Docs: Image Trace Shapes rework, stroke caps, enhanced presets and gradients over noise (#1845 to #1848)

docs/roadmap.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Roadmap: milestones and what's next
 
-> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-10-14 · **Change:** minor (verified PngSuite downloads, #1729; synthetic control-input budgets, #1709; 2026-10-14 merges: anchor Align and Distribute, #1636; Direct Selection and Delete fixes, #1674, #1666, #1743; Expand on repeats, #1756; file and input hardening, #1776–#1783, #1786, #1807; MCP limits and envelope, #1727, #1728; Image Trace #1647, #1657; estimates unchanged; later 2026-10-13 merges: SVG import, #1565, #1596, #1568, #1601; Warp Arc, #1578; Pathfinder strokes, #1570; saves, #1620 in part; OpenType features, #1607; intersect Smart Guides, #1602 in part; estimates unchanged; TIFF is available in Export for Screens and Asset Export with shared format settings; scores and hours unchanged; G1/M11: Artboard deletion and history selection normalization; history regressions and full workspace CI pass; scores and hours unchanged; Character styles retain explicit Auto leading, propagate resets and preserve local leading overrides; scores and hours unchanged; Width Point Edit: Shift-double-click enables adjoining adjustment; plain double-click keeps it off; scores and hours unchanged; per-corner radius fields with a link toggle, split from #1594; control transport deadlines, #1726; M12 row: Image Trace's presets and options as they are now; Polish interface, #1498; compact native saves, #1492; PDF and EPS paste as vector art, #1499; import fixes, #1528, #1530, #1531, #1544, #1551, #1553; guide objects, #1534; Join after Average, #1533; Keyboard Shortcuts, #1539; estimates unchanged; Direct Selection anchor precedence, #1508; dialog slider rails, #1483; template layers in Outline view, #1486; type that does not fit its frame is reported, #1471; 3D on outlined type, #1481; print-size images, #1517; French catalog, #1511; estimates unchanged; Split Into Grid options, #1462; Transform Objects and Reflect's angle, #1448 and #1460; Pathfinder on a group, #1450; unknown parameter keys refused, #1442; grayscale TIFFs with alpha, #1466 in part; estimates unchanged; M9: Extrude & Bevel, Inflate and Rotate; `.ai` compound path paint, #1410, overprint on import, #1388, text-only PDF parts, #1387; Transform dialogs preview, #1412, and transforms of direct-selected anchors, #1408; strokes wider than their shape, #1396; estimates unchanged; `.ai` editing-data follow-ups, #1390, #1391, #1392; dialog keyboard focus, #1367 and #1395; symbol instance redraw cache, #1386; font rescan, #1376; estimates unchanged; gradient shapes import as paths, #1304; white constant alpha masks, #1286 in part; Live Corners widget click, #1239; custom ruler origin, #1212; M11: Artboard object clicks create a fitted artboard (#1227); estimate unchanged; Pathfinder single-result source names and SVG IDs retained, #1293; DXF control-point SPLINE closure read, #1299 follow-up; desktop print transport adopts craft-print, Windows 7 fallback retained, scores unchanged; Czech render-site localization follow-up; scores and estimates unchanged; Document Setup: Edit Artboards closes the modal after applying valid settings; pointer-click regressions; scores and hours unchanged; Artboards: Escape exits editing; an active drag cancels first; shortcut-routing regression; scores and hours unchanged; M6: Simplify preview/counts and valid topology selection (#1272); estimates unchanged; G2: Film Grain added; Photoshop effects 29/57; 28 filters remain; M14: RPM runtime metadata (#1275); estimates unchanged; M5: squared-distance texture redraws (#1257); clean-machine/platform drag measurements still pending; estimates unchanged; M2: Curvature point display improved (#1236, in part); estimates unchanged; M7: full-name font matching (#1258); Windows font-service QA pending; estimates unchanged; M1: no-op anchor Align keeps Undo, Redo and saved state (#1180 follow-up); estimates unchanged; M14: dedicated Eyedropper cursor (#1269); estimates unchanged; M3: Eyedropper reads visible locked and outside-isolation sources (#1251); estimates unchanged; M2: Direct Selection segment picks and Delete (#1278); estimates unchanged; M3: adding paint to an unpainted zero-width stroke restores 1 pt (#1253); estimates unchanged; M12: graph designs, graph data, Graph Type and label options; M14: native macOS save Format menu, #866; M6: compound appearance and member fill-rule fixes, #1197; estimates unchanged; M9: PDF raster-effect cap warnings; G11: #893 fixed, #937 open; M7: accurate character controls after scaling, #1034; estimates unchanged) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x)
+> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-10-14 · **Change:** minor (M12 row: Image Trace's enhanced presets; verified PngSuite downloads, #1729; synthetic control-input budgets, #1709; 2026-10-14 merges: anchor Align and Distribute, #1636; Direct Selection and Delete fixes, #1674, #1666, #1743; Expand on repeats, #1756; file and input hardening, #1776–#1783, #1786, #1807; MCP limits and envelope, #1727, #1728; Image Trace #1647, #1657; estimates unchanged; later 2026-10-13 merges: SVG import, #1565, #1596, #1568, #1601; Warp Arc, #1578; Pathfinder strokes, #1570; saves, #1620 in part; OpenType features, #1607; intersect Smart Guides, #1602 in part; estimates unchanged; TIFF is available in Export for Screens and Asset Export with shared format settings; scores and hours unchanged; G1/M11: Artboard deletion and history selection normalization; history regressions and full workspace CI pass; scores and hours unchanged; Character styles retain explicit Auto leading, propagate resets and preserve local leading overrides; scores and hours unchanged; Width Point Edit: Shift-double-click enables adjoining adjustment; plain double-click keeps it off; scores and hours unchanged; per-corner radius fields with a link toggle, split from #1594; control transport deadlines, #1726; M12 row: Image Trace's presets and options as they are now; Polish interface, #1498; compact native saves, #1492; PDF and EPS paste as vector art, #1499; import fixes, #1528, #1530, #1531, #1544, #1551, #1553; guide objects, #1534; Join after Average, #1533; Keyboard Shortcuts, #1539; estimates unchanged; Direct Selection anchor precedence, #1508; dialog slider rails, #1483; template layers in Outline view, #1486; type that does not fit its frame is reported, #1471; 3D on outlined type, #1481; print-size images, #1517; French catalog, #1511; estimates unchanged; Split Into Grid options, #1462; Transform Objects and Reflect's angle, #1448 and #1460; Pathfinder on a group, #1450; unknown parameter keys refused, #1442; grayscale TIFFs with alpha, #1466 in part; estimates unchanged; M9: Extrude & Bevel, Inflate and Rotate; `.ai` compound path paint, #1410, overprint on import, #1388, text-only PDF parts, #1387; Transform dialogs preview, #1412, and transforms of direct-selected anchors, #1408; strokes wider than their shape, #1396; estimates unchanged; `.ai` editing-data follow-ups, #1390, #1391, #1392; dialog keyboard focus, #1367 and #1395; symbol instance redraw cache, #1386; font rescan, #1376; estimates unchanged; gradient shapes import as paths, #1304; white constant alpha masks, #1286 in part; Live Corners widget click, #1239; custom ruler origin, #1212; M11: Artboard object clicks create a fitted artboard (#1227); estimate unchanged; Pathfinder single-result source names and SVG IDs retained, #1293; DXF control-point SPLINE closure read, #1299 follow-up; desktop print transport adopts craft-print, Windows 7 fallback retained, scores unchanged; Czech render-site localization follow-up; scores and estimates unchanged; Document Setup: Edit Artboards closes the modal after applying valid settings; pointer-click regressions; scores and hours unchanged; Artboards: Escape exits editing; an active drag cancels first; shortcut-routing regression; scores and hours unchanged; M6: Simplify preview/counts and valid topology selection (#1272); estimates unchanged; G2: Film Grain added; Photoshop effects 29/57; 28 filters remain; M14: RPM runtime metadata (#1275); estimates unchanged; M5: squared-distance texture redraws (#1257); clean-machine/platform drag measurements still pending; estimates unchanged; M2: Curvature point display improved (#1236, in part); estimates unchanged; M7: full-name font matching (#1258); Windows font-service QA pending; estimates unchanged; M1: no-op anchor Align keeps Undo, Redo and saved state (#1180 follow-up); estimates unchanged; M14: dedicated Eyedropper cursor (#1269); estimates unchanged; M3: Eyedropper reads visible locked and outside-isolation sources (#1251); estimates unchanged; M2: Direct Selection segment picks and Delete (#1278); estimates unchanged; M3: adding paint to an unpainted zero-width stroke restores 1 pt (#1253); estimates unchanged; M12: graph designs, graph data, Graph Type and label options; M14: native macOS save Format menu, #866; M6: compound appearance and member fill-rule fixes, #1197; estimates unchanged; M9: PDF raster-effect cap warnings; G11: #893 fixed, #937 open; M7: accurate character controls after scaling, #1034; estimates unchanged) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x)
 
 Forward-looking plan. Where VectorCraft stands is in [`ROADMAP.md`](../ROADMAP.md) and
 [target-app-parity.md](target-app-parity.md); the ranked work list is [gaps.md](gaps.md). Hours are Opus 5.5
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ Checked 2026-10-10 from the code, tests and open issues; no workflow fails, so V
