User talk:Davidhewitt

2009-02-18T09:22:48Z

== New Inkscape “bottom tool bar” update proposal ==

By David Hewitt ["hewitt_dj@yahoo.com.au"]

''Here are some ideas I have for updating the bottom tool bar in inkscape to include icons for common useful functionality most of which is already supported in inkscape.

[[Image:Ink_Mock_02d.png]]
1) – Palette mode switcher (New Functionality)
2) – Make Properties Default
3) – Selected object/Default... Properties Indicator
4) – Stroke & Fill Properties icons
5) – Clear Properties Icons
6) – Stroke & Fill Color Properties Boxes (Fill shown as empty)
7) – Aquire Fill from background Icon

----
=== [[Image:Ink_icon_12.png]] - 1) Palette mode switcher (New Functionality) ===
This new function represents a totally new way to use the palette.
This new display mode would use the palette to display ONLY colours that currently exist in the design and list them in the actual Z order that objects displaying these colours actually are in the design....

This way the palette could be used not only to suggest colours to use but (with this new palette mode)to visualize and better manage those colours that ARE being used....

So instead of showing 40 colour tiles (or whatever) that are not in your design and which you will probably not need... the palette would then be a representation of all the colours you are currently using....

This new palette mode would be accessible by clicking on the new palette mode button which would be on the far left of the palette itself...
This button would toggle the palette from its normal state into the new mode and back again...

Futher to simply showing only "design current" colours, this new mode would have additional powerful functionality to further aid the user to work with colour...

in "design current" colour mode"
1) moving the mouse pointer over the palette would flash (once with a high-light contrast colour) all the objects of this colour in the design so that when the mouse pointer went over a colour tile all its associated objects would be quickly seen....

futher more the reciprocal process would also occur I.E that when the user moved the mouse pointer over an object on the screen the palette tile associated with this object would high-light or flash (once) in some way so as to show the user quickly which colour referenced this object.

in this mode (there are many different ways this could be set up) clicking on any colour would select all the objects of this colour...
(Possible option re selecting: ignor object groupings)
Then pressing [tab] would void the whole selection but cycle through each object (of this colour) in order...

This new mode could also be a powerful display and selection tool...
As in this new mode you could also add functionality to hide/show, lock/unlock any colour if you wanted to extend its capabilities....
Even adding a visible icon (eye) would be handy as clicking on this would display none, where by you could then click on colours on the palette to show or hide colours as you wished....
This would greatly help with visualizing complex designs...

Futher more as it would be an alternative to the normal mode changes made to which colours were visible or locked ETC...would only apply to this mode...
I.E switching back to the normal display mode would allow the user to pick up where he/she left off...
The main aims of this mode would be:

1) To help visualize designs by displaying or hiding objects by their colour...
2) to limit the display to only various colours so as to make selecting objects of this colour easier.
3) To ID which objects refer to what colour very easily...
ETC

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_01b.png]] - 2) Make Properties Default... ===
This new control allows the user to take any selected object and pick up its properties as the new default properties (for new object creation) in one action…

This button actively updates so that it is automatically depressed when any object with the current default properties is selected.
If the currently selected object does not have the current default properties for new objects then this button is rendered as UN-pressed. The user can depress this button at any time to make any object’s properties the current properties for new object creation.

I am aware that currently this happens when ever the user makes an edit to an existing object…
But this new functionality would allow the user to select any object and pick up its properties (with one click on this icon) or in fact to look down and check if the current object’s properties are the default properties or not.

''In addition to this right clicking on this icon should bring up an options fly out that would have an option “Make properties default after edit” (which is what happens in inkscape now by default).''
''This would have a small check box next to it so that the user could switch this function off.''
''(This would be an option to service any users that would prefer to use only the new capabilities being introduced down here for picking up and copying properties and making them current ETC… without edits on existing objects automatically affecting the default properties in the way they do now.)''

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_13.png]] - 3) Selected object/Default... Properties Indicator... ===

This new control area consisting of 2 buttons is intended to integrate the 2 separate "fill and stroke" indicator boxes currently in inkscape into the one area....

The idea here is that instead of having 2 separate areas/controls (the top right one...when a tool is selected and also the bottom left one for selected object), that the same control (the bottom left one) be used to display both the default properties (when no object is selected) and also the properties for the current selected object.....

To differentiate these....... these 2 buttons would be introduced to represent either a selected object (the first button) and/or the current default properties (the second icon....

These button could work together in different ways...

For example when the user selects an object the first button (object properties indicator) would be depressed to indicate that the displayed properties were for a selected object....

Then by clicking on the default properties icon the user could toggle between this objects current properties and the last default....by clicking between these two buttons....(i.e in this new scheme the properties of an object would not become the default properties automatically...although there is no reason this could not be made the case in options for those who prefer this)

in addition to this the user could press the "make properties default button" and then the currently selected object's properties would then be copied to the default properties and in this case both buttons would be depressed.....

Indicating in this instance that both the default and current properties are the same....

I believe this system makes allot more sense than the current one and also introduces additional function...

I.E currently if no object is selected the bottom left indicator box is N/A to everything and the default properties box is not visible...
So in this instance the user can click on palette colours and be totally clueless as to weather a change has been made and they dont know definitely what colours are set until a tool is selected...

This new functionality would always display the default properties in the bottom box when no object was selected and clicking on the palette would change the defaults visibly and the user could see this happening as they clicked on the palette...

This way the user would always see the defaults and would know at all times what colours were set...for new object creation...

Also when the user selected anything the indicator buttons would change to reflect that the boxes now showed the colour combination for the selection...
Then by clicking the default properties button the default properties could be applied (showing both button depressed) and in this instance the option of switching back to the object's original properties by clicking the section button again could be achieved....
This way the user could use these two buttons to switch back a forth from an object's current properties and the defaults this would be a quick way of comparing the object's current properties and those of the default setting...
This would be very handy as the user can pick up current properties from anywhere and then compare....

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_02.png]] - 4) Fill and Stroke Properties Icons... ===
(for both fill and stroke).
Instead of having the words “Fill” & “Stroke” I propose having new icons for these to save space.
Clicking on these would be a short cut to opening the respective dialogues for fill and stroke settings…in the same way that clicking on the color boxes is currently.
(P.S. I realise this is currently also achieved via clicking on the actual colour boxes ("6") but the reason why I am proposing icons for this purpose is because it saves a fair bit of space and I am also proposing additional functionality for the color boxes ("6") which will be explained.

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_03.png]] - 5) Clear Properties Icons... ===
These are small red circle buttons for the “delete fill” and “Delete Stroke” functions.
Pressing one of these will clear the fill or stroke color property for the selected object.
When this is done this button icon changes to the dull depressed button (top) and the color box is cleared and rendered with a red cross ([[Image:Ink_icon_04.png]])to show that no color is currently set.

