Inkscape Wiki - User contributions [en]

Intersection Tools

2009-03-22T18:16:34Z

Riaan.Botha26: New page: == Summary == Boolean path operations are amazing but not always intuitive and require a lot of practice and thought to use with ease. I am a professional technical illustrator and I have...

== Summary ==

Boolean path operations are amazing but not always intuitive and require a lot of practice and thought to use with ease. I am a professional technical illustrator and I have done more than 4000 illustrations in my career, of them about 20% were isometric and the rest simple 2D. The following two tools are rare and I have only seen them in two commercial applications, I also wrote a simple illustration program called idrW in which I implemented my own version of them.

I applaud the work done with Inkscape, the mathematics and programming are amazingly well done. I rarely did graphic design as such, focusing rather on technical illustration, so I have a completely different perspective on vector graphics. I also used very different types of tools and workflows. The reason for this is speed, with graphic design it is completely acceptable to sit and fiddle with a design for hours on end, with technical illustration the deadline is usually three days before you get the job.

I feel that Inkscape has the potential to really compete and spread the message of OpenSource / Free software to a very wide market. But I think you are in danger of losing / alienating the “lower end” users (of which there are an awful lot). The interface is nice but a little intimidating and some things are strangely ambiguous and only someone with serious knowledge / skills will be able to use them effectively.

The two tools I propose are very easy to use, fast and extremely intuitive, they are primarily used for technical work, but I have used them with great success for “free form” drawing as well.
== Eraser / Keep Tool Workflow ==

This tool erases segments of elements between two intersection points. The work-flow is as follows:

[[Image:EraserTool.png|left]]

Clicking with the tool on an element finds the nearest two intersections and deletes that segment, holding down shift key while clicking keeps the segment and deletes the rest. This is extremely easy to understand and you can create complex shapes quickly. For example, you can create a Yin Yang with two mouse clicks.

[[Image:EraserSample.png|left]]

== Cut by Tool Work-flow ==

This is the Cut Path action in Inkscape, boy this is hard to use! I haven't quite been able to understand the logic behind it's use, it feels very unpredictable.
The “Cut by” tool as I know it works as follows:
[[Image:CutBySample.png|left]]

The logic is as follows: Whichever element is clicked on with the “Cut By Tool” is intersected with the current selection and the selection gets “cut” at each intersection point. This makes it possible to add different stroke styles to paths to indicate hidden lines.

== Conclusion ==

I have used the above mentioned tools in my work extensively for the last seven years. I hope this is of some value to the Inkscape project.

File:EraserSample.png

2009-03-22T18:11:53Z

Riaan.Botha26: Yin Yang sample of the proposed Eraser Tool

Yin Yang sample of the proposed Eraser Tool

File:EraserTool.png

2009-03-22T18:10:20Z

Riaan.Botha26: Sample of the proposed eraser tool work flow

Sample of the proposed eraser tool work flow

File:CutBySample.png

2009-03-22T18:08:52Z

Riaan.Botha26: Sample of the proposed Cut By Tool

Sample of the proposed Cut By Tool

NewTools

2009-03-22T18:00:50Z

Riaan.Botha26: Added Intersection Tool

=== [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=880120&group_id=93438&atid=604309 Cloud Tool] ===

Any selected object or group of objects will have generated a "cloud" or
outline. Variables could include but not be limited to: distance between
original object and cloud, number of clouds, distance between original object
and each succeeding cloud, and so on.

=== [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=880099&group_id=93438&atid=604309 Razor Tool] ===

Any selected object or group of objects could be split along the line drawn by
the "razor" tool. This is essentially a combo of adding a node, breaking a line
at the node, inserting a line, and joining the resultant nodes.
Almost the same as scissor tool, but indeed very handy!

=== [http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=880110&group_id=93438&atid=604309 Add[[/Subtract]] Nodes + Scissor Tool] ===

==== ADD NODES ====

Similar to most vector editing apps, we need a tool to
be able to click on a shape, and then add a new node
wherever the ADD tool clicks on a segment. This add
tool should be the node edit tool with a plus icon
located at the bottom right corner of the icon.

==== SUBTRACT NODES ====

Also we need a tool so that when one clicks on a point,
then that point is removed. I guess we already have it
so when a point is selected, one can hit the delete key
and that point is deleted and the shape remains. I
don't know how intuitive this is, and think there
should also be the node edit tool with a small minus
symbol on the icon that will do the same thing.

==== SCISSOR TOOL ====

Related to the ADD[[/SUBTRACT]] Nodes is to select the
scissor tool from the node edit toolbar or primary
toolbar and be able to click anywhere on a shape's
segment and break the segment into two pieces where
this tool clicks on the line.

==== SCALE, ROTATE TRANSFORMATION TOOL FOR MULTIPLE OBJECT PATH NODES OR POINTS ====

Currently If you are in path node editing mode and selected more than one node, you cannot rotate or scale them (Only moving).
In vector world not everything done by simple moves. If you look at other tools you would see that this is a well implemented feature
in professional tools.

==== INTERACTIVE PERSPECTIVE AND DEFORMATION TOOLS====

I do not think we need to go into detail of why we would need interactive deformation tools :) They are very curicial elements for
vector logo-amblem design, illustration, pattern creation and layout designs etc.

==== FLASH-LIKE PAINT TOOL ====
The user draws a 1-bit raster image with the mouse or stylus, when the mouse button is released, or the stylus is lifted, the raster image is vectorised (like the paintbucket tool) resulting in a slightly irregular 'painted' shape as opposed to the more uniform, neat look of the calligraphy tool. The technique automatically insures that there are no internal lines and the self intersections of the brush stroke are smooth.

=== SHARD EDGED DYNAMIC/LINKED OFFSET ===
Right now Dynamic and linked offset always offset with a rounded edge. A mode that allows the sharp edges to be kept sharp would be useful.

=== [https://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=908792&group_id=93438&atid=604309 Cloning[[/Spraypaint]] of Objects Tool] ===

=== Variable Stroke Width Path===
this could be driven at each node, but a method for varying the stroke width along the path would be very useful.

=== [[Intersection Tools]] ===
These are more intuitive implementations of the "Cut Path" tool.
Makes some vector graphic operations very easy to do.