Hi, I've just started to write a blueprint for a Spray tool. You can find it here: http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/SpecSprayTool
I need input on the following topics:
1) I propose that 3 parameters can be controlled (scaling, rotation and color). Every parameter has limits and a randomness to fine tune how the variation works. I need to know your thoughts about this and any nuances that might appear while coding, or on the UI... which leads me to the second question.
2) Having so many boxes and buttons on a toolbar is going to take a lot of space. I suggest to have the settings placed like in the UI example and where 'Other options...' is put another button that unrolls a window with the variations controls (check boxes for activating scaling, rotation and color variations, limits and randomness). Any other viable suggestion with the purpose of reducing clutter will be welcomed ;)
3) I've put the use 'lightness of background' as an available option but I'm not sure what should affect exactly: width? scattering? Ideally, I would like to see that every parameter (width, scattering, scaling, rotation and color) could be altered by this switch independently (I'm going to aim high ;): and also by the tablet pressure).
4) This tool uses two radiuses: outer one is the Scatter radius, it's the maximum area in which the tool has effect. Inner one is the Width radius, it's the are in which most of the items are sprayed. I made the mockup this way but now I dislike it a bit. I think is more intuitive to adjust the maximum affected area with the Width parameter, and let the Scatter radius be a % of it but going towards the center (i .e.: always Width radius>Scatter radius). Tell me what you think of this behavior.
I think that's was all. Regards.