By pressing any of these 2 buttons during normal use the user can instantly clear either or both properties for any object.

P.S. I realize that this has been done via a new cross box on the left of the palette itself....But I think it is a shame that this new icon necessitates the use of the keyboard [Shift] key or a right click menu in order to remove stroke properties...(This option is a one click solution)
I personally would like to see the UI of inkscape updated in ways that enable users who are so inclined to go one-handed on the mouse where possible especially for core functionality...
All the core functionality of inkscape should be evaluated to see how quick (preferably) one click options can be achieved.

I.E via icons on the UI without needing to have one hand straddling the keyboard at all times even for the basics (like clearing a stroke property.)
I realize this is not always possible...but for the most important and key functions and every day stuff this should definitely be a priority that quick and convenient ways should be implemented for all core functionality even if existing 2 handed methods already exist...

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_05.png]] - 6) Stroke & Fill Color Properties Boxes... ===
These new color boxes are rendered with a red cross when ever no color property is active. And when the fill box is empty the "Aquire Fill from background Icon" appears inside on the right hand side of this box...
For a blank box (with the red cross) clicking on this box and dragging out into the work area changes the cursor to “an eyedropper” (copy properties cursor) to copy a fill or stroke property (which ever is applicable) from another object.

If the color box actually has an active color then this same action (click and drag) actually serves to copy this color and paste it onto the desired object (drag and drop.)

So this way the user can quickly drag the current fill or stroke settings off of these palettes and drop them onto any object..
Or by first clearing this property then using click and drag they can copy a property from another object in a similar way.

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_11b.png]] - 7) Aquire Fill from background Icon... ===

[[Image:Trans_Blur.png]]

This function is used to create filter effects to be applied to transparent objects.

Note that the circle in the middle is invisible in that it has no fill colour (as its fill property mirrors that which lies below it.)
But that it none the less can carry an effect and appears to apply i to the underlying graphics....

Note that the edges of this transparency are sharp whilst the inside does the blur evenly....

*I think there should be properties to feather the edges of the invisible object so that the effect of the internal blur peters out around the edges giving a softer edge if desired...

*also i think you should be able to adjust the power of the blur radially so that it can be more powerful in the middle then graduating out to very weak/nothing at the edges....

This button is only active when the fill color box is blank and no fill color is active for an object.

When there is an active color this control is gone and the fill properties box extends to its full width.
However when no fill color is set this control appears on the right hand side of the fill color properties box to allow the user to apply this function to only clear/un-filled objects.

When you clear the current fill color (and none is active) this control apears and shows the “OFF” status.

When this is the case the user can press this and this icon will then change to the “On” status.
Then this object’s fill detail will be taken directly from the underlying objects and can then serve as a transparent blur object.ETC….

It is true that this function is not always utilized by most people but it is a very powerful and very practical thing to have the ability to create transparent blur effects...
And if this icon was created and made prominent then more people would realize this and use it...

[[Image:Ink_Mock_03d.png]]

User talk:Davidhewitt

2009-02-16T02:37:18Z

Davidhewitt: /* Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... */

== Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... ==
Its curious that inkscape already has functionality called autoscroll, but nothing that causes scrolling to happen automatically...

Whist not for everyone what i call "proper autoscroll" I.E scrolling that happens automatically when you get to the edge of the screen (whilst creating a path).
(Different from the kind of scrolling that happens when you drag an object off the edge of the screen.)

This type of auto scroll aids users when they are creating objects and they hit the edge of the screen... this does exist in some other applications and is loved by many....(hated by others)...

[[Image:autoscroll.png]]

Here is a dialogue from an application that does have a genuine autoscroll function.

A similar autoscroll function that kicks in automatically when the cursor gets close to the edge of the screen whilst creating a path(centering the cursor and scrolling the screen automatically) would be a welcome addition to the fine scrolling options already present in inkscape....

Generally this autoscroll would have parameters in settings to control various things

1) trigger margin...(ie the width of the virtual boarder (in pixels) around the edge of the screen that triggers the auto-scroll function.)

2) adjustment... where to move the screen to in relation to the position of the cursor...I.E center new screen position on the position of the cursor when the auto scroll was triggered ETC...half way between center ETC...

3) weather to move the mouse pointer so that it remains over the top of the same position relative to the design....

or to leave it in the same position relative to the screen itself (this second option is for pen tablets that map the screen directly to the tablet itself)...

Anyway the effect of this function is that when the user gets to the edge of the screen it automatically re-positions to center the area where you are...when you hit the edge of the screen and you can continue working....

It can be a little jarring for some people but you quickly get used to this...
I would recommend that an additional option for this function would be a second margin should be able to be defined inside the active area that would be a warning margin..I.E that when you got say between 20-10 pixels from the edge of the screen a warning would happen by way of flashing the cursor once ETC.. and then when you got to with in say 10 pixels (the active area) the autoscroll (re-center) would be executed...

== The Ultimate New Inkscape input tool and the editing architecture necessary to complement it... ==

''This new input tool for inkscape is designed to complement the existing tools inkscape already has by providing an new and versatile way of inputting paths, similar to xara,s "shape editor tool".''

''(for those familar with xara).''

''N.B. This is actually stated as being the main input tool for Xara and it is my opinion that once most users try this they will seldom if ever return to using the bezier tool. Simply put this is a must for inkscape.''

''This new input method is ideal for use with Spiro as it does not require the user to "click and drag" (to create Beizier handles)in order to produce a "curve node" and in the process shape the resultant curved line segment on the fly ETC......''

''This new method simply employs "Corner Nodes" & "Curve Nodes" only.''

[[Image:Spiro input.png]]

It goes with out saying here that this tool is ideal for accommodating spiro but that different "Maths" could be offered as options...
(Picture from another app)

=== How to use it ===
Let me explain in a nut shell, how it could work....(not necessarily how it would be implemented but just to illustrate the concept.)

Think of it as:

1) curve points And
2) corner points...

That is all....No bezier handles on input....So you dont need to click and drag to make curved line segments (beizier)...

It could be as simple as:

1)Left click= curve points
2)Right click= corner points....

So to use this tool you simply click on it (like any other tool/icon) then:

(L L L L L L L L L R L L L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L L L L R)done....

Its the "join the dots" input method....you put down the "dots" (curve or corner points) and the path is the result. No messing around with click and drag... you just click the left mouse (curve points) to place down your nodes.....
Just like a machine gun.... rapid fire....Then to do a corner you don't need to hold any key, down (although this could be an option), convert any nodes, edit any nodes.......you just right click.... one press of a button (what could be easier)

More accurate than sketching with the pencil tool....And twice as fast as the beizier tool....This is a digitizing tool optimised for speed...

