reply from Vectric to my inquiry: Many thanks for your inquiry.
Many of the Draw Curves tool have been integrated into the main Draw Polyline tool now, and for general curve drawing, the Freehand tool now has superseded the old Draw Curve tool for use, especially in tasks like Tracing as a faster and easier tool to use.
When using the mouse to draw lines with the Polyline tool, you can now click and drag your curves instead. Click and Release will make a Straight Line while Click and Drag produces a curved line for you and you can switch between them on the fly easily in the new Updated Polyline tool. So the draw curve tool now resides with the Dodo bird.
Try using the freehand drawing tool. You can go the nodes tool and notice it will reduce the number of nodes down to approximate the curve you drew and it better adjusts the node anchors to match the way you drew the line. I always found the draw curve tool frustrating, and since I have done a number of State drawings I am always working on a curve like a shoreline.
I agree to the point that both functions should most definitely be available, but the "flag" style is actually more accurate and use fewer curves if you know how to use it. A quick approximate outline is most easily created with the draw curve and it's the most intuitive for beginners for creating vectors, but a more accurate vector with fewer points and lines (these are called bezier curves and the flags act as "magnets" or gravitational pulls for the curve which is what gives the accuracy) can actually create an outline with fewer clicks and more accuracy if you know how to use it well. None the less, in my belief the more functions we have the better but I think they tried to remove functions to simplify the user interface and didn't realize 95% of users prefer the easy way, I got 30 years of experience with vector graphics and cnc machining and I'll use the 2 options equally depending on the work needed to be done. The thing with bezier curves is that you have to know by experience how the curve will react before setting your next point and for most people it just doesn't make any sense and will take 3 times longer.
Thank you for posting this. I can't draw smooth curves without the "draw curve" function. It's frustrating! Why Vectric decided to remove this asset is beyond my comprehension. Sure, the new sketch carving tool is a nice bell and whistle but I would rarely use it for my everyday purposes. My focus and desire is to make unique 'whatevers' not cute pictures I can snatch from the interweb or AI generated. Okay, I vented. :):) Like always, Garrett, your videos are always informative and much appreciated.
Thanks Garrett for this update. I must say this is pretty disappointing as I use it like my right hand, almost all the time. Maybe I won't even update for this reason. Surely hope this put it back 8n it's proper place.😢
Garret I have jumped in and updated to 12 and I am angry it's totally different to 11.0 11/5 ...I subscribed to Learn my CNC by Kyle Lyle and I am working through it...this CNC business sure is costing me an absolute fortune 😩😩
The draw curves tool has been added into the polyline/line tool , Pressing the letter "S" while in the tool will swap to the Curves Mode pressing again will swap back . The software remembers the mode that the tool was left in so when you return next time it will default to its last setting.
andrevellin6952, That sounds like a fantastic update! Being able to easily switch between modes will definitely streamline the workflow when designing complex shapes. It's great that the software remembers your last setting too; that will save a lot of time. Thanks for sharing this information!
In the latest (trial) version of 12, the original functionality of the draw curve tool is back, inside the draw polyline tool. Guess enough people complained and they put it back. I'm evaluating the trial version now, but I assume it will be the same in the upgraded version also. Only the first node when you start is a little strange, but the rest, just keep on clicking, and the curve follows your click like the original. Also, the S key toggles between straight line and curve when drawing.
zoltan8922, It's great to hear that they've brought back functionality that users enjoyed! The improvements to the draw curve tool sound promising, and I can see how they would enhance the workflow. Keeping that flexibility with the S key is a smart addition too. Happy experimenting with the trial version!
I do a lot of inlay work and constantly tracing bitmaps. I use the V12 freehand tool as I find it much easier to control than the curve tool especially if you have numerous undulations. Then all you have to do is press "N" into node edit and fine tune your curves...
tankuman, That's a great technique! Using the V12 freehand tool can definitely make it easier to control the curves for intricate inlay work. Pressing "N" into node edit is a smart way to fine-tune your curves for a precise design.
If you use Gear gadget, you will not get to use in in version 12, this is what Vectric said in an email to me "It looks like the Gear Gadget would been remaking to V12 but at this time we do not have any timeline for plans to do that"
Hey Garrett, looking forward to Next Wednesday. Thanks again for the invite. I am thinking that with the new freehand drawing tool which is a more liquid flowing drawing tool, Vectric most likely didn't see a need for the draw curve tool. Ever since the free hand tool came out in 11.554 (I believe that was the version), I immediately made the move to use it instead of the draw curve tool, I like the flow, especially when doing exactly what you were demonstrating with tracing the outline of the face in the image. I am sure you have experimented with the freehand tool, I really like it for this type of task. Great video, I enjoy your content!
