Edit group as shape

[birdsaregood]

Add a feature that places nodes around the corners of an element (or group of elements) so that, for example, one corner of a picture can be made to jut out from the rest and the paths are automatically adjusted.

Similar to when you have a square that has been converted to path, you can drag any one corner to change its shape. Just be able to resize any elements that are made up of paths in such a way.

[prkos (prkos)]

Have you tried the Envelope and Perspective effects?

They will be available through Live Path Effects in the next version so it will be possible to deform groups of objects.

[birdsaregood (ariel36)]

Envelope and Perspective aren't as user friendly. Plus those python extensions don't seem to be working under Snow Leopard.

[Pablo Trabajos (pajarico)]

> Envelope and Perspective aren't as user friendly.

If you are talking about the extensions that is probably correct, specially if you work with multiple objects and don't want destructive changes. But path effects are more flexible in this sense so I invite you to try a newer release: http://sourceforge.net/projects/inkscape/files/

The problem is that in the following release (0.47) only envelope effect is activated and it doesn't seems to work with groups.

> Plus those python extensions don't seem to be working under Snow Leopard.

We know there are a number of problems with extensions on OSX for 0.46, however we're talking about path effects here (Path menu-> Path effect editor...), not the extensions.

[birdsaregood (ariel36)]

Just tried envelope path tool. That is kind of what I'm looking for, but it could be refined. As you mentioned, it needs to work properly with groups (and, preferably, objects that have not been converted to path too). But I was hoping it could (a) be a button in the node edit tool, and (b) more importantly be able to do things like show a bounding box with nodes on four corners of the group so you could stretch and morph it exactly like you could a rectangle that has been converted to path. The envelope tool is much more limited than what I'm talking about.

[Pablo Trabajos (pajarico)]

Setting as confirmed, however there might already exist a report about the lack of features for the envelope effect, so in that case mind if I set this as duplicate?

[birdsaregood (ariel36)]

If you find a duplicate I have no problem with you setting this bug accordingly. I just want to download a nightly build of inkscape a couple years from now and be all like "YES! Finally!"

[su_v (suv-lp)]

Mind if I jump in? related wishlist reports:
Bug #170374 in Inkscape: “perspective/warp transformation envelope”
Bug #172118 in Inkscape: “Perspective , deforming (in reply, with extra example files)”
Bug #430745 in Inkscape: “New Transform Tool w Lattice Deform”

<off-topic>
@birdsaregood - have you used MacPorts before? There might be an interim way to get python extensions on SL running until 0.47 for SL is released: <http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3708&start=0&hilit=Snow+Leopard>
latest discussion about SL python issue on inkscape-devel: <http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.graphics.inkscape.devel/31846/focus=31856>
</off-topic>