I.E it is especially excellent for tracing for anyone who uses raster images for art....But it is so easy to use allot of people will prefer it generally also....

And even though twice as many nodes (or more) are require with this method than would be the case with the bezier method... these can be pumped out as fast as the user can click...and do not require any fussing about with bezier handles or finicky tweaking....

however some node reduction would be required if these paths are to be edited as easily as ones created with the native beizier input.....

So if you really want to understand this tool you must understand that you can not "edit" curve nodes...you can just move them....and to make a more complex curves you don't edit any nodes you just place more down.....

But my proposal takes this into account and has "the best of both worlds"...
It has the advantage of this method (ie it is fast) but could easily be reduced down to an optimized beizier path for editing with inkscapes current node reduction functionality....

But for those of you that are familiar with xara their Shape Editor Tool is not perfect and could be improved upon....

(There is no point emulating xara's shortcomings along with their strengths).
For example the way corner points are executed in xara nearly always requires some editing to get a sharp corner...

I.E these do not work as they intuitively enough.....

The graphic i included shows how these corner points should work....

iE instantly creating one click corners....

=== Important Points ===
It is worth noting here that in order to reproduce complex curves with this method that more curve points have to be employed for complex curves. I.E instead of using beizier to adjust one node more exactly here simply more curve nodes are employed to define the complex curve path with a higher "node density"....

The whole idea behind this tool is different to bezier:
With beizier the ethos is: a minimum of nodes each exacting great control over a repetitively large line segment...

Here the ethos is: Many more nodes placed down rapid fire each having a much less impact and overall allot quicker.

=== Node Reduction ===
This type of Curve/Corner node input method is many times faster than beizier as nodes can be placed down as fast as the user can click and no dragging is required to tweak nodes as each node here has a much smaller and localized effect...

In short its a much simpler process and one that can be done allot faster.

It is obvious however that the result is line paths with many more nodes...
But with node reduction there is no reason why these paths should be any harder to edit with the beizier method which although much slower to input with is allot better suited to editing....

=== Input Options ===
Normally i would say you could use the Left Mouse to put down curve nodes and you could hold shift to insert a corner nodes...

But I would strongly urge that this tool should have an OPTION (option only as allot of people will hate this otherwise)to allow the Right Mouse to be used to input corner nodes for this tool only...

This way you could use left and right mouse exclusively to enter curve and corner nodes respectively and input paths with-out requiring the keyboard.

=== Customization ===
This new tool should be versatile and very customizable so that it can be tailored to the requirements of the user and to their hardware.

And that any of the other input modes currently used in inkscape...
(Sketch and Beizier) can also be mixed and matched with-in the same tool with-out the need to change from one tool to another....

The ways in which these other input modes can be accessed should be customizable so that if one has a mouse with many buttons these can be configured to input sketch and beizier segments...
This way the user can chop and change the input method as required to suit the circumstances....

All the input options for this tool would available in options and could be configured individually...
1) Curve node ----> [left mouse].

2) corner node ----> [Combination]---> [Hold Shift]-[Left Mouse]

3) Sketch Segment ----> [middle Mouse]-[Click & Drag to sketch]

4) bezier segment ----> [alt] - [active whilst held]

5) finalize -----> Right mouse or Enter.....

6) node reduce ---) [Combination]---> [Hold Shift]-[mouse wheel]

OR you could configure any way you wanted I.E

1) Curve node ----> [right mouse].

2) corner node ----> [Left Mouse]

3) Sketch Segment ----> [Left Mouse-[Hold shift]-[Click & Drag to sketch]

4) bezier segment ----> [alt] - [active whilst held]

5) finalize -----> [Middle mouse].....

6) node reduce ---) [Middle mouse and hold down]-[move mouse to control]

ETC...
This is not mandatory but would allow great flexibility to accommodate a wide range of input hardware and also personal preferences....

In addition to this all the settings for this tool could be saved as a txt file that would reside somewhere convienient and users could swap or change the setups ETC......and try different set-ups and compare.... perhaps you would save these as options and then switch between them...

=== Tool synthsis ===
As already touched on in the last point this new input method would allow the user to incorporate sketch, beizier and Curve/corner input modes for different segments of the same path with out changing tools...
And this could be set up and customized to suit the user.

The main reason for this is that different input methods have different advantages which are best suited to various conditions which can exist with-in the same path....

for example certain parts of a path might need great precision whilst others may be able to be done super fast with sketch where less precision is required....

=== Existing Inkscape Tools compared ===
LET ME COMPARE the existing inkscape tools with this new one....(my ideas)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at Beizier inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pen" tool)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Beizier can define any line very accurately but inputting this line in the first place both quickly and accurately can be difficult especially for beginners...

*placing down too many nodes has a stippled effect and sometimes too few can be fiddly to get right...

*With Beizier (especially for complex lines) it can be very hard to achieve perfect results first time without edits.

*Beizier takes allot of experience to do well in all circumstances.

*Bezier has been reported by many to be notoriously hard to master.

*You can get very accurate results with Bezier but not without taking some time to be careful and precise and not always without edits.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at Sketch inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pencil" tool)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*The Pencil tool (that sketches) is the fastest tool for creating a path but lacks the accuracy in the process that placing down nodes does...'

*I.E. You have ample speed with the pencil tool but at the expense of accuracy.''

*Sketch is blindingly fast and has a great loose free hand feel.

*Sketch although fast and easy is not suitable for exacting/accurate work.

*Anyone can use the sketch tool but it only has a niche application.

*It would be almost impossible to define a complex line quickly or effectively with a sketch action.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at THE NEW PROPOSED INPUT TOOL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*Excellent tool for tracing accurately if you work off raster art...
(Allot of artists like to sketch on paper then scan it in and import the art and use this as the basis/framework for their vector design....)
This tool is very good for this type of work....

* great for newbies...very very easy to use......and some expert users will even find them selves preferring it...

*Anyone can use it with virtually no learning curve...

Its not a replacement for beizier but it has big advantages...

(i.e. its as easy to use as the pencil tool..... it is just (for a curved path) (....LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL done)

inserting "R" right clicks for corners.

*Its allot faster than beizier (no click and drag to slow you down.)

This input method is on average a good deal faster than beizier...

When you get experienced with it is very much like sketching with the pencil tool...

When you first use it you will find your self deliberately placing down points but as you improve you will find that your actually doing a slow pencil action (like tracing without stopping) moving the mouse whist clicking quickly on the mouse button...

(I have found separating these actions out mentally is the best way for beginners to get the gist of this tool and get up to speed on it....)

* Its almost like its tailor made for Spiro... as spiro does not use the click and drag action (that beizier does) this type of input tool is required anyway.........

