bulia byak wrote:
I added two new commands to the Path menu: Dynamic offset and Linked offset. Now simple Inset/Outset commands work on paths, and the two new commands create an "offset object" that can be dynamically adjusted by the node tool. The difference between them is that Dynamic offset transforms the selected object into an offset, while Linked offset adds a new offset object that is linked to the original path, so you can edit the original path and its linked offset will be updated. This is a very powerful tool and I'm really excited about it.
Further extensions to make this an uber tool:
There needs to be a 'convert to path' dynamic tool, which maintains a path converted from the original shape (spiral, oval etc) so that the user can edit the handles on the original shape.
presumably a similar 'stroke to path' dynamic tool could be useful, although I haven't found myself wanting it yet.
Rather than defaulting to 'cap', outset should allow the user to choose between the 3 corner choices, cap, mitre and bevel.
Why does the path always get closed? I can't see any justification for this in the algorithm?
Why does a crossed (self intersecting) path get 'unwound' when making outset? I would have thought that a reasonable definition would be 'the curve n pixels to the left of this curve as I walk in the standard direction'. This would remove some of the abiguity I think?
And there are still artifacts :) (I wouldn't worry about this though)
njh