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...
If I understand you right, you've got some good points, though I disagree on a few. I do agree that the basic shapes could stand some updating, including your points 1,2, and 3. I disagree that the basic shapes are simply symbols. A few of them are, but most have control nodes that allow for specialized reshaping that you don't get in other tools. I like the ease of use of those, and wouldn't want to have to input individual characteristics much more than is currently possible.
The polygon tool and the basic star tool are somewhat different. The polygon tool allows for symmetric rotation of nodes and both inward and outward movement. The basic Star tool is strictly an in and out setting of "pointiness" and doesn't allow for the sides to invert the way the polygon tool does. Admittedly, you can make stars from polygons and polygons from stars, but if you've got a quick job to be done, I like to be able to grab the one that's going to do what I want fastest without converting to curves.
Triangles: Some of what you say could be handy. Right now the best way I know of to draw an isosolese triangle is with the smart drawing tool. At that point, it becomes a basic shape. Why isn't this in the basic shapes list? I wouldn't want the center of rotaion changed by default. Right now, ALL objects have the center of rotation as the center of the object (or at least the center of the selection handles) by default. Changing that for a few objects would play havoc with working with CorelDRAW because you'd never know what to expect.
Perspective Shape: Doesn't the trapezoid in the Basic Shapes do this now? I may not be understanding what you're asking for here.
Arrow shape - I think this would take a whole new tool, far from Basic Shapes, and more along the lines of the line end options (where there is a button to reverse the curve and you can create your own arrowheads.)
Love th idea of the moon shape! That one really is what Basic Shapes are all about and would come in ever so handy for a lot of projects.
Val P.
Stars: I was not proposing that they are 'done away with', just that since there is so much common ground between them they could all be the one tool with three different modes: like elipse, pie and arc are three modes of the one tool. Poligon, star and complex star. Changing from one to another should be just a click.
Basic Shapes: I wasn't aware that the basic shapes actually had movable parts (*)... but in comparison to the rest of Draw's tools, they are not very (visually) intuative and lack any accuracy.
The settings would definetly be handy on the interactive toolbar, or even a docker/rollup... but exactly what to display here I don't know... Perhaps a numerical off-set for each 'glyph' point?
For continuity, I would like to see these glyph points as a special node that (if applicable) lock to a shape-specific guide-line.
I would also like to see nodes where I expect them to be - so I can move the shape and snap it properly - they may be locked down, but I would still like to see them.
Been trying to work out what makes a basic shape special - why can't I implement some of these functions to make my own "basic shapes" and help when I'm node-editing?... I can think on a couple of special properties that some nodes within a shape have:
Just about every special effect and edit that you can do within a "basic shape" could be done with these tools. I've not worked out how the 'speach bubble' call-out jumps round the shape, but it's very cool. Can't see how it would be of use outside of a speach-bubble or call-out dimension though.
If you could apply these things to existing nodes of a shape, then you could create your own "basic shapes" - you could have a library of them... actually these "properties" on nodes could make 'symbols' very powerful.
The existing shapes... I think all that are not "special" are pointless and some that are could do with a bit of tweaking, but that's for another day.
(*Tell a lie, I probably was aware, but just forgot: too many features & tools )
Val P. said:Triangles: Some of what you say could be handy. Right now the best way I know of to draw an isosolese triangle is with the smart drawing tool. At that point, it becomes a basic shape. Why isn't this in the basic shapes list?
I normally draw a square, break it, add a node in the middle of one side and delete the ones either side: this way I can get an accuratly sized triangle. I suppose I could just use the polygon on 3 sides then stretch it (or type in the size) as well - that seems quicker and I can snap within a shape.
I wouldn't want the center of rotaion changed by default. Right now, ALL objects have the center of rotation as the center of the object (or at least the center of the selection handles) by default. Changing that for a few objects would play havoc with working with CorelDRAW because you'd never know what to expect.