Flat slur geometry

Dorico
1

Here’s an idea for slightly more flexible control of flat slurs.

  • The section between the triangles is flat.
  • Triangles control the length of the flat section.
  • Squares adjust the tangents and angle of the flat section.
  • Circles function as standard controls for the endpoints and curvature.

Screenshot 2024-11-29 at 9.56.36 PM
Screenshot 2024-11-29 at 9.56.36 PM1634×372 5.52 KB

5 Likes
2

Here’s a simple .SVG showing an 8-point flat slur, with a straight middle section and two tangential arcs. Open it in Inkscape (free) to get the feel of how it works. Unfortunately, Affinity Designer doesn’t preserve the tangents.
The main advantage over the current model is the ability to control the length of the flat section per individual slur. This allows creating a regular curved slur by sliding the triangles together, which could solve the problem of very short flat slurs when transitioning to a new system. This model could combine both types of slurs in Dorico, as well as round and flat ties.

Slur.svg.zip (1.3 KB)