Feature question/request

[evolbeagle]

Hi to Bob and all you KM forum members. Hope you're all doing well.

Shortly after posting this, I realized a work-around. See my follow-up post if you're interested. - MJ


I'm using KM 4.3.3 to do some vector illustration and there's a feature I would love to have since it would significantly speed up the way I work. Here's what I'm looking for:

I'd like to be able to toggle the point-by-point shape tool to automatically include curves. The way I work now, it's a three-step process. I use the point-by-point tool to lay out the basic shape I need, then I go back and add curves, then I drag the curves to precisely fit what I need. Having the ability to toggle on automatic curves would eliminate a step and, obviously, speed up the work flow. (It would also really help psychologically, since the two remaining steps are actually creative while the add-curve step is just donkey work. And let's face it: I can use all the psychological help I can get. )

Anyway, I know I can use the free-hand shape tool and it does automatically add curves as it goes. I do use that tool, but in many cases the point-by-point tool is preferable for what I'm doing.

So, is this feature available perhaps in an update that I don't have? Or maybe it's already in KM and I just can't find it? Or could it be added to an upcoming release?

I'll stay tuned for the answers to these thrilling questions.

Thanks,

Matt

[evolbeagle]

It turns out that all points can be manipulated while in add-curve mode. I actually was aware of this with regard to curve points, but I had never tried it with corner points until after I'd already posted the above request. So now I have my two-step process: I use the point-to-point tool to draw my basic shape, then I use the add-curve tool to both add curves where needed and manipulate all points on the fly.

While I'm on the subject of feature requests, though, I have two others:

1. A gradient that can conform to a shape's edges.

--Such a tool would allow any shape to have a feathered look. Right now, there is a radial gradient which allows a circle shape to have a feathered look, but odd shapes can't really be effectively feathered. Also, a tool like this, in conjunction with transparency settings, could allow some very paint-like color blending.

2. An option to fill the shape with a fractal pattern.

--I was fooling around with a demo version of Xara and saw this tool there (at what is admittedly a much higher price).

I still think KoolMoves is the easiest to use tool for vector drawing that I've ever come across. If you could somehow add these two features, I don't think you could beat it at twice the current price.

[Bob Hartzell]

1. A gradient that can conform to a shape's edges

-> I don't think this is supported by flash

[evolbeagle]

1. A gradient that can conform to a shape's edges

-> I don't think this is supported by flash

I bet you're right. Both of the programs I was trying that had that feature lost it when exporting as a swf. Darn.

On the other hand, the Xara fractal fill seems to sort of work as a swf export. It apparently makes the fractal pattern into a bitmap at that particular shape size. So it's a vector in the creation/manipulation stage, but bitmap once it's coverted to a swf. I don't know how that would work as a KoolMoves idea.

But how about this idea: In all your "spare time" you fork off a version of KoolMoves intended more as an illustration tool. Call it KoolPaint or something. Having that unmatched KM approach in an illustration program would really be great.

Why, I bet you have plenty of "spare time" for such a project, right?

[evolbeagle]

Would it be possible to modify the drop shadow tool into a pseudo-feather tool?

The idea would be to automate what I did in this swf:

Pseudo Feathered look

And here's the zipped fun file.

The effect is achieved by placing successively larger and darker shapes under the starting shape.

The parameters would be start and end color, number of levels or layers (up to some manageable limit), and an incremental size gain of some kind for each layer.

Even if it only really worked with regular shapes (squares, rectangles, pentagons, etc.) that would still be a pretty cool feature to have automated.

Okay, I'll stop with the feathering thing now. Good night.

[Bob Hartzell]

Doable but expensive in the swf.