User talk:Davidhewitt

2009-02-16T02:28:25Z

Davidhewitt: /* Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... */

== Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... ==
Its curious that inkscape already has functionality called autoscroll, but nothing that causes scrolling to happen automatically...

Whist not for everyone what i call "proper autoscroll" I.E scrolling that happens automatically when you get to the edge of the screen (whilst creating a path).
(Different from the kind of scrolling that happens when you drag an object off the edge of the screen.)

This type of auto scroll aids users when they are creating objects and they hit the edge of the screen... this does exist in some other applications and is loved by many....(hated by others)...

[[Image:autoscroll.png]]

Here is a dialogue from an application that does have a genuine autoscroll function.

A similar autoscroll function that kicks in automatically when the cursor gets close to the edge of the screen whilst creating a path(centering the cursor and scrolling the screen automatically) would be a welcome addition to the fine scrolling options already present in inkscape....

Generally this autoscroll would have parameters in settings to control various things:
1) trigger margin...(ie the width of the virtual boarder (in pixels) around the edge of the screen that triggers the auto-scroll function.)
2) adjustment... where to move the screen to in relation to the position of the cursor...I.E center new screen position on the position of the cursor when the auto scroll was triggered ETC...half way between center ETC...
3) weather to move the mouse pointer so that it remains over the top of the same position relative to the design....or to leave it in the same position relative to the screen itself (this second option is for pen tablets that map the screen directly to the tablet itself)...

Anyway the effect of this function is that when the user gets to the edge of the screen it automatically re-positions to center the area where you are...when you hit the edge of the screen and you can continue working....

It can be a little jarring for some people but you quickly get used to this...
I would recommend that an additional option for this function would be a second margin should be able to be defined inside the active area that would be a warning margin..I.E that when you got say between 20-10 pixels from the edge of the screen a warning would happen by way of flashing the cursor once ETC.. and then when you got to with in say 10 pixels (the active area) the autoscroll (re-center) would be executed...

== The Ultimate New Inkscape input tool and the editing architecture necessary to complement it... ==

''This new input tool for inkscape is designed to complement the existing tools inkscape already has by providing an new and versatile way of inputting paths, similar to xara,s "shape editor tool".''

''(for those familar with xara).''

''N.B. This is actually stated as being the main input tool for Xara and it is my opinion that once most users try this they will seldom if ever return to using the bezier tool. Simply put this is a must for inkscape.''

''This new input method is ideal for use with Spiro as it does not require the user to "click and drag" (to create Beizier handles)in order to produce a "curve node" and in the process shape the resultant curved line segment on the fly ETC......''

''This new method simply employs "Corner Nodes" & "Curve Nodes" only.''

[[Image:Spiro input.png]]

It goes with out saying here that this tool is ideal for accommodating spiro but that different "Maths" could be offered as options...
(Picture from another app)

=== How to use it ===
Let me explain in a nut shell, how it could work....(not necessarily how it would be implemented but just to illustrate the concept.)

Think of it as:

1) curve points And
2) corner points...

That is all....No bezier handles on input....So you dont need to click and drag to make curved line segments (beizier)...

It could be as simple as:

1)Left click= curve points
2)Right click= corner points....

So to use this tool you simply click on it (like any other tool/icon) then:

(L L L L L L L L L R L L L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L L L L R)done....

Its the "join the dots" input method....you put down the "dots" (curve or corner points) and the path is the result. No messing around with click and drag... you just click the left mouse (curve points) to place down your nodes.....
Just like a machine gun.... rapid fire....Then to do a corner you don't need to hold any key, down (although this could be an option), convert any nodes, edit any nodes.......you just right click.... one press of a button (what could be easier)

More accurate than sketching with the pencil tool....And twice as fast as the beizier tool....This is a digitizing tool optimised for speed...

I.E it is especially excellent for tracing for anyone who uses raster images for art....But it is so easy to use allot of people will prefer it generally also....

And even though twice as many nodes (or more) are require with this method than would be the case with the bezier method... these can be pumped out as fast as the user can click...and do not require any fussing about with bezier handles or finicky tweaking....

however some node reduction would be required if these paths are to be edited as easily as ones created with the native beizier input.....

So if you really want to understand this tool you must understand that you can not "edit" curve nodes...you can just move them....and to make a more complex curves you don't edit any nodes you just place more down.....

But my proposal takes this into account and has "the best of both worlds"...
It has the advantage of this method (ie it is fast) but could easily be reduced down to an optimized beizier path for editing with inkscapes current node reduction functionality....

But for those of you that are familiar with xara their Shape Editor Tool is not perfect and could be improved upon....

(There is no point emulating xara's shortcomings along with their strengths).
For example the way corner points are executed in xara nearly always requires some editing to get a sharp corner...

I.E these do not work as they intuitively enough.....

The graphic i included shows how these corner points should work....

iE instantly creating one click corners....

=== Important Points ===
It is worth noting here that in order to reproduce complex curves with this method that more curve points have to be employed for complex curves. I.E instead of using beizier to adjust one node more exactly here simply more curve nodes are employed to define the complex curve path with a higher "node density"....

The whole idea behind this tool is different to bezier:
With beizier the ethos is: a minimum of nodes each exacting great control over a repetitively large line segment...

Here the ethos is: Many more nodes placed down rapid fire each having a much less impact and overall allot quicker.

=== Node Reduction ===
This type of Curve/Corner node input method is many times faster than beizier as nodes can be placed down as fast as the user can click and no dragging is required to tweak nodes as each node here has a much smaller and localized effect...

In short its a much simpler process and one that can be done allot faster.

It is obvious however that the result is line paths with many more nodes...
But with node reduction there is no reason why these paths should be any harder to edit with the beizier method which although much slower to input with is allot better suited to editing....

=== Input Options ===
Normally i would say you could use the Left Mouse to put down curve nodes and you could hold shift to insert a corner nodes...

But I would strongly urge that this tool should have an OPTION (option only as allot of people will hate this otherwise)to allow the Right Mouse to be used to input corner nodes for this tool only...

This way you could use left and right mouse exclusively to enter curve and corner nodes respectively and input paths with-out requiring the keyboard.

=== Customization ===
This new tool should be versatile and very customizable so that it can be tailored to the requirements of the user and to their hardware.

And that any of the other input modes currently used in inkscape...
(Sketch and Beizier) can also be mixed and matched with-in the same tool with-out the need to change from one tool to another....

The ways in which these other input modes can be accessed should be customizable so that if one has a mouse with many buttons these can be configured to input sketch and beizier segments...
This way the user can chop and change the input method as required to suit the circumstances....

All the input options for this tool would available in options and could be configured individually...
1) Curve node ----> [left mouse].

