Boolean Intersections

[prmod3d]

When wanting a boolean intersection it's usually difficult to visualize how it will look -- especially on complex shapes or groups -- and trying to determine the precise position of everything via the nudge arrow keys can require a lot of trial and error (applying and undoing).

Is it possible to somehow incorporate a live preview for the Boolean option? Perhaps by having the selected objects greyed out (or temporarily rendered transparent) except for the intersected area (like a Venn diagram). For the feature to be fully useful there would need to also be some way of moving the greyed out objects individually (while they're selected) and the ability to see the intersected result in real time.

I also noticed that if more than two shapes are selected before applying the Boolean function, they all get deleted rather than intersected. Is there a limit as to how many shapes can be used for the Boolean group? And if so, maybe an alert could be provided, or at the very least, the Boolean feature not being available (greyed out) when more than the allowable number of shapes are selected?

[henmedia]

@prmod3d, both points are in. Intersecting more than two shapes always worked: what remains is what all of them share. If they share nothing, the result is empty and the shapes were used up; they now stay, and the message says that the intersection is empty. And there is a preview now: the new button Show common part beside Intersection makes the selected shapes see-through and draws what they share in green. You can select and move each shape on its own and the green part follows, and Intersection applies it; Esc closes the preview. It comes with the next release.

[prmod3d]

Thanks for the explanation... I see now that ALL shapes must intersect, which makes sense. I very much look forward to seeing the new Boolean functions, as it will make the use of that tool much more intuitive... and I will use it more often as a result! Hopefully others will find it useful as well, since the Boolean option seems to be something most new users struggle with.

[henmedia]

@prmod3d, the preview and the empty-result message are in 1.76.0: the Show common part button beside Intersection, and shapes that share nothing now stay. Reload the page to get it; the installed app needs a restart.

[prmod3d]

Tested and works great. Thanks!