I understand (some of) how to use the node editor tool, but (long ago) I used to use
Illustrator to create paths from scratch, and found it quite easy. One of the "key"
rules was to place control points at the ends of curves, not in the middle,
and also to place control points where the curve changes curvature (i.e.
the junction between two curves).

The latter does not appear possible with the pen/bezier tool.

http://inkscape.org/doc/keys046.html#id2251112

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... ths-Bezier

Here's a (ugly) example of the sort of thing I mean; I see
no way to create it directly (clearly I can create a handful of
nodes and alter them later, which is what I did).



Is this a limitation in Inkscape, or is there a helpful feature I've
overlooked?

BugBear

Welcome aboard!

This is the first time I`ve heard someone is/was happy with Illustrator Pen tool, but it would help if you go from scratch with Inkscape and it`s Pen tool. Inkscape offers a lot more comfort than Illustrator, if you get used to it (I`m pretty much uncomfortable in Illustrator now a days) and there`s significantly more options than in AI`s path tools (which was successfully brought to functionality with some add ons, like Scribe).

So, please take a look at the tool bar when Pen tool is selected. There you`ll find a few options for drawing with the tool

You should also pay a closer attention to "Edit paths tool" ( ) and it`s options. There you`ll find a few different types of nodes, which wold hopefully enable you to draw what you need or desire.

From your example, I could not quite understand what exactly bothers you and what feature you`re missing in Inkscape but I hope that these mentioned tool`s options would help you sort the things out. The image below is my wild guess....



If your question was "How to make points 1 and 2" - All other points were made with just the left click, point 1 was made with LMB and drag but point 2 was made with the Ctrl (to determine sharp corner).

My question is how to transition from a large sweeping curve (long control handle) to a small tight curve (short control handle) at a node.

I have read that I can create an asymmetric corner node using the shift key, but I want an asymmetric smooth node.
I would prefer to be able to do this as I create the curve (I'm tracing a rather nice art neaveau drawing), but if the "Inkscape Way"
is to create a approximate outline (symmetric nodes only) and then to edit it, that's OK too.

In my example, if you start at the apex/tail on the left, it's the right hand nodes (and their handles)
that I can't directly create with the pen tool.

BugBear

By default once you convert an ellipse to a path it will have four nodes.
It gives the hint that you can define a circular curve with a regular path segment that has less than a 90° turn.
Speaking of other path types, there is the spiro-path live path effect feature.
Either way only 3 nodes to define a shape alike is too few.

@ BugBear

Main course:
- First you`ll need one
- Press and hold LMB, moderately, just till you hear "click" sound.
- while holding it gently, sway your hand to draw a handle.
- release the LMB.
- red line should appear.
- repeat to your liking ,)

Asymmetric curving Sauce:
...
- red line has appeared
- press and hold LMB again to determine the curvature of the active section - and than just stop, right there! Don`t move! Freeze!
- use available hand to press Shift
- now you can move again to determine curvature of the next section
- repeat to your liking ,)

Some chilling music in background recommended

So I think your query has been answered? Shift to change the length, ctrl to keep it aligned while doing?
Not sure if it was entirely clear and in one place, so here is a summary and sorry for the repetition:

While drawing the BezPen makes symmetric smooth nodes, which behavior is suspended when the shift key is pressed when dragging i.e. now the handle is free in terms of length and angle relative to its opposite. The ctrl key held down in addition to the shift key will snap the angle and can be used to keep the new handle in line with the first. The result, an asymmetric, seemingly smooth node in appearance. But beware! It's not really a smooth node but a cusp node in disguise, as you can see from the diamond shape. To make it smooth you need to select it with the Node Tool and use the Shift S shortcut in a later operation.

So the answer is that you can't create asymmetric smooth nodes with the BezPen, only smooth-appearing cusp nodes. It would be nice if after the pen tool is used and the path is ended there would be a cleanup routine that automatically converted all handle aligned cusp nodes to smooth nodes. Maybe in a preference for the Bezier tool? How hard would that be to code, I wonder. Ragnar, you could probably do it.

druban wrote:So I think your query has been answered? Shift to change the length, ctrl to keep it aligned while doing?
Not sure if it was entirely clear and in one place, so here is a summary and sorry for the repetition:

While drawing the BezPen makes symmetric smooth nodes, which behavior is suspended when the shift key is pressed when dragging i.e. now the handle is free in terms of length and angle relative to its opposite. The ctrl key held down in addition to the shift key will snap the angle and can be used to keep the new handle in line with the first. The result, an asymmetric, seemingly smooth node in appearance. But beware! It's not really a smooth node but a cusp node in disguise, as you can see from the diamond shape. To make it smooth you need to select it with the Node Tool and use the Shift S shortcut in a later operation.

So the answer is that you can't create asymmetric smooth nodes with the BezPen, only smooth-appearing cusp nodes. It would be nice if after the pen tool is used and the path is ended there would be a cleanup routine that automatically converted all handle aligned cusp nodes to smooth nodes. Maybe in a preference for the Bezier tool? How hard would that be to code, I wonder. Ragnar, you could probably do it.

Thank you - perfect answer. I think people were led astray by my example being too simple, thus causing the "ctrl" modifier to appear to be a partial solution.

But my question (if not my example ) is general.

Might I suggest if a code change is possible, that Alt key be used, so that a asymmetric smooth node is created (as opposed to the current default of a symmetric smooth node).

I appreciate that this is all a minor issue, since (obviously) the nodes can be modified later.

Many thanks to all those who helped.

BugBear

I don't think it's a minor issue at all. I have often felt it to be a snag in the workflow, but I am realistic about which will happen first: that you and I will get used to using control to make a cusp node with aligned handles an then later converting it to a smooth node, or that the code will be changed to fix this issue. I'm assuming that you are a superior human being with above average adaptability, and therefore between the two of us we should come out to be average.