2) corner node ----> [Combination]---> [Hold Shift]-[Left Mouse]

3) Sketch Segment ----> [middle Mouse]-[Click & Drag to sketch]

4) bezier segment ----> [alt] - [active whilst held]

5) finalize -----> Right mouse or Enter.....

6) node reduce ---) [Combination]---> [Hold Shift]-[mouse wheel]

OR you could configure any way you wanted I.E

1) Curve node ----> [right mouse].

2) corner node ----> [Left Mouse]

3) Sketch Segment ----> [Left Mouse-[Hold shift]-[Click & Drag to sketch]

4) bezier segment ----> [alt] - [active whilst held]

5) finalize -----> [Middle mouse].....

6) node reduce ---) [Middle mouse and hold down]-[move mouse to control]

ETC...
This is not mandatory but would allow great flexibility to accommodate a wide range of input hardware and also personal preferences....

In addition to this all the settings for this tool could be saved as a txt file that would reside somewhere convienient and users could swap or change the setups ETC......and try different set-ups and compare.... perhaps you would save these as options and then switch between them...

=== Tool synthsis ===
As already touched on in the last point this new input method would allow the user to incorporate sketch, beizier and Curve/corner input modes for different segments of the same path with out changing tools...
And this could be set up and customized to suit the user.

The main reason for this is that different input methods have different advantages which are best suited to various conditions which can exist with-in the same path....

for example certain parts of a path might need great precision whilst others may be able to be done super fast with sketch where less precision is required....

=== Existing Inkscape Tools compared ===
LET ME COMPARE the existing inkscape tools with this new one....(my ideas)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at Beizier inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pen" tool)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Beizier can define any line very accurately but inputting this line in the first place both quickly and accurately can be difficult especially for beginners...

*placing down too many nodes has a stippled effect and sometimes too few can be fiddly to get right...

*With Beizier (especially for complex lines) it can be very hard to achieve perfect results first time without edits.

*Beizier takes allot of experience to do well in all circumstances.

*Bezier has been reported by many to be notoriously hard to master.

*You can get very accurate results with Bezier but not without taking some time to be careful and precise and not always without edits.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at Sketch inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pencil" tool)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*The Pencil tool (that sketches) is the fastest tool for creating a path but lacks the accuracy in the process that placing down nodes does...'

*I.E. You have ample speed with the pencil tool but at the expense of accuracy.''

*Sketch is blindingly fast and has a great loose free hand feel.

*Sketch although fast and easy is not suitable for exacting/accurate work.

*Anyone can use the sketch tool but it only has a niche application.

*It would be almost impossible to define a complex line quickly or effectively with a sketch action.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at THE NEW PROPOSED INPUT TOOL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*Excellent tool for tracing accurately if you work off raster art...
(Allot of artists like to sketch on paper then scan it in and import the art and use this as the basis/framework for their vector design....)
This tool is very good for this type of work....

* great for newbies...very very easy to use......and some expert users will even find them selves preferring it...

*Anyone can use it with virtually no learning curve...

Its not a replacement for beizier but it has big advantages...

(i.e. its as easy to use as the pencil tool..... it is just (for a curved path) (....LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL done)

inserting "R" right clicks for corners.

*Its allot faster than beizier (no click and drag to slow you down.)

This input method is on average a good deal faster than beizier...

When you get experienced with it is very much like sketching with the pencil tool...

When you first use it you will find your self deliberately placing down points but as you improve you will find that your actually doing a slow pencil action (like tracing without stopping) moving the mouse whist clicking quickly on the mouse button...

(I have found separating these actions out mentally is the best way for beginners to get the gist of this tool and get up to speed on it....)

* Its almost like its tailor made for Spiro... as spiro does not use the click and drag action (that beizier does) this type of input tool is required anyway.........

User talk:Davidhewitt

2009-02-16T02:23:53Z

Davidhewitt: /* Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... */

== Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... ==
Its curious that inkscape already has functionality called autoscroll, but nothing that causes scrolling to happen automatically...

Whist not for everyone what i call "proper autoscroll" I.E scrolling that happens automatically when you get to the edge of the screen (whilst creating a path).
(Different from the kind of scrolling that happens when you drag an object off the edge of the screen.)

This type of auto scroll aids users when they are creating objects and they hit the edge of the screen... this does exist in some other applications and is loved by many....(hated by others)...

[[Image:autoscroll.png]]

Here is a dialogue from an application that does have a genuine autoscroll function.

A similar autoscroll function that kicks in automatically when the cursor gets close to the edge of the screen whilst creating a path(centering the cursor and scrolling the screen automatically) would be a welcome addition to the fine scrolling options already present in inkscape....

Generally this autoscroll would have parameters in settings to control various things:
1) trigger margin...(ie the width of the virtual boarder (in pixels) around the edge of the screen that triggers the auto-scroll function.)
2) adjustment... where to move the screen to in relation to the position of the cursor...I.E center new screen position on the position of the cursor when the auto scroll was triggered ETC...half way between center ETC...
3) weather to move the mouse pointer so that it remains over the top of the same position relative to the design....or to leave it in the same position relative to the screen itself (this second option is for pen tablets that map the screen directly to the tablet itself)...

== The Ultimate New Inkscape input tool and the editing architecture necessary to complement it... ==

''This new input tool for inkscape is designed to complement the existing tools inkscape already has by providing an new and versatile way of inputting paths, similar to xara,s "shape editor tool".''

''(for those familar with xara).''

''N.B. This is actually stated as being the main input tool for Xara and it is my opinion that once most users try this they will seldom if ever return to using the bezier tool. Simply put this is a must for inkscape.''

''This new input method is ideal for use with Spiro as it does not require the user to "click and drag" (to create Beizier handles)in order to produce a "curve node" and in the process shape the resultant curved line segment on the fly ETC......''

''This new method simply employs "Corner Nodes" & "Curve Nodes" only.''

[[Image:Spiro input.png]]

It goes with out saying here that this tool is ideal for accommodating spiro but that different "Maths" could be offered as options...
(Picture from another app)

=== How to use it ===
Let me explain in a nut shell, how it could work....(not necessarily how it would be implemented but just to illustrate the concept.)

Think of it as:

1) curve points And
2) corner points...

That is all....No bezier handles on input....So you dont need to click and drag to make curved line segments (beizier)...

It could be as simple as:

1)Left click= curve points
2)Right click= corner points....

So to use this tool you simply click on it (like any other tool/icon) then:

(L L L L L L L L L R L L L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L R L L L L L L L L R)done....