 | M9 | Live effects (+ 3D & Materials) | 🟡 2D effects done incl. Effect → Pathfinder, Color Adjustments and Document Raster Effects Settings; PDF export warns when the pixel cap lowers raster-effect resolution; Artistic › Film Grain done (29/57 Photoshop filters); initial Revolve, Extrude & Bevel, Inflate and Rotate; SVG Filters, remaining raster effects and 3D materials, lights and shadows pending | 81–130 |
 | M10 | Brushes, symbols, patterns, Repeat | 🟡 pattern swatches (5 tile types, Pattern Options, editing mode, SVG `<pattern>`/PDF export) and live Repeat (radial/grid/mirror) done; brushes/symbols in progress | 23–37 |
 | M11 | Artboards & views (selected-set deletion shared by Artboards menu, trash and Properties, retaining artboard 1 when all are selected; Artboard deletion keys keep the first of an all-selected set and protect artwork; history prunes invalid indices while preserving valid multiselection (history tests and full workspace CI pass); click-to-fit objects with the Artboard tool (#1227), artboard escape routing and document setup modal handoff done; artboard panel/tool with Move Artwork for X/Y fields and Artboard Options, Trim View, middle-button pan, print tiling and the status bar's artboard navigator with synchronized Artboard tool selection done; multiple windows, presentation polish) | 🟡 | 15–25 |
-| M12 | Advanced color & art (CMYK/ICC, separations, Gradient Mesh, Live Paint, Image Trace, Graphs) | 🟡 Gradient Mesh, Live Paint, Image Trace (15 presets; Ignore Color, Shapes, Auto Grouping and Gradients options; measured in `image-trace-quality.md`; the Flat Logo mode places edges to a fraction of a pixel, restores sharp corners, snaps lines and circles, and refuses gradients), Recolor Artwork, colour management (ICC, soft proofing, separations preview), Graphs (all 9 tools, Graph Data/Type, group-selected series colours persist through regenerate/save/open) done; Graph Design and Marker designs, Transpose and Switch x/y, `|` label line breaks, the pie options, drop shadows, the legend across the top, overlapping widths, First Row/Column in Front, filled lines, kept label formatting and the Graph Data worksheet done; graph Column designs pending | 6–10 |
+| M12 | Advanced color & art (CMYK/ICC, separations, Gradient Mesh, Live Paint, Image Trace, Graphs) | 🟡 Gradient Mesh, Live Paint, Image Trace (15 presets, the 14 documented ones each with an enhanced version; Ignore Color, Shapes, Auto Grouping and Gradients options; measured in `image-trace-quality.md`; the Flat Logo mode places edges to a fraction of a pixel, restores sharp corners, snaps lines and circles, and refuses gradients), Recolor Artwork, colour management (ICC, soft proofing, separations preview), Graphs (all 9 tools, Graph Data/Type, group-selected series colours persist through regenerate/save/open) done; Graph Design and Marker designs, Transpose and Switch x/y, `|` label line breaks, the pie options, drop shadows, the legend across the top, overlapping widths, First Row/Column in Front, filled lines, kept label formatting and the Graph Data worksheet done; graph Column designs pending | 6–10 |
 | M13 | Automation (Actions ✅ record/playback, persisted; variables, scripting, batch) | 🟡 | 18–27 |
 | M14 | 1.0 polish (preferences, shortcut editor, workspaces, accessibility, packaging for all OSes) | 🟡 Numeric-field pointer selection and focus regression-tested (#1326, in part; short movements still select all); RPM runtime capabilities and glibc floor checked (#1275; real-distro install/start-up pending), Eyedropper cursor with precise-setting checks (#1269), Preferences, shortcut editor (chords with Shift and a punctuation key fire as typed), workspaces, a custom title bar on Windows/Linux with a Home button, content-sized dialogs, menus that scroll when longer than the window and macOS native menu dismissal done (M14.8), and native macOS save sheets with a Format menu (#866); an experimental, unsupported Windows 7 x64 portable OpenGL build (not verified by maintainers); accessibility and broader Windows/Linux packaging/QA pending | 18–28 |
 | — | Interaction fidelity pass (every tool's modifiers, Properties panel per context, isolation, nuance; width-point creation and adjoining adjustment regression-tested; dialog layout reviewed) | ⬜ (new ruler-guide Alt orientation implemented; broader pass remains) | 60–90 |
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ After placed documents (File › Place of a `.vectorcraft` file, linked), M4.14
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-10-14 | minor | M12 row: each documented Image Trace preset has an enhanced version (#1847) |
 | 2026-10-13 | minor | Pinned PngSuite HTTPS files verified by SHA-256 before publication; bounded downloads replace archive extraction (#1729). Scores and hours unchanged. |
 | 2026-10-13 | minor | Bounded synthetic control input (#1709): counts and queued events validated before mutation; control-channel bursts yield between frames. Scores and hours unchanged. |
