affinity designer First attempt at Polygon Art

[robertjscott3]

Hey everyone!

 

Just downloaded Affinity Designer over the weekend and took a shot at making polygon art. Below are the original image and the polygon version.

 

It wasn't until after I finished this that I figured out how to snap nodes to a single point, which explains some of the gaps.

 

One question - after I create the mask of triangles, I rasterize them, and begin to fill them in. Is there anyway to then delete the lines of the mask in the middle? Or a way to color them after being rasterized?

 

Thanks!

[MEB]

Hi robertjscott3,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

There's no need to rasterize the triangles. You can keep everything editable as vectors.

 

Instead of using separate lines to create the triangles (which is what i believe you're doing), you can use closed paths instead (shapes) using the Pen tool (you can enable Line Mode on the context toolbar to limit its output to straight segments).

 

Then fill the shapes (triangles) with the colour you want (the Fill color square on the context toolbar) and remove the stroke to make the (construction) lines disappear.

[robertjscott3]

Thanks, MEB.

 

So as long as I close off the shape I can use the fill bar.

 

If I want to use the Flood Fill tool, I do have to rasterize, correct?

[MEB]

Yes, the Fill tool (in the Pixel Persona) only works on pixel layers and so you have to rasterize the objects first.

 

Affinity Designer works with both types of data: vector and raster objects.

In Draw Persona (first icon on the top below the traffic lights) you work with vectors (the tools are vector based);

In Pixel Persona (the second icon) you work with raster/pixels data (the tools are pixel based).

 

For this type of work, vector objects give you more versatility because you can change basically anything you want, from the shape of the triangle, to its fill, stroke, apply adjustments and effects to individual objects etc.

If you work with pixels or rasterize the vector objects, you are then more limited since you have to use layers (and selections) to manipulate the objects individually, i mean, you can't change their attributes (fill, color etc) directly.

[robertjscott3]

Awesome!

 

I'll make sure to post my next project!

[kja17]

Hey, I don't get the workflow already.. maybe you can explain me a little bit in detail :)

 

1. I load a reference photo and lock it

2. I make a new layer and use the pen tool for triangels - how do I align/snap them? 

3. I color the shapes - how can I be quick with the pipette and filling tool, are there shortcuts?

4. I mark all and hide the lines - that's it?!?

[brownpanda]

Hi robertjscott3,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

There's no need to rasterize the triangles. You can keep everything editable as vectors.

 

Instead of using separate lines to create the triangles (which is what i believe you're doing), you can use closed paths instead (shapes) using the Pen tool (you can enable Line Mode on the context toolbar to limit its output to straight segments).

 

Then fill the shapes (triangles) with the colour you want (the Fill color square on the context toolbar) and remove the stroke to make the (construction) lines disappear.

 

Hi Meb,

 

Could you please tell something more about 'close paths" and "fill triangles'. I draw "triangle shape"  using pen tool and I can't color each triangle separately. I use divide, but it still not working. What am I missing here?

 

Thanks

[MEB]

Hi brownpanda,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

By closed shapes I mean ending/closing the triangle shape clicking over the node where you started the triangle with the Pen Tool. This will close the path and will let you fill it with colour. 

[brownpanda]

Hi brownpanda,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

By closed shapes I mean ending/closing the triangle shape clicking over the node where you started the triangle with the Pen Tool. This will close the path and will let you fill it with colour. 

 

Ok, thank you, that's helpful.

:)

[mischayabish]

Hi there. I hope it's fine if I refresh this thread. It's the one I found while googling for an answer to the following question:

 

I'd like to move around edges of my triangle sticked together. But I always end up only moving one edge, even if i select both.

Is there a good solution for this problem?

 

 

Thank you!

[MEB]

Hi mischayabish,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

[EDITED] Select both shapes that compose the edge(s) you are trying to move with the Node Tool, then drag a marquee around the nodes that define those edges and drag them on canvas clicking and dragging over one of them. Check this clip (no sound) for more details.

[JokeRat]

@;MEB: Maybe I'm wrong on this (on both ends) but I think he meant to move two nodes on two different shapes that are on the same spot (i.e.: the far left node of the dark brown and the light peachy one) and if I'm not completely off: that doesn't work with your posted solution or does it?

[MEB]

Hi JokeRat,

No, it doesn't. I misundertood @mischayabish's question. Thanks for your support.

I've edited the post and added a small clip. Hopefully this will make things clear.

[JokeRat]

Great addition MEB. *thumbsup* Learned something new today. Thanks for making the clip.

[jer]

Hi mischayabish,

Welcome to Affinity Forums :)

[EDITED] Select both shapes that compose the edge(s) you are trying to move with the Node Tool, then drag a marquee around the nodes that define those edges and drag them on canvas clicking and dragging over one of them. Check this clip (no sound) for more details.

 

Wow! Did not know how to do that. Thanks!