Copy vector subpath ?

[kevjon]

I have created a vector layer and there is a number of vector paths on that layer.

I have selected one vector subpath and want to copy it a different location on the same vector layer. Is that possible ?
In PS you just hold ALT key while dragging it a new location.

The copy and paste function seems to copy and paste everything on vector layer to a new layer

[bkh]

If I had to copy a subpath, I'd use "Layout -> Vector -> Split Vector Layer" to create one layer per subpath, then copy the needed layer(s) and (if required) use "Layout -> Vector -> Merge Marked Vector Layers" to create a single layer containing all the subpaths. In many cases, you can use a group of vector layers instead of a single vector layer (e.g., as a layer mask).

Cheers

Burkhard.

[photoken]

You have to keep in mind the differences between PL's object organization and terminology and the organization and terminology of other applications:

PL creates objects on their own "layers" (in PL's terminology). So, the equivalent of "objects" in other applications is PL's "layers". The equivalent of "layers" in other applications is PL's "Groups".

[Herbert123]

This is indeed a different workflow in Photoline.

I have good news however! I was tinkering around with combined vector shapes in PL today, and by sheer accident I decided to <ALT>-click on one of the anchor points of a circle shape - and low and behold: it selects the CONNECTED points only!

I was sorta stunned, because it was something I sorely missed (to being able to select connected points and move only those). Works well.

When you <alt> click on a second shape it gets selected as well, making it easy to move both or multiple combined shapes.

Is this documented at all? Yes, it actually is:

6. The Tools in the Toolbox
6.4 Tools for Vector Layers
6.4.1 Edit Vector Points
You can select and edit curve points with this tool. By holding Alt and clicking a vector point the whole subpath will be selected.

Pwah! I never realized, and I messed around with converting the sub-paths to separate layers and back again. This will save some time, indeed.


*Addendum* It is also mentioned in the tooltip in the status bar at the bottom of the screen. I will remind myself to check that out next time.

[photoken]

Pwah! I never realized, and I messed around with converting the sub-paths to separate layers and back again. This will save some time, indeed.

Sure, but it still seems strange to me that a subpath cannot easily be cut or copied to another layer. The method described by bkh and you is the only way to do that.

Whoa! I feel a feature request coming on....

[Herbert123]

Pwah! I never realized, and I messed around with converting the sub-paths to separate layers and back again. This will save some time, indeed.

Sure, but it still seems strange to me that a subpath cannot easily be cut or copied to another layer. The method described by bkh and you is the only way to do that.

Whoa! I feel a feature request coming on....

I agree - the <alt>-click option works nice, but what if we wanted to copy that particular shape to another shape layer, or just create a single shape vector layer out of it? Can't do it easily at all. Because cutting or copying will copy the entire layer's content - not just the selected anchor points.

Imagine having a slightly more complicated shape that consists of twenty sub-paths - that's going to be troublesome indeed.

You will make the request?

[kevjon]

Hi guys

Thanks for the responses. I am creating vector paths for rivet lines and panel lines on textures for a 3d aircraft model. Its quite detailed work.

There are a hundred or more vector paths on the same layer. Every time I want to copy a vector path to duplicate it for the other side of the aircraft I don't want to split my layer into a hundred or more layers.
One of the things that attracted me to PL was the fact that the software did not require a separate layer for each vector path (because I need to do so many). Even if I could split off one vector subpath and duplicate its layer would be an improvement.

The other thing I also noticed is that there doesn't seem to be any tools to scale or rotate vector subpaths ?

The good news is that at Herbert suggestion I should try out Krita led me to a really nice discovery. The latest stable version 2.8.3 has very good vector drawing tools, copying subpaths is easy as ctl+C and Ctl+v although not as easy as PS. Click on the path gives you a bounding box to rotate and scale the sub path. Its really nice and I'm looking forward to delving into it more deeply. Krita also imported my photoshop textures without all the messy different layer sizes of PL.

PL's vector drawing tools are very nice but needs duplicating sub paths sorted out and a method to transform them. Where can I make those feature requests ?

[bkh]

The other thing I also noticed is that there doesn't seem to be any tools to scale or rotate vector subpaths ?

Copying and pasting selections of control points seem a natural extension of PL's vector functionality, to me. (I'm a bit undecided whether "Paste" should create a subpath or a new vector layer with the "Edit Vector points" tool, though.)