Just great! I'm still recovering from the last upgrade when I went from version 6 to 11.. For example having to zoom in and delete every little bit of waste material by clicking on each individual piece in the preview toolpath section. The older version just had a delete waste button which deleted everything with one click. Or am I missing something?
AusWorkshop, glad to hear this one helped you brother! As for the delete waste button, I need to look into that one my friend. That would be a cool tool.
The best solution is to draw polyline with lines only and after édit all the nodes of the polyline to convert to spline with buttons right and select S. It's the only way for me to have a correct curve.
Thanks for highlighting the curve tool, am wondering what version it was introduced as a few years back I needed that function, I called it the bezier curve ability, to create nice graded curves between static measured points. A similar drawing ability existed in a word processor program called Final Copy on a Commodore Amiga in the late 1980's but that usefulness has been lost on other software since
CrankedOver, you are so welcome brother! You bring up a lot of good points regarding similar draw abilities on previous software. I could definitely see how that would be useful.
I haven’t yet downloaded Vecrtric, though I will in the next couple of weeks. Having watched a bunch of tutorials, it does look a lot like the pen tool in Photoshop and Illustrator. I use Photoshop a lot and probably will continue to do so as a prep tool for Vectric. Great job on the video. I’ll be curious to see if it is similar here.
Yes- This is an older style of the Pen tool in Illustrator. Adobe updated a feature that allows a more fluid process with the last node placed with the Pen tool. There are so many tutorials out there on mastering the Pen tool because it is not intuitive. As you mentioned, there are workarounds that are time-consuming, such as adding more nodes and converting to curves.
while not as good you can do the outline with the draw line tool, (just click where you want the inflection points), once done use the "fit Curves to vectors" tool with fitting set to "bezier curves" you then have to play with the tolerance (up it quite a bit as far as i can tell). Not as good and not as quick but it has a similar effect as what you are doing
@@IDCWoodcraft For the record, here is how I stated my case to Vectric: I am fully aware of the Draw Polyline & Freehand tools, & often use them. But they do NOT replicate the speed & accuracy with which I can trace a complex curve using the Draw Curve tool. The Polyline tool can leave you with distorted curves & handles that are placed in unintuitive positions, & then you have to fiddle with correcting them. And you can inadvertently end up with straight line segments if you're not careful. Then you have to fiddle with handles, nodes, or just undo to get them right. The Freehand tool depends on how steady you can move your mouse & how well you can see your background image through the image of your moving mouse cursor. Yes, the smoothness controls can help, but it's still not perfect. Using the Draw Curve tool, you can very precisely place the crosshairs of your mouse cursor before clicking. Even with your best efforts, the Polyline & Freehand tools result in vector segments with noticeably more nodes than the Draw Curve tool, which unnecessarily slows down toolpath execution on the machine. So you either have to accept that, or waste time removing unnecessary nodes. After fighting V12 to trace a BMP for over 45 minutes, I went back to V11.5 and used the Draw Curve tool to trace the same BMP in 15 SECONDS, & ended up with only about 1/4 to 1/3 the number of nodes. The Draw Curve tool is NOT redundant functionality that can be deprecated. It is an INNOVATIVE APPROACH that Vectric created to draw smooth, complex curves, that is distinct from drawing tools found in even dedicated graphics programs. In fact, I sometimes use it SPECIFICALLY to draw, rather than using my other graphics programs. Please do not abandon this extremely useful tool.
Good news. It looks like V 12.007 has effectively restored the equivalent of the Draw Curve tool. It's addressed in the first line of the release notes, & I've tested it. To work like the Draw Curve tool of old, use the Polyline Tool, click your first point, then tap S on the keyboard. Now you can click points (not click-drag), & they will be connected by curves, just like the old Draw Curve. Tapping S again will switch you back to the straight-line Polyline Tool. Thanks Vectric!
So it seems they hid the curve tool in the line tool per the video they put out: ruclips.net/video/bn1qBrFMsW0/видео.html Basically use the line tool then hit "S" on the keyboard to toggle to the curve tool
olbilldoor, Thanks for sharing the tip from the video! I'll have to give that a try next time I'm working on a project. It's always great to learn new shortcuts.
![How To Engrave Glass On a CNC Router [With A Drag Bit], Glass Etching](/img/1.gif)
reply from Vectric to my inquiry:
Many thanks for your inquiry.
