Split Node Selection tool into two-select nodes and convert to Bezier
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Feature Request: Split Node Tool and Segment Conversion Tool
I’d like to suggest separating the current Node Tool into two distinct tools:
Node Selection/Movement Tool – for selecting and moving nodes and straight segments without altering their structure. Convert Segment Tool – for converting line segments into Bézier curves and editing control handles.Why?
Currently, dragging a selected segment with the Node Tool converts it into a curve. This is often unintentional, especially when the goal is to move nodes or reshape a rectangle by dragging its side. The result is frequent, frustrating mistakes during precise layout editing.Most vector editors (e.g., Illustrator) separate these functions to avoid this problem. Adding this separation in VectorStyler would improve usability and prevent destructive edits during routine adjustments.
Thanks for considering this!
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@jpsimmons said in Split Node Selection tool into two-select nodes and convert to Bezier:
dragging a selected segment with the Node Tool converts it into a curve
What should happen if we drag a line?
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@VectorStyler Right now, if you select the nodes you want to move. If you select one of the nodes and drag, it drags all the nodes. In Illustrator, selecting anything of the path between the nodes or the nodes themselves will move. In VS, if you have nodes selected, then select an edge, it'll forget about the nodes and convert the edge to a Bezier.
For the node selection, it should simply move the graphic elements as defined.
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@jpsimmons I will try to find a solution for this.
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@jpsimmons Would this work? https://share.cleanshot.com/2Vh0Nc8w
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Well, sort of. That's what it does now. But, this is sort of like having a combination salt shaker and surgeon's scalpel. One is relatively benign (translation) and the other very intrusive and potentially dangerous (changing Bezier control points). The amount of time it takes to recover from a mistake with either varies hugely.
I convert a line to a Bezier curve or vice versa probably 3 or 4 times a year. I move graphic elements hundreds of time per session. What I was requesting was to separate these so that you have the Bezier conversion tool be an "expert" feature and translation be something a novice could use safely.
Your video doesn't show the current behavior that, a straight line segment will be converted to a Bezier curve just by dragging. That's a real expert feature. Normally, I just draw Bezier curves when I want them and don't try to convert between normal line segments and Beziers.
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Your video doesn't show the current behavior that, a straight line segment will be converted to a Bezier curve just by dragging.
Yes, I added this to the new build, available now.
I’d like to suggest separating the current Node Tool into two distinct tools
Separating the Node tool into two would technically be possible (maybe for 1.3), and easy to do, but then we need to clearly define what goes on into each of these (with the option that the current one is still available).
A major problem currently is that the Node tool is so overloaded with options and features that it has run out of modifier keys a long time ago.
But, I would like to avoid the situation where one needs to constantly switch between versions Node tools. I don't think the way Illustrator does this is the best.
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Well, I guess if you're overloaded with options and features, that would justify breaking that one tool into several, each of which doing a subset of the functions of the original one. If I classified the behavior I know of that that tool has, in order of most benign to most powerful, it would be:
Node selection
Translation of selected nodes
Translation of segments bounded by selected nodes by selecting segment directlyConversion of straight segments to Bezier curves
Deforming Bezier curves (unknown algorithm)
The first two classes could be combined into one tool (I think this is Illustrator's white arrow funcitonality)
The third should be a class in itself. Converting a data type is very different than selecting and translation. May not be invertible.
The fourth is available in Illustrator's white arrow-sort of. In Illustrator's, the slope of the Bezier control points that are not on the curve remains constant. It simply extends or shrinks them. This is very important because you usually know the slope at the end point of a curve. Dragging the curve with that constraint is really valuable. I'm not sure what your algorithm is, but decoupling the terminal slopes from the curve translation allows you to (1) put down the curve with slopes where you know them and (2) optimally fit the curve with these boundary conditions to, say a curve in an image.
That functionality could be put in the node selection tool if you divided off the datatype conversion to a separate tool.