 | 2026-10-14 | minor | Align and Distribute act on the anchor points selected with Direct Selection: the points of one path align to each other, not to the artboard, and Distribute spaces them (#1641, fixes #1636; aligning to a key anchor is still missing); Delete removes every selected anchor of a closed path (it used to remove the wrong ones), removes objects selected whole along with the selected anchors of others, and keeps the remainder selected so a second Delete removes it (#1674); In isolation mode Direct Selection and Group Selection pick only inside the isolated object (#1666); Escape cancels a Direct Selection drag (#1803, #1743); Escape while typing ends the edit, keeps the type selected and switches to the Selection tool (#1802, #1686, #1656); A filled Pencil path keeps a stroke of None (#1804, part of #1679); With the Pen, a press that moves under 3 screen pixels is a click (a corner without handles), and a Precise Cursors command toggles the existing preference and can take a shortcut (#1663); The [ and ] keys reach the Blob Brush, the Eraser and the Symbolism tools in the app (#1734, part of #1661); In the Pathfinder panel a group selected alone counts its nested shapes, so an expanded stroked object keeps the Shape Modes enabled (#1642, #1635); Object › Expand turns radial, grid and mirror repeats into groups of their instances (#1765, #1756); Select › Same matches type on its characters' fill and stroke (#1746, #1737); Fields commit what was typed when you click away or move to another field, as Enter does; Escape still discards it (#1787); Up and Down move through the command search results and Enter runs the highlighted one (#1798, #1757); Slider rails show on Medium Dark (#1808, #1662); On Windows the custom title bar's window stays truly borderless, so the pointer lines up with what is drawn on systems where the hidden caption offset it (#1791, #1758; awaiting the reporter's confirmation); Tool cursors are painted into the window on Wayland (#1652; not run on Linux, #1645 stays open until confirmed); Roughen with Smooth keeps turn-backs smooth instead of making cusps that draw as spikes (#1646, #1643); Scribble draws one zig-zag per region, with no lines across holes and notches; convex shapes are unchanged (#1651, #1648); EPS import: a stitched shading keeps its hard colour changes (#1654, #1653); WMF/EMF import refuses an oversized embedded PNG or JPEG from its header, before any pixels are decoded (#1776); PDF open no longer takes exponential time on a crafted name tree with shared nodes when it looks for the editing data (#1781); The size limits on a native file's embedded data also apply to files read from memory, not only streamed ones (#1783); Saving over a private file on Unix no longer leaves a readable temporary copy beside it while the file is written (#1778); An Export for Screens suffix can no longer place files outside the export folder (#1777); Package refuses a folder where it would overwrite the open document or one of its linked files (#1786); ruzstd 0.9.1 fixes a decompression bomb (RUSTSEC-2026-0344) reachable from EPS/`.ai` and Affinity import (#1807); File Info dates are stamped only after a save succeeds, so a failed save no longer changes them (#1774); Linked files that change during a drag are updated after the drag instead of being missed (#1773); Scatter graph data near the largest number is refused with a message instead of hanging the app (#1780); One very long Liquify stroke segment can no longer create an unbounded number of dabs (#1779); A drag whose last preview failed is no longer recorded as a committed command in the journal that actions and scripts read (#1775); Tests: text import fuzzing no longer searches installed fonts (#1785); Tests: render tests that add fonts no longer race the frame cache tests (#1795); `text.create`, `text.createInPath` and the MCP `add_text` tool take `justify`, so point type can be centred on or end at its point (#1752, #1748); MCP limits: 16 MiB lines, 64-message batches, 256-step `command_batch` with 8 MiB of kept results and 256 MiB control replies (#1764, fixes #1727); MCP requires the JSON-RPC 2.0 envelope and matches control replies by id, and an app refusal without an id reports the app's reason (#1768, fixes #1728); The MCP server reconnects to the app before a call when the connection was closed or holds stray bytes, after an app restart or an idle expiry (#1739); Image Trace, measured in `image-trace-quality.md`: snap Curves To Lines moves no end of a line by more than 1.6 px, so long lines a degree or two off stay as the image has them (#1647: Technical Drawing's largest distance 4.21 px to 1.46); flat Logo takes the tones a scan's uneven paper makes of one colour for one colour (#1657: on scans 470 paths and 21 px off to 8.5 paths and 0.09 px); milestone rows and estimates unchanged |