Many of the Draw Curves tool have been integrated into the main Draw Polyline tool now, and for general curve drawing, the Freehand tool now has superseded the old Draw Curve tool for use, especially in tasks like Tracing as a faster and easier tool to use.
When using the mouse to draw lines with the Polyline tool, you can now click and drag your curves instead.
Click and Release will make a Straight Line while Click and Drag produces a curved line for you and you can switch
between them on the fly easily in the new Updated Polyline tool.
So the draw curve tool now resides with the Dodo bird.
pwilisch, thanks for reaching out to Vectric on that one brother! That is very informative.
Try using the freehand drawing tool. You can go the nodes tool and notice it will reduce the number of nodes down to approximate the curve you drew and it better adjusts the node anchors to match the way you drew the line. I always found the draw curve tool frustrating, and since I have done a number of State drawings I am always working on a curve like a shoreline.
oscar33212, good call brother. I really like that idea! Thanks for the tips on another way to set this up.
I agree to the point that both functions should most definitely be available, but the "flag" style is actually more accurate and use fewer curves if you know how to use it.
A quick approximate outline is most easily created with the draw curve and it's the most intuitive for beginners for creating vectors, but a more accurate vector with fewer points and lines (these are called bezier curves and the flags act as "magnets" or gravitational pulls for the curve which is what gives the accuracy) can actually create an outline with fewer clicks and more accuracy if you know how to use it well.
None the less, in my belief the more functions we have the better but I think they tried to remove functions to simplify the user interface and didn't realize 95% of users prefer the easy way, I got 30 years of experience with vector graphics and cnc machining and I'll use the 2 options equally depending on the work needed to be done.
The thing with bezier curves is that you have to know by experience how the curve will react before setting your next point and for most people it just doesn't make any sense and will take 3 times longer.
ApeHolder42066, good points my friend! You and I both hope that draw curves will come back on new upgrades to help out the beginner CNCer!
Thank you for posting this. I can't draw smooth curves without the "draw curve" function. It's frustrating! Why Vectric decided to remove this asset is beyond my comprehension. Sure, the new sketch carving tool is a nice bell and whistle but I would rarely use it for my everyday purposes. My focus and desire is to make unique 'whatevers' not cute pictures I can snatch from the interweb or AI generated. Okay, I vented. :):) Like always, Garrett, your videos are always informative and much appreciated.
pwilisch, you are so welcome brother! Glad to hear this one helped you so much.
Thank you for posting this. I use draw curves all the time. I'll wait on upgrading Aspire until they bring it back.
VincentBee2532, you are so welcome my friend.
Thanks Garrett for this update. I must say this is pretty disappointing as I use it like my right hand, almost all the time. Maybe I won't even update for this reason. Surely hope this put it back 8n it's proper place.😢
andreww6738, you are so welcome brother. The update has its pro's and cons for sure my friend!
Garret
I have jumped in and updated to 12 and I am angry it's totally different to 11.0 11/5 ...I subscribed to Learn my CNC by Kyle Lyle and I am working through it...this CNC business sure is costing me an absolute fortune 😩😩
The draw curves tool has been added into the polyline/line tool , Pressing the letter "S" while in the tool will swap to the Curves Mode pressing again will swap back . The software remembers the mode that the tool was left in so when you return next time it will default to its last setting.
andrevellin6952, That sounds like a fantastic update! Being able to easily switch between modes will definitely streamline the workflow when designing complex shapes. It's great that the software remembers your last setting too; that will save a lot of time. Thanks for sharing this information!
Try the freehand sketch tool. I think it works decent.
Not accurate enough for right tracking
I use the draw curves function ALL THE TIME. Won't upgrade until they bring it back.
darinhickling8121, reach out to vectric brother! A lot of other CNCers have and the more folks asking for this feature back the better my friend.
In the latest (trial) version of 12, the original functionality of the draw curve tool is back, inside the draw polyline tool. Guess enough people complained and they put it back. I'm evaluating the trial version now, but I assume it will be the same in the upgraded version also. Only the first node when you start is a little strange, but the rest, just keep on clicking, and the curve follows your click like the original. Also, the S key toggles between straight line and curve when drawing.
zoltan8922, It's great to hear that they've brought back functionality that users enjoyed! The improvements to the draw curve tool sound promising, and I can see how they would enhance the workflow. Keeping that flexibility with the S key is a smart addition too. Happy experimenting with the trial version!
they just replace curves in version 12.05 update check it out
ranger2056, good call brother! Ill take a look.
