Using Mouse to Delete Nodes

Subpath

Double click on a Node inserts a Node in the middle between
two Nodes in Vectorstyler.

Maybe the middle mouse button could be used for this ?
Then with one click

But i dont know how happy Mac user would be with a solution like this.

Define another Shortcut Key then the Back Key would be another Idea.
A gaming mouse with a few more buttons may be also a possible solution?

debraspicher

@Subpath I think Affinity uses Ctrl + click. Don't quote me as I barely use it now. Holding a modifier to achieve this would be fine.

It might even be better for users with drawing tablets that there's a modifier key because that way it's not calling for a double click as some people turn that off to avoid issues with line defects when speed drawing/painting.

Edit: I put my designs through a cutting machine sometimes so I have to clean up paths before I do this. Especially if they're Pencil-drawn lines. Almost always have to go back and tidy up things.

Boldline

@debraspicher Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but why not just use the delete key to erase the nodes? VS does a very good job of maintaining the path even after deletion of certain nodes

VectorStyler

@debraspicher said in Using Mouse to Delete Nodes:

Is there a way to easily delete nodes that doesn't involve right click and selecting from the menu?

Select the node and press Delete, this is the easiest way.

Subpath

@debraspicher

I cleaned up a lot of paths, in my previous job. CorelDRAW was one of
the best apps for me to preserve the shape of a path.

However, my workflow involved keeping one hand on the Delete key
and the other double-clicking the mouse to add a node wherever I
thought it best to maintain the shape.

I think VectorStyler also does a pretty good job.

Ingolf

@debraspicher said in Using Mouse to Delete Nodes:

Is there a way to easily delete nodes that doesn't involve right click and selecting from the menu? In Corel, we can just double-click and it'll retain the line as much as it can. That's very helpful for node clean up.

This could be a brilliant opt-in feature, perhaps tucked away -but not far away - in an toolbar or somewhere more central (no thanks). For those of us who deal with heavy "clean-up" workflows involving hundreds of nodes, the current click-then-delete routine literally doubles the effort. It forces you to switch between two tools (mouse and keyboard) or, even worse, navigate a context menu.

In terms of usability, you must distinguish between different types of user needs:

The Disciplined Designer: These users work with precision, creating objects in just a few steps. Their needs are often the "default" focus in UI design because the extra overhead of a few clicks is negligible when the total operation count is low.
The Complex Vector Artist: Then there are those working on highly intricate designs where the node and object count is massive. In this context, doubling the steps for a repetitive task effectively doubles the production time for that specific operation.

I’m not sure what the exact split is between these user types, but I believe this is worth considering as an opt-in toggle. CorelDRAW has a great implementation of this, and VectorStyler already possesses superior curve-preserving algorithms. Combining that kind of algorithmic power with a frictionless way to remove nodes would be the perfect feature partnership.

VectorStyler

@Ingolf said in Using Mouse to Delete Nodes:

This could be a brilliant opt-in feature, perhaps tucked away

Could be a settings?

Ingolf

@VectorStyler said in Using Mouse to Delete Nodes:

@Ingolf said in Using Mouse to Delete Nodes:

This could be a brilliant opt-in feature, perhaps tucked away
Could be a settings?

I would prefer it instantly available - not in main settings. I would personally enable/disable it on the go in the same documents depending on where in a workflow I am.

Sleep on it perhaps.

Boldline

As a side note in this conversation, I use a foot pedal from elgato with two settings - one to delete nodes and another to create cusp nodes. (There's a third middle pedal option I use to switch to a tool - but that's not related to this thread)

This allows me to work quickly with a stylus (or mouse) and edit a design with a lot of existing nodes without touching the keyboard much at all. It can be set to whatever your most common needs are.

https://www.elgato.com/us/en/p/stream-deck-pedal

debraspicher

@Boldline That is what I usually do. I'll just keep doing that. I was just asking if there were a way that didn't involve the additional keypress and if could be done through the mouse-click itself.