Its the "join the dots" input method....you put down the "dots" (curve or corner points) and the path is the result. No messing around with click and drag... you just click the left mouse (curve points) to place down your nodes.....
Just like a machine gun.... rapid fire....Then to do a corner you don't need to hold any key, down (although this could be an option), convert any nodes, edit any nodes.......you just right click.... one press of a button (what could be easier)

More accurate than sketching with the pencil tool....And twice as fast as the beizier tool....This is a digitizing tool optimised for speed...

I.E it is especially excellent for tracing for anyone who uses raster images for art....But it is so easy to use allot of people will prefer it generally also....

And even though twice as many nodes (or more) are require with this method than would be the case with the bezier method... these can be pumped out as fast as the user can click...and do not require any fussing about with bezier handles or finicky tweaking....

however some node reduction would be required if these paths are to be edited as easily as ones created with the native beizier input.....

So if you really want to understand this tool you must understand that you can not "edit" curve nodes...you can just move them....and to make a more complex curves you don't edit any nodes you just place more down.....

But my proposal takes this into account and has "the best of both worlds"...
It has the advantage of this method (ie it is fast) but could easily be reduced down to an optimized beizier path for editing with inkscapes current node reduction functionality....

But for those of you that are familiar with xara their Shape Editor Tool is not perfect and could be improved upon....

(There is no point emulating xara's shortcomings along with their strengths).
For example the way corner points are executed in xara nearly always requires some editing to get a sharp corner...

I.E these do not work as they intuitively enough.....

The graphic i included shows how these corner points should work....

iE instantly creating one click corners....

=== Important Points ===
It is worth noting here that in order to reproduce complex curves with this method that more curve points have to be employed for complex curves. I.E instead of using beizier to adjust one node more exactly here simply more curve nodes are employed to define the complex curve path with a higher "node density"....

The whole idea behind this tool is different to bezier:
With beizier the ethos is: a minimum of nodes each exacting great control over a repetitively large line segment...

Here the ethos is: Many more nodes placed down rapid fire each having a much less impact and overall allot quicker.

=== Node Reduction ===
This type of Curve/Corner node input method is many times faster than beizier as nodes can be placed down as fast as the user can click and no dragging is required to tweak nodes as each node here has a much smaller and localized effect...

In short its a much simpler process and one that can be done allot faster.

It is obvious however that the result is line paths with many more nodes...
But with node reduction there is no reason why these paths should be any harder to edit with the beizier method which although much slower to input with is allot better suited to editing....

=== Input Options ===
Normally i would say you could use the Left Mouse to put down curve nodes and you could hold shift to insert a corner nodes...

But I would strongly urge that this tool should have an OPTION (option only as allot of people will hate this otherwise)to allow the Right Mouse to be used to input corner nodes for this tool only...

This way you could use left and right mouse exclusively to enter curve and corner nodes respectively and input paths with-out requiring the keyboard.

=== Customization ===
This new tool should be versatile and very customizable so that it can be tailored to the requirements of the user and to their hardware.

And that any of the other input modes currently used in inkscape...
(Sketch and Beizier) can also be mixed and matched with-in the same tool with-out the need to change from one tool to another....

The ways in which these other input modes can be accessed should be customizable so that if one has a mouse with many buttons these can be configured to input sketch and beizier segments...
This way the user can chop and change the input method as required to suit the circumstances....

All the input options for this tool would available in options and could be configured individually...
1) Curve node ----> [left mouse].

2) corner node ----> [Combination]---> [Hold Shift]-[Left Mouse]

3) Sketch Segment ----> [middle Mouse]-[Click & Drag to sketch]

4) bezier segment ----> [alt] - [active whilst held]

5) finalize -----> Right mouse or Enter.....

6) node reduce ---) [Combination]---> [Hold Shift]-[mouse wheel]

OR you could configure any way you wanted I.E

1) Curve node ----> [right mouse].

2) corner node ----> [Left Mouse]

3) Sketch Segment ----> [Left Mouse-[Hold shift]-[Click & Drag to sketch]

4) bezier segment ----> [alt] - [active whilst held]

5) finalize -----> [Middle mouse].....

6) node reduce ---) [Middle mouse and hold down]-[move mouse to control]

ETC...
This is not mandatory but would allow great flexibility to accommodate a wide range of input hardware and also personal preferences....

In addition to this all the settings for this tool could be saved as a txt file that would reside somewhere convienient and users could swap or change the setups ETC......and try different set-ups and compare.... perhaps you would save these as options and then switch between them...

=== Tool synthsis ===
As already touched on in the last point this new input method would allow the user to incorporate sketch, beizier and Curve/corner input modes for different segments of the same path with out changing tools...
And this could be set up and customized to suit the user.

The main reason for this is that different input methods have different advantages which are best suited to various conditions which can exist with-in the same path....

for example certain parts of a path might need great precision whilst others may be able to be done super fast with sketch where less precision is required....

=== Existing Inkscape Tools compared ===
LET ME COMPARE the existing inkscape tools with this new one....(my ideas)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at Beizier inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pen" tool)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*Beizier can define any line very accurately but inputting this line in the first place both quickly and accurately can be difficult especially for beginners...

*placing down too many nodes has a stippled effect and sometimes too few can be fiddly to get right...

*With Beizier (especially for complex lines) it can be very hard to achieve perfect results first time without edits.

*Beizier takes allot of experience to do well in all circumstances.

*Bezier has been reported by many to be notoriously hard to master.

*You can get very accurate results with Bezier but not without taking some time to be careful and precise and not always without edits.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at Sketch inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pencil" tool)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*The Pencil tool (that sketches) is the fastest tool for creating a path but lacks the accuracy in the process that placing down nodes does...'

*I.E. You have ample speed with the pencil tool but at the expense of accuracy.''

*Sketch is blindingly fast and has a great loose free hand feel.

*Sketch although fast and easy is not suitable for exacting/accurate work.

*Anyone can use the sketch tool but it only has a niche application.

*It would be almost impossible to define a complex line quickly or effectively with a sketch action.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'Lets take a look at THE NEW PROPOSED INPUT TOOL

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
*Excellent tool for tracing accurately if you work off raster art...
(Allot of artists like to sketch on paper then scan it in and import the art and use this as the basis/framework for their vector design....)
This tool is very good for this type of work....

* great for newbies...very very easy to use......and some expert users will even find them selves preferring it...

*Anyone can use it with virtually no learning curve...

Its not a replacement for beizier but it has big advantages...

(i.e. its as easy to use as the pencil tool..... it is just (for a curved path) (....LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL done)

inserting "R" right clicks for corners.

*Its allot faster than beizier (no click and drag to slow you down.)

This input method is on average a good deal faster than beizier...

When you get experienced with it is very much like sketching with the pencil tool...

When you first use it you will find your self deliberately placing down points but as you improve you will find that your actually doing a slow pencil action (like tracing without stopping) moving the mouse whist clicking quickly on the mouse button...