Auto cad needs the draw curve tool too!! That version 12 function is exactly like what Autocad function has!!😡
scottdennis6658, good points my friend. I couldn't agree more.
I do a lot of inlay work and constantly tracing bitmaps. I use the V12 freehand tool as I find it much easier to control than the curve tool especially if you have numerous undulations. Then all you have to do is press "N" into node edit and fine tune your curves...
tankuman, That's a great technique! Using the V12 freehand tool can definitely make it easier to control the curves for intricate inlay work. Pressing "N" into node edit is a smart way to fine-tune your curves for a precise design.
I have used both v11.5 and 12 and I also wish the draw curve function was back.
RonHibbert-wc3gm, I couldn't agree more brother!
If you use Gear gadget, you will not get to use in in version 12, this is what Vectric said in an email to me "It looks like the Gear Gadget would been remaking to V12 but at this time we do not have any timeline for plans to do that"
mikefarris1623, great tips brother. Thanks for sharing.
My question is how do draw straight lines?
alanbarrington733, I have a video that should really help you with that! Here is a link: ruclips.net/video/PetAHB1FEj4/видео.htmlsi=BMh0eajLgyKrxEgR
yes I am ok with you, i have the same problem with V12
zorglubbrok237, hope this video helped you then brother! Happy CNCing.
Hey Garrett, looking forward to Next Wednesday. Thanks again for the invite. I am thinking that with the new freehand drawing tool which is a more liquid flowing drawing tool, Vectric most likely didn't see a need for the draw curve tool. Ever since the free hand tool came out in 11.554 (I believe that was the version), I immediately made the move to use it instead of the draw curve tool, I like the flow, especially when doing exactly what you were demonstrating with tracing the outline of the face in the image. I am sure you have experimented with the freehand tool, I really like it for this type of task. Great video, I enjoy your content!
SpindleTV, I'm excited to have you on the live session brother! I'm also happy to hear that my videos have been helping you and happy CNCing brother!
won't the freekhand sketch tool do what you want?
No. It's to hard to manage dinner details
@@IDCWoodcraft I always hate trying to figure out dinner details. Where to eat, what time, etc.
Just great! I'm still recovering from the last upgrade when I went from version 6 to 11.. For example having to zoom in and delete every little bit of waste material by clicking on each individual piece in the preview toolpath section. The older version just had a delete waste button which deleted everything with one click. Or am I missing something?
AusWorkshop, glad to hear this one helped you brother! As for the delete waste button, I need to look into that one my friend. That would be a cool tool.
@@IDCWoodcraft Yes it used to work great in Version 6. One click and it was done.
IT needs to be returned. What were they thinking? I don't want workarounds. I need tools that are useful as is.
RelayerBob, its back brother! Here is a link: ruclips.net/video/E7t0scWmbHI/видео.htmlsi=Jb3q-oB00424WmBs
@@IDCWoodcraft Thanks!! See my notes in that video!!
Can't you use the freehand drawing tool?
Yes but try drawing with a mouse rather than picking points
too bad vectric has decided to listen to developers instead of it's user-base. STUPIDITY AT IT'S FINEST
ToddWedlake, try reaching out to Vectric brother! They may consider adding it back.
Good point. I am struggling trying to draw curves in Vectric V12. Your video was very informative. Great job. Thanks.
JoeSpath, you are so welcome my friend.
YES, me too , i can't draw correct curve with polyline and the new hand tool, I have the same problem
pierregloups2305, great point brother! Sorry to hear that this new tool is giving you trouble.
The best solution is to draw polyline with lines only and after édit all the nodes of the polyline to convert to spline with buttons right and select S. It's the only way for me to have a correct curve.
What happens if you hold the control or shift key down while drawing? Maybe it switches function to curves.
daviddickmeyer5231, not sure on that one quite just yet brother! The software just came out they may have changed things.
Thanks for highlighting the curve tool, am wondering what version it was introduced as a few years back I needed that function, I called it the bezier curve ability, to create nice graded curves between static measured points. A similar drawing ability existed in a word processor program called Final Copy on a Commodore Amiga in the late 1980's but that usefulness has been lost on other software since
CrankedOver, you are so welcome brother! You bring up a lot of good points regarding similar draw abilities on previous software. I could definitely see how that would be useful.
I just upgraded to V12 and ran across the same issue. I don't like it. I may continue to use V11.5 in those instances drawing curves.
ronhansen7717, good points brother! That could definitely work.
Trying to figure out why they would remove a feature like this. It's not like it's cluttering up the UI.
arthurhammeke8296, very true my friend. I couldn't have said it better myself.
