shapes. But the rest are still lines. You can still change line width, pattern, profile, even apply brush to them. But not to those that were affected by the eraser. Surely, they are all vector, but the result is not quite consistent or predictable.

[handrawn]

ok - is there not a way to trim vector lines with an eraser without converting to shape?

[pauland]

ok - is there not a way to trim vector lines with an eraser without converting to shape?

Of course there is. It's not a barrier for other developers.

[handrawn]

well I thought so Paul, but I am trying to get head around John's argument by asking him for clarification [edit: reply to post 20]

[covoxer]

ok - is there not a way to trim vector lines with an eraser without converting to shape?

But then you wouldn't get that workflow. You see, all the freehand strokes are lines. And they all have some width. If we just trim the path, the end of the line will not match the actual erased area.

[handrawn]

right

so what you are saying is that the line would need to be converted to shape in order for there to be nodes to define the outline that was left after erase?

yes I can see that John, if you are erasing a line's width and not just it's length

[covoxer]

so what you are saying is that the line would need to be converted to shape in order for there to be nodes to define the outline that was left after erase?

Yes, exactly. This is not a huge problem, all objects still remain vector. So the tool is vector obviously. But we lose some of the vector advantages here.

[pauland]

right

so what you are saying is that the line would need to be converted to shape in order for there to be nodes to define the outline that was left after erase?

yes I can see that John, if you are erasing a line's width and not just it's length

Really?

[handrawn]

Paul - your image does not show erasing a line's [outline's] width - only it's length

I think the point John is making is a good one if we are talking about a true eraser, and not just 'a remover of already exisiting nodes'

[handrawn]

Hi Phil

yes - there are several ways it could be implemented