How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?

[Boldline]

@Subpath I probably need to go back and try this advice again
https://www.vectorstyler.com/forum/topic/725/path-sketch-consistency-in-adding-or-subtracting

[Subpath]

@Boldline said in How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?:

@Subpath I probably need to go back and try this advice again
https://www.vectorstyler.com/forum/topic/725/path-sketch-consistency-in-adding-or-subtracting

thanks for the link, interesting stuff

[Boldline]

@VectorStyler So going back to the old notes - essentially, if I create a closed loop with the Path Sketch tool it will erase that selection and if I create a loop but do not fully close it, it will create a fill in the selection.
Here's an example where I try this and while some work as expected, other times, it does the opposite to me - maybe I'm still missing something?

[b77]

@Boldline It's not about the loop being closed or open — it's about where the start and end points are:

• if you start somewhere over the existing shape, go outside of it then return inside the shape, this will add to the shape;
• if you start outside the shape, go over it then go again to end the path outside, this will carve out a piece from the existing shape.

[Boldline]

@b77 said in How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?:

@Boldline It's not about the loop being closed or open — it's about where the start and end points are:

• if you start somewhere over the existing shape, go outside of it then return inside the shape, this will add to the shape;
• if you start outside the shape, go over it then go again to end the path outside, this will carve out a piece from the existing shape.

Thanks for resounding @b77. I agree with you that is a great way to do it but from reading what @vectorstyler wrote last August, it sounds like open and closed paths are what matter most... Unless I am reading it wrong.
I seem to have issues with getting consistent path sketch results regardless

VectorStyler ADMINISTRATORS Aug 3, 2021, 2:52 AM @Boldline

@Boldline If the new paint is self intersecting then a closed shape is created that is extracted from the other shape.

The difference is in using open (not self intersecting) or closed (self intersecting at the end) shapes when painting.

when a closed shape is painted, it is excluded.
when an open shape is painted, and it has at least two intersection points with the existing shape, then between the outermost two intersection points, the part of the existing shape is replaced with the part of the new shape. This can mean removal or addition, depending on how the new shape is positioned.
there are some other cases also, but it gets complicated

[b77]

@Boldline You're right, a closed path will always extract from the existing shape.

But if the path drawn with the Path Sketch tool is not closed, it looks like it follows the two rules I wrote above.

[Subpath]

@b77 said in How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?:

@Boldline It's not about the loop being closed or open — it's about where the start and end points are:

• if you start somewhere over the existing shape, go outside of it then return inside the shape, this will add to the shape;
• if you start outside the shape, go over it then go again to end the path outside, this will carve out a piece from the existing shape.

While this sounds good, it seems that it dont would always
work this way.

Here my Video Example

[b77]

@Subpath It looks like there is auto-closing involved, meaning if the end point is close enough to the start point (and both are overlapping the shape), the app will treat the new path as a closed shape and thus subtract it from the existing shape.

But only the developer can confirm that.

[Boldline]

@b77 said in How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?:

@Boldline You're right, a closed path will always extract from the existing shape.

But if the path drawn with the Path Sketch tool is not closed, it looks like it follows the two rules I wrote above.

ok - this an interesting development that I will need to test out further. I've always wanted to utilize this awesome tool but never felt like i actually could predict the action it would take next - maybe we're getting to the bottom of it now

[Subpath]

@b77

I think i found a way which work as you descripe it above.

It would work the way you wrote as long as you use
open shapes.

see Video here

[Boldline]

@Subpath said in How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?:

I would work the way you wrote as long as you use
open shapes.

yeah that was what I was coming to same conclusion with... and the closed path cutting a hole can be useful if you want a negative space within a shape but do not want to cut all the way in from the outside

[b77]

@Subpath Yes, I think this is normal, feels "natural" and makes sense — if you want to add to a shape you won't start deep inside the existing shape and won't extend the path too deep inside it again. You will instead start inside the shape, close to its "boundary" and end back close inside the boundary.

[Boldline]

@b77 said in How to set pencil to use the fill option only instead of stroke and fill?:

@Subpath Yes, I think this is normal, feels "natural" and makes sense — if you want to add to a shape you won't start deep inside that shape and won't extend the path too deep inside it again. You will instead start close to the "boundary" of the shape and end back close inside the boundary.

Yes - and if you wanted an encapsulated negative space cut out of a shape, it would makes sense to close that path