"Basic Shapes"

We have the circle, square and star shapes that have "special" things happening when we drag the nodes; couldn't the basic shapes do special things too? As they stand, they are just 'symbols' that may as well be added in through fonts, clipart, clipboard, 'symbols' or a one click off-set: there is nothing special about them that warrants the space used in the toolbar (in my opinion of course ;)

In no particular order...

  • Would  be nice if there was an option to save and load settings (inc a "default") for individual 'special shapes'. Perhaps a docker to drag them on/off from, showing a thumbnail of the shape.
  • R-drag to "copy settings here" could copy all the settings to the same "class" of shape.
  • Couldn't all the "basic shapes" be under the one toolbar call-out?
  • Why is there both a 'polygon' and 'basic star' tool? they are both the same thing. Perhaps a button/value to flatten or input a impact/pointy value for it?
  • Why are there two individual types of "star"? Shouldn't there just be an option to make it 'basic' or 'full'?  (and an option to expand the basic into full or reduce the full to basic)
  • New Triangle Shape;
    • Have the center point on the top point as default so rotation handles spin it about this
    • Enter in one angle and have the others worked out (lock to 90º option, mirror angles) - on interactive toolbar
    • Pull opposing line to increase size of triangle
    • Triangle height (from baseline to primary corner) & line sizes on interactive toolbar
  • New Perspective Shape;
    • Node-edit pulls top nodes together/away (mirrored nodes and mirror lines shown - moving object's center would move the mirror line)
    • Dimension input on interactive toolbar for top line length, bottom line length and height
  • New Cross Shape;
    • As with filleted corners on a rectangle, node-edit to move internal corners (size and locks as per fillets on rectangle)
  • New Arrow Shape;
    • (variables accesable from the interactive toolbar, changed  with dragging nodes...)
    • Draw from point A to point B (Main tip and mid-tail nodes - length value)
    • Head size (how far down line the head comes - % of the length and value)
    • Head width (how wide the head is - value, angle & mirrored outer nodes)
    • Head inset (distance towards point for connecting lines to tail - mirrored inner nodes)
    • Head inset squeeze (how much narrower/wider the tail is at where it joins to the head - as per tail width, and option to lock the variables to tail width)
    • Tail width (% of head, value and mirrored nodes)
    • Option to lock everything except the length so that the arrow remains constant when the line length is pulled.
    • Button to flip start and end
  • New Moon Shape;
    • Two half circles; node to drag one half over the other or out to a circle, snap options for divisions on a circle
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  • Hi Gadget, 

    Gadget said:
    couldn't the basic shapes do special things too?

    The basic shapes, or perfect shapes, in Draw have 1 to 3 "glyphs" which are editable when the perfect shape tool or node edit tool are selected.  They show up as a small coloured diamond.  The glyphs can also be modified from the object properties docker.  CorelDRAW currently has your "Perspective", "Cross" and "Arrow" shape, all editable as you describe.

    Gadget said:
    Why is there both a 'polygon' and 'basic star' tool?

    As I understand, the star is a commonly needed shape.  Less technical users may not know that you can grab the midpoint of a polygon side, hold ctrl, and drag it inwards to make a star shape.

    Gadget said:
    Why are there two individual types of "star"? Shouldn't there just be an option to make it 'basic' or 'full'?  (and an option to expand the basic into full or reduce the full to basic)

    The complex star has overlaping sides.  You can't acheive this with the polygon tool or the standard star tool.

    A moon shape is a good idea, and it would be handy if the glyph controls also showed in the toolbar.

    Regards,
    Hendrik

     

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