[Gimp-developer] Paths need better display of on-canvas transform tools

[Richard Gitschlag <strata_ranger hotmail com>]

I was using the Perspective Distortion on a path-from-text the other day when I noticed a usability gripe:  
The tool's on-canvas preview (i.e. the transformation handles and guides) used the entire image canvas size.  
Although it did display an on-canvas preview of the path being transformed, the particular skew I was looking 
for required stretching the transformation handles well outside the bounds of the image canvas -- not exactly 
convenient when the path in question occupies a relatively small portion of the entire image canvas.

For comparison, when you use a transform tool on a layer, GIMP uses the bounds of that layer for the preview 
grid (if a selection is present, GIMP also limits it to the layer's selected area).  Likewise, if you use a 
transformation tool on the selection mask itself, GIMP also uses the rectangular bounds of that selection.

But when you use a transform tool on a path, GIMP should grab the rectangular bounds of the path you are 
modifying and base its preview (transformation handles and guides) on that.  Much more intuitive that it's 
modifying a path, not the whole image.

-- Stratadrake
strata_ranger hotmail com
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Numbers may not lie, but neither do they tell the whole truth.