(I have found separating these actions out mentally is the best way for beginners to get the gist of this tool and get up to speed on it....)

* Its almost like its tailor made for Spiro... as spiro does not use the click and drag action (that beizier does) this type of input tool is required anyway.........

User:Davidhewitt

2009-02-16T01:14:15Z

Davidhewitt: /* New Inkscape “bottom tool bar” update proposal */

== New Inkscape “bottom tool bar” update proposal ==

By David Hewitt ["hewitt_dj@yahoo.com.au"]

''Here are some ideas I have for updating the bottom tool bar in inkscape to include icons for common useful functionality most of which is already supported in inkscape.

[[Image:Ink_Mock_02d.png]]
1) – Palette mode switcher (New Functionality)
2) – Make Properties Default
3) – Selected object/Default... Properties Indicator
4) – Stroke & Fill Properties icons
5) – Clear Properties Icons
6) – Stroke & Fill Color Properties Boxes (Fill shown as empty)
7) – Aquire Fill from background Icon

----
=== [[Image:Ink_icon_12.png]] - 1) Palette mode switcher (New Functionality) ===
This new function represents a totally new way to use the palette.
This new display mode would use the palette to display ONLY colours that currently exist in the design and list them in the actual Z order that objects displaying these colours actually are in the design....

This way the palette could be used not only to suggest colours to use but (with this new palette mode)to visualize and better manage those colours that ARE being used....

So instead of showing 40 colour tiles (or whatever) that are not in your design and which you will probably not need... the palette would then be a representation of all the colours you are currently using....

This new palette mode would be accessible by clicking on the new palette mode button which would be on the far left of the palette itself...
This button would toggle the palette from its normal state into the new mode and back again...

Futher to simply showing only "design current" colours, this new mode would have additional powerful functionality to further aid the user to work with colour...

in "design current" colour mode"
1) moving the mouse pointer over the palette would flash (once with a high-light contrast colour) all the objects of this colour in the design so that when the mouse pointer went over a colour tile all its associated objects would be quickly seen....

futher more the reciprocal process would also occur I.E that when the user moved the mouse pointer over an object on the screen the palette tile associated with this object would high-light or flash (once) in some way so as to show the user quickly which colour referenced this object.

in this mode (there are many different ways this could be set up) clicking on any colour would select all the objects of this colour...
(Possible option re selecting: ignor object groupings)
Then pressing [tab] would void the whole selection but cycle through each object (of this colour) in order...

This new mode could also be a powerful display and selection tool...
As in this new mode you could also add functionality to hide/show, lock/unlock any colour if you wanted to extend its capabilities....
Even adding a visible icon (eye) would be handy as clicking on this would display none, where by you could then click on colours on the palette to show or hide colours as you wished....
This would greatly help with visualizing complex designs...

Futher more as it would be an alternative to the normal mode changes made to which colours were visible or locked ETC...would only apply to this mode...
I.E switching back to the normal display mode would allow the user to pick up where he/she left off...
The main aims of this mode would be:

1) To help visualize designs by displaying or hiding objects by their colour...
2) to limit the display to only various colours so as to make selecting objects of this colour easier.
3) To ID which objects refer to what colour very easily...
ETC

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_01b.png]] - 2) Make Properties Default... ===
This new control allows the user to take any selected object and pick up its properties as the new default properties (for new object creation) in one action…

This button actively updates so that it is automatically depressed when any object with the current default properties is selected.
If the currently selected object does not have the current default properties for new objects then this button is rendered as UN-pressed. The user can depress this button at any time to make any object’s properties the current properties for new object creation.

I am aware that currently this happens when ever the user makes an edit to an existing object…
But this new functionality would allow the user to select any object and pick up its properties (with one click on this icon) or in fact to look down and check if the current object’s properties are the default properties or not.

''In addition to this right clicking on this icon should bring up an options fly out that would have an option “Make properties default after edit” (which is what happens in inkscape now by default).''
''This would have a small check box next to it so that the user could switch this function off.''
''(This would be an option to service any users that would prefer to use only the new capabilities being introduced down here for picking up and copying properties and making them current ETC… without edits on existing objects automatically affecting the default properties in the way they do now.)''

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_13.png]] - 3) Selected object/Default... Properties Indicator... ===

This new control area consisting of 2 buttons is intended to integrate the 2 separate "fill and stroke" indicator boxes currently in inkscape into the one area....

The idea here is that instead of having 2 separate areas/controls (the top right one...when a tool is selected and also the bottom left one for selected object), that the same control (the bottom left one) be used to display both the default properties (when no object is selected) and also the properties for the current selected object.....

To differentiate these....... these 2 buttons would be introduced to represent either a selected object (the first button) and/or the current default properties (the second icon....

These button could work together in different ways...

For example when the user selects an object the first button (object properties indicator) would be depressed to indicate that the displayed properties were for a selected object....

Then by clicking on the default properties icon the user could toggle between this objects current properties and the last default....by clicking between these two buttons....(i.e in this new scheme the properties of an object would not become the default properties automatically...although there is no reason this could not be made the case in options for those who prefer this)

in addition to this the user could press the "make properties default button" and then the currently selected object's properties would then be copied to the default properties and in this case both buttons would be depressed.....

Indicating in this instance that both the default and current properties are the same....

I believe this system makes allot more sense than the current one and also introduces additional function...

I.E currently if no object is selected the bottom left indicator box is N/A to everything and the default properties box is not visible...
So in this instance the user can click on palette colours and be totally clueless as to weather a change has been made and they dont know definitely what colours are set until a tool is selected...

This new functionality would always display the default properties in the bottom box when no object was selected and clicking on the palette would change the defaults visibly and the user could see this happening as they clicked on the palette...

This way the user would always see the defaults and would know at all times what colours were set...for new object creation...

Also when the user selected anything the indicator buttons would change to reflect that the boxes now showed the colour combination for the selection...
Then by clicking the default properties button the default properties could be applied (showing both button depressed) and in this instance the option of switching back to the object's original properties by clicking the section button again could be achieved....
This way the user could use these two buttons to switch back a forth from an object's current properties and the defaults this would be a quick way of comparing the object's current properties and those of the default setting...
This would be very handy as the user can pick up current properties from anywhere and then compare....

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_02.png]] - 4) Fill and Stroke Properties Icons... ===
(for both fill and stroke).
Instead of having the words “Fill” & “Stroke” I propose having new icons for these to save space.
Clicking on these would be a short cut to opening the respective dialogues for fill and stroke settings…in the same way that clicking on the color boxes is currently.
(P.S. I realise this is currently also achieved via clicking on the actual colour boxes ("6") but the reason why I am proposing icons for this purpose is because it saves a fair bit of space and I am also proposing additional functionality for the color boxes ("6") which will be explained.

