Re: Feature request: Display bezier control-points

[David Nalesnik]

Hi Urs,


>> But this really _is_ helping to find suitable values for the
>> control-points.
>>
>
I'm very glad to hear this!


>
>>  * Although I know bezier curves from vector graphics software, I
>>    also was convinced that the 'control-points' were four points on
>>    the curve that define its shape.
>>
>
Initially I did too...


>  * In fact the first and last are such points, whereas the middle two
>>    'control-points' are the 'handles'.
>>    -> Is this explained somewhere?
>>  * From seeing the crosses I now realize that (when using your
>>    function) all four offsets are relative to LilyPond's original
>>    decision.
>>    Well, if you think about it, that's quite obvious, but I always
>>    assumed that if I change one offset the other control-points would
>>    be affected accordingly.
>>    But in fact they aren't. So if I for example raise the endpoint of
>>    a slur, the third control-point may well get below the slur.
>>    This makes me understand the seemingly strange behaviour of the
>>    slurs when fiddling with the offsets.
>
>  * -> Probably it'll greatly improve my 'tweaking experience', even
>>    if I have seen this only once, not to speak if I manage to include
>>    this in a real-life workflow ...
>>    So, many thanks once more, David!
>>
>
You're very welcome!  I've been playing around with it a bit myself, and
I'm becoming more and more convinced that something like this would be a
very useful feature.

You can also use it to show you the effect of changing other properties.
 For example, you can see the effects of overriding 'height-limit and
'eccentricity.  I'm finding it very instructive.

At least one thing, which I did do right now:
> I compiled one score with and without your cross setting, and comparing
> the two pdfs with Alt-Tab showed that the layout was perfectly identical -
> except for the additional crosses.
> So obviously the crosses are added after LilyPond decides about the layout.
>

I'm very glad to hear this!  My worry was that the crosses might push
staves further apart in extreme situations.

Thanks for trying this out!

-David