I haven’t yet downloaded Vecrtric, though I will in the next couple of weeks. Having watched a bunch of tutorials, it does look a lot like the pen tool in Photoshop and Illustrator. I use Photoshop a lot and probably will continue to do so as a prep tool for Vectric.
Great job on the video.
I’ll be curious to see if it is similar here.
ctenos45069, glad to hear this video helped you brother! I am excited for you to download Vectric so you can get started.
Yes- This is an older style of the Pen tool in Illustrator. Adobe updated a feature that allows a more fluid process with the last node placed with the Pen tool. There are so many tutorials out there on mastering the Pen tool because it is not intuitive. As you mentioned, there are workarounds that are time-consuming, such as adding more nodes and converting to curves.
CraigLafferty, very good points my friend! Its unfortunate that the workarounds take a bit of time.
can't they just put back in the freehand tool? No reason to pay money to go backwards in life
kevinbaxter1571, your best bet is to reach out to Vectric on this one brother! They might put it back if enough CNCers ask about it.
Thanks for the update Garrett,,,, Nice informative video as well,,,, as always
stevecox552, you are so welcome my friend.
while not as good you can do the outline with the draw line tool, (just click where you want the inflection points), once done use the "fit Curves to vectors" tool with fitting set to "bezier curves" you then have to play with the tolerance (up it quite a bit as far as i can tell). Not as good and not as quick but it has a similar effect as what you are doing
olbilldoor, very true brother! that is a very good point.
Tks garrett great wrokaround untill they fix this
samspade2519, you are so welcome my friend.
Lightburn has the same system for drawing curves. It's painfully difficult and not instinctive.
gregself6203, glad to hear this one is a bit easier to use brother! Happy CNCing.
Will you be doing a video on V12 Inlay soon? Hope so.
arthurgibeaut6824, that is a great idea brother! Ill add it to the video list!
Totally agree, & I've filed complaint about loss of the Draw Curves tool. (After your video confirmed I wasn't just totally overlooking something.)
RLamarDuffy, good idea brother! That would help other CNCers once Vectric puts it back in!
@@IDCWoodcraft For the record, here is how I stated my case to Vectric:
I am fully aware of the Draw Polyline & Freehand tools, & often use them. But they do NOT replicate the speed & accuracy with which I can trace a complex curve using the Draw Curve tool.
The Polyline tool can leave you with distorted curves & handles that are placed in unintuitive positions, & then you have to fiddle with correcting them. And you can inadvertently end up with straight line segments if you're not careful. Then you have to fiddle with handles, nodes, or just undo to get them right.
The Freehand tool depends on how steady you can move your mouse & how well you can see your background image through the image of your moving mouse cursor. Yes, the smoothness controls can help, but it's still not perfect. Using the Draw Curve tool, you can very precisely place the crosshairs of your mouse cursor before clicking.
Even with your best efforts, the Polyline & Freehand tools result in vector segments with noticeably more nodes than the Draw Curve tool, which unnecessarily slows down toolpath execution on the machine. So you either have to accept that, or waste time removing unnecessary nodes.
After fighting V12 to trace a BMP for over 45 minutes, I went back to V11.5 and used the Draw Curve tool to trace the same BMP in 15 SECONDS, & ended up with only about 1/4 to 1/3 the number of nodes.
The Draw Curve tool is NOT redundant functionality that can be deprecated. It is an INNOVATIVE APPROACH that Vectric created to draw smooth, complex curves, that is distinct from drawing tools found in even dedicated graphics programs. In fact, I sometimes use it SPECIFICALLY to draw, rather than using my other graphics programs.
Please do not abandon this extremely useful tool.
Good news. It looks like V 12.007 has effectively restored the equivalent of the Draw Curve tool. It's addressed in the first line of the release notes, & I've tested it. To work like the Draw Curve tool of old, use the Polyline Tool, click your first point, then tap S on the keyboard. Now you can click points (not click-drag), & they will be connected by curves, just like the old Draw Curve. Tapping S again will switch you back to the straight-line Polyline Tool. Thanks Vectric!
my Mistake not there
ranger2056, darn! That would have been very cool.
So it seems they hid the curve tool in the line tool per the video they put out: ruclips.net/video/bn1qBrFMsW0/видео.html Basically use the line tool then hit "S" on the keyboard to toggle to the curve tool
olbilldoor, Thanks for sharing the tip from the video! I'll have to give that a try next time I'm working on a project. It's always great to learn new shortcuts.
One of other things I don't like.
tedlitz7266, sorry to hear that brother! This update has its pro's and cons for sure!