ZigZag 0.1.5

ZigZag 0.1.5

New tools from Illustrator and VectorCraft (Rotate, Curvature, Blob Brush,
Lasso, Shape Builder, Knife and Eyedropper), a Layers list with what's on
top at the top, a task bar you can move off the art, and an interface size
setting.

New tools

• Rotate (Shift+R, or Object › Rotate Tool): the selection turns about
  a reference point, drawn as a small target. It starts at the selection's
  center; click to put it anywhere (it snaps to the nearest anchor or
  center), then drag from anywhere to turn the selection about it, the
  stitches following and the angle beside the pointer. Shift turns in 45°
  steps; hold Option as you let go to drop a turned copy. Option-click sets
  the point and opens the Rotate dialog for an exact angle, with Copy and
  Preview. ⌘D repeats the turn about the same point, copy and all, so a
  ring of copies is one Option-drag and a few ⌘Ds. Text and shapes with
  live corners stay text and stay live. R alone is still the Run stitch.
• Curvature (Shift+`, in the Pen's group): click points and the curve
  runs smoothly through them, with no handles to pull. Option-click (or
  double-click a point) for a corner; drag a point and the whole curve
  follows.
• Blob Brush (Shift+B, in the Brush's group): paint a filled shape in
  the selection's thread. Where the paint overlaps fills in that thread it
  joins them into one shape. [ and ] size the brush.
• Lasso (Q, with Direct Selection): draw a loop round points or objects
  to select them; Shift adds, Option takes away.
• Shape Builder (Shift+M) and Knife (K), in one group: with
  overlapping shapes selected, drag across their parts to make one shape of
  them (Option takes parts away; a click makes a part a shape of its own).
  The Knife cuts filled shapes along a line drawn across them (Option: a
  straight cut), so each piece can have its own stitch angle.
• Eyedropper (E, with Measure): click an object to give the selection
  its thread and stitch settings; Option-click gives the clicked object the
  selection's; Shift-click takes the thread alone.

Layers

• What's on top is at the top, as in Illustrator: the last layer sewn is
  the first row and the background is the last. The arrows under the list
  move the selection up (sewn later) or down (sewn earlier).
• The panel's ≡ menu has List in Sewing Order, for the list the other way
  up, as the Threads panel and embroidery software list it. Dragging and
  the arrows follow whichever way it's listed.
• A document's only group starts open.

Task bar

• Drag the grip at the task bar's left end to move it off the art: it
  keeps that distance as it follows the selection, or stays put with Pin
  Bar Position in its ••• menu. Reset Bar Position puts it back.

Interface size

• Settings › General draws everything in the window larger or smaller,
  from 90% to 150%: panels, text, buttons and the handles on the canvas.
  The design keeps the size it has on screen, and a size the display has
  no room for steps down to the largest that fits.

Fixes and refinements

• On a Mac, Open, Place, Save As and Export panels are sheets on the
  window, which fixes a crash when the mouse moved over a save panel.
• While an object is dragged, the fills it covered show their thread color
  where it was, instead of a hole, until the stitches are planned again.
• Satin lettering from filled letters finds its columns much faster.
• The Rotate tool has its own cursor, and the rotate cursor shows while
  the tool turns the selection.