However, I think that transformations are better handled on a layer basis (with the additional benefit that they are non-destructive by default, because that means using the same workflow for image layers and vector layers, which makes a much simpler UI. (You could still merge the transformed vector layer afterwards.)

But I still don't quite understand why you don't just use a group of 100 vector layers. As photoken wrote, just think of PL's groups as PS layers, and of PL layers as PS subpaths. Using PL layers, you also have the full power of virtual copies at your disposal, and you can select individual objects from the Layer panel. (Imo, PL subpaths only make sense if the subpaths intersect to form more complex objects containing holes etc.)

Cheers

Burkhard.

[kevjon]

But I still don't quite understand why you don't just use a group of 100 vector layers. As Herbert wrote, just think of PL's groups as PS layers, and of PL layers as PS subpaths. Using PL layers, you also have the full power of virtual copies at your disposal, and you can select individual objects from the Layer panel. (Imo, PL subpaths only make sense if the subpaths intersect to form more complex objects containing holes etc.)

Its because I need so many vector paths it becomes awkward to manage so many vector layers. The translate tools for vector paths are setup by layer also so if that is the way PL works best then that is the way I will use it. Thanks for letting me know.
Having said that I still prefer the idea of just a couple of vector layers and being able to work with sub paths because it is so much easier to manage.

[Martin Huber]

(I'm a bit undecided whether "Paste" should create a subpath or a new vector layer with the "Edit Vector points" tool, though.)

I don't know that either.

And I don't know how to handle the selection of non-consecutive points. Should copy/paste create subpaths or a single path? What should cut do? Simply delete the selected points or cut the path at the selected positions?

Martin

[photoken]

(I'm a bit undecided whether "Paste" should create a subpath or a new vector layer with the "Edit Vector points" tool, though.)

I don't know that either.

It should have the option to do either.

And I don't know how to handle the selection of non-consecutive points. Should copy/paste create subpaths or a single path? What should cut do? Simply delete the selected points or cut the path at the selected positions?

The proposed vector Cut and Copy functions should only be available for self-contained subpaths. For example, if a vector layer contains a square, a circle and a curved line, the proposal is to be able to cut or copy just the square, etc., to the Clipboard and paste it into another vector layer.

If non-consecutive points are selected, the proposed vector Cut and Copy options should not be available.

[photoken]

As Herbert wrote, just think of PL's groups as PS layers, and of PL layers as PS subpaths.

Ahem....

[bkh]

As Herbert wrote, just think of PL's groups as PS layers, and of PL layers as PS subpaths.

Ahem....

Sorry, should have been more careful …

Burkhard.

[kevjon]

And I don't know how to handle the selection of non-consecutive points. Should copy/paste create subpaths or a single path? What should cut do? Simply delete the selected points or cut the path at the selected positions?

The proposed vector Cut and Copy functions should only be available for self-contained subpaths. For example, if a vector layer contains a square, a circle and a curved line, the proposal is to be able to cut or copy just the square, etc., to the Clipboard and paste it into another vector layer.

I want to copy & paste to the same vector layer and then have move, scale, mirror tools available to manipulate the sub path within the vector layer. In Krita and Photoshop this is how it works and makes for easy workflow and keeps the layer count under control.
An option to paste a sub path to a new vector layer would be very useful also.

[Herbert123]

I am completely with Kevjon on this one: to be able to transform sub-paths would be awesome. Another challenge is aligning sub-paths.

But perhaps all of this could be solved more easily by introducing an option to force groups of layers to remain closed in the layer stack, even though we select them in the view? I often also work with very complex files that have many elements grouped in groups and sub groups.

Currently when I select a sub-item, the entire group opens in the layer stack - something undesired, because it causes the sub-groups to be opened in the layer stack, together with perhaps hundreds of other layers as well.

I always have to close those manually again, and again, and again, and again.... You get the picture. It eats up a LOT of my design time. Perhaps open and collapse layer groups automatically in the layer stack should be an option in the preferences. Or an option to leave the layer stack closed, and only open the layer stack when a special hotkey is pressed (that is what I would like to see, personally)

I experienced the same issue in Photoshop, but not in Illustrator: in Illustrator selecting elements does not open the layer stack like that, because in vector apps we tend to work with hundreds or even thousands of objects simultaneously, and having groups open the complete layer stack automatically would create mayhem.