Boldline

@debraspicher check out the elgato foot pedal I mentioned in this thread - I use it all the time now for speed. It's not as direct as what you were requesting but it's the next best thing in my opinion!

debraspicher

@Boldline I have a macro keyboard set to f13-24 keys I use so if I need additional I can use that. I am on a drafting chair with a footring so I wouldn't be able to reach the floor anyway and barely can with even most office chairs, if I'm honest...

Subpath

@Boldline

Thats a interesting and cool idea.
Did not know that something like this exist.

But i know foot pedals for musicans.

Ingolf

This little 8BitDo Micro gadget was recommended to me by some creative young people who both play and create:

It costs next to nothing. It comes with a wrist strap and weighs absolutely nothing, making it superbly useful on the go with a laptop or iPad. However, I’ve also grown fond of using it in my office chair; I’ve never had the patience for a desk cluttered with all sorts of accessories, but with this little guy in my hand, I can simply sit with my legs resting on the desk and draw nonchalantly with my right hand, while I quickly and easily with my left hand, with a single press, activate delete, copy, paste, duplicate, undo in particular, and several other features. The floor is overrated, Debra.

It is so small that it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, and once you have the placement and function of the buttons in your muscle memory, you are good to go. They make several models of that kind of controller, but this one in particular can at least fit in the palm of your hand without requiring more attention or space. I am not tempted by the larger models.

The config program is excellent, and it works by setting it to keyboard mode, so the computer or iPad thinks it’s an external keyboard.

It is so light and just hangs from the wrist, so you can easily type a bit as well, or reach for a cup of coffee while wearing it.

https://www.8bitdo.com/micro/

Different model – but here you see the wrist strap:

debraspicher

@Ingolf Yes, I had considered that as an option. There's a dedicated controller for Clip Studio that's pricey ($80~$100 US) that does pretty much the same thing, but it only works in CSP as far as I know.

I have the larger 8BitDo NES controller and so technically I could set it up with that. My macro keypad works well also and I have keep my hand hovering over it on the left side while working. I'm able to change switches and access different layers (assigned keys) via VIA also in the future.

This is what I use:

EPOMAKER EK21 ($36). It has surprisingly great build quality and the switches feel very solid...

I don't know about Mac, but in Windows we have mappable keys F13 ~ F24 that used to be on some keyboards back in the IBM days. They still exist within Windows and so anything can be mapped to them. It's helpful because this keyboard and even more expensive QMK firmware (VIA-supporting) keyboards have a limited amount of space in memory to store macros. So I don't need any software to use this and will work computer to computer without needing to install anything as long as I have the workspaces sync'ed

@vectorstyler Maybe these posts can be moved to a new thread referring to here so that we can talk about tools for customization elsewhere and it'll be easier to search for...

Ingolf

@debraspicher said in Using Mouse to Delete Nodes:

I don't know about Mac, but in Windows we have mappable keys F13 ~ F24

Apple has a fair amount of respect for our scenario, so there are F1 - F19 keys on Apple's desktop keyboards with a numeric keypad – in a single row, even (though that leaves no room for more than 19). They can be mapped to scripts and all sorts of things using utilities like BetterTouchTool, for instance, but I’ve never actually dived into that.

Splendid keyboard. It’s from back when Windows PCs were delivered with a quality keyboard with good tactile feedback (and a crisp sound) from the keys. I actually bought a Keychron keyboard to get that experience back, but flat keyboards are incredibly more ergonomic in use, so the nostalgia remains a memory now.

Subpath

@Ingolf

I saw this device a few days ago in a video by Brad Colbow.
It looks a bit small to me, but it could certainly be useful.

He compared various external controllers for graphics tablets.

For any one who is interest.
Here's the video from Brad Colbow.
Ranking the best drawing remotes

debraspicher

@Ingolf I'm using a Keychron Q6 Max with the official pad. It's more or less like a flat keyboard. I don't think I could ever go without a wrist pad. I have one for the mouse also.