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_03.png]] - 5) Clear Properties Icons... ===
These are small red circle buttons for the “delete fill” and “Delete Stroke” functions.
Pressing one of these will clear the fill or stroke color property for the selected object.
When this is done this button icon changes to the dull depressed button (top) and the color box is cleared and rendered with a red cross ([[Image:Ink_icon_04.png]])to show that no color is currently set.

By pressing any of these 2 buttons during normal use the user can instantly clear either or both properties for any object.

P.S. I realize that this has been done via a new cross box on the left of the palette itself....But I think it is a shame that this new icon necessitates the use of the keyboard [Shift] key to remove stroke properties...
I personally would like to see the UI of inkscape updated in ways that enable users who are so inclined to go one-handed on the mouse...
All the core functionality of inkscape needs to be available one-handed (mouse only) I.E via icons on the UI without needing to have one hand straddling the keyboard at all times even for the basics (like clearing a stroke property.)
I realize this is not always possible...but for the most important and key functions and every day stuff this should definitely be a priority that quick and convenient ways should be implemented for all core functionality even if existing 2 handed methods already exist...

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_05.png]] - 6) Stroke & Fill Color Properties Boxes... ===
These new color boxes are rendered with a red cross when ever no color property is active. And when the fill box is empty the "Aquire Fill from background Icon" appears inside on the right hand side of this box...
For a blank box (with the red cross) clicking on this box and dragging out into the work area changes the cursor to “an eyedropper” (copy properties cursor) to copy a fill or stroke property (which ever is applicable) from another object.

If the color box actually has an active color then this same action (click and drag) actually serves to copy this color and paste it onto the desired object (drag and drop.)

So this way the user can quickly drag the current fill or stroke settings off of these palettes and drop them onto any object..
Or by first clearing this property then using click and drag they can copy a property from another object in a similar way.

=== [[Image:Ink_icon_11b.png]] - 7) Aquire Fill from background Icon... ===

[[Image:Trans_Blur.png]]

This function is used to create filter effects to be applied to transparent objects.

Note that the circle in the middle is invisible in that it has no fill colour (as its fill property mirrors that which lies below it.)
But that it none the less can carry an effect and appears to apply i to the underlying graphics....

Note that the edges of this transparency are sharp whilst the inside does the blur evenly....

*I think there should be properties to feather the edges of the invisible object so that the effect of the internal blur peters out around the edges giving a softer edge if desired...

*also i think you should be able to adjust the power of the blur radially so that it can be more powerful in the middle then graduating out to very weak/nothing at the edges....

This button is only active when the fill color box is blank and no fill color is active for an object.

When there is an active color this control is gone and the fill properties box extends to its full width.
However when no fill color is set this control appears on the right hand side of the fill color properties box to allow the user to apply this function to only clear/un-filled objects.

When you clear the current fill color (and none is active) this control apears and shows the “OFF” status.

When this is the case the user can press this and this icon will then change to the “On” status.
Then this object’s fill detail will be taken directly from the underlying objects and can then serve as a transparent blur object.ETC….

It is true that this function is not always utilized by most people but it is a very powerful and very practical thing to have the ability to create transparent blur effects...
And if this icon was created and made prominent then more people would realize this and use it...

[[Image:Ink_Mock_03d.png]]

2009-02-15T04:47:42Z

Davidhewitt: /* The Ultimate New Inkscape input tool and the editing architecture necessary to complement it... */

== Auto-Scroll that happens automatically... ==

[[Image:autoscroll.png]]

Here is a dialogue from an application that does have a genuine autoscroll function.

A similar autoscroll function that kicks in automatically when the cursor gets close to the edge of the screen (centering the cursor and scrolling the screen automatically) would be a welcome addition to the fine scrolling options already present....

== The Ultimate New Inkscape input tool and the editing architecture necessary to complement it... ==
WORK IN PROGRESS
''What would be the ultimate new input tool for inkscape? (To complement the existing tools inkscape already has.)''

=== What properties would qualify such a tool? ===

'''1) First, it would have to be super fast to input curves....'''

''Lets take a look at Bezier (Inkscape's existing "Pen" tool) in this light:''
*Bezier can define any line very accurately but inputting this line in the first place both quickly and accurately can be difficult.

*With Bezier (especially for complex lines) it can be very hard to achieve perfect results first time without edits.

*Bezier takes allot of experience to do well in all circumstances.

*Bezier has been reported by many to be notoriously hard to master.

*You can get very accurate results with Bezier but not without taking time to be careful and precise and not always without edits.

''Lets take a look at Sketch inputs (Inkscape's existing "Pencil" tool) in this light:''

*Sketch is blindingly fast and has a great loose free hand feel.

*Sketch although fast and easy is not suitable for exacting/accurate work.

*Anyone can use the sketch tool but it only has a niche application.

*It would be impossible to define a complex line quickly or effectively with a sketch action.

'''2) Second (Whist being fast) it also has to be very very accurate...'''

''Lets take a look at Bezier (Inkscape's existing "Pen" tool) in this light:''

*Pen tools that sketch are probably the fastest at creating a line but they lack the accuracy in the process that placing down nodes does...''

*You can have your speed with a pen tool but at the expense of accuracy.''

'''3) Third this tool would be mouse only...'''

''How practical is an input method that requires you to have a free hand to straddle the keyboard or to leave the work space and click on different icons just to get practical results?''

*4) '''Fourthly it should incorporate all the advantages of the other input tools and in such a way that they are all rolled into one.'''

*5) '''Fifthly The results of this input should be node minimized...'''

*6) '''Sixthly It should accommodate Spiro...'''

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To be fast i propose this new tool should not require bezier drags at all but should simply employ 2 types of nodes: curve and corner.

And in addition to this, that to create these 2 types of nodes that no double clicking, back-tracking and clicking over existing nodes, or right click menuing should be allowed to slow down the process of placing down nodes rapid fire...

Also so as the user does not have to use the keyboard, double clicking or any additional functions to switch between these different node types both node types (curve and corner) should be executed with the "naked" mouse...

Left mouse: Curve point.
Right mouse" corner point.

N.B. It should be noted here that these nodes would be devoid of bezier handles for input purposes... and that to achieve greater accuracy and conformity whilst digitizing, this method would require the user to throttle the node output rate to match the complexity of the curve it was required to follow...
IE more complex curves would require more nodes from a input perspective...

However even though twice as many nodes would be require with this method than would be the case with the bezier method... these could be pumped out as fast as the user can click...and would not require any fussing about with bezier handles or finicky tweaking.

This new input method is perfect for Spiro as this method also does not utilize bezier handles to define its nodes...

File:Autoscroll.png

2009-02-15T04:43:51Z

Davidhewitt: