I am approaching vector graphic design from the perspective of a software developer, and I think some of my confusion with it may come from not correctly understanding how people in graphic design approach the problem of creating shapes with software.
I've been working with vector shapes in Sketch and Affinity Designer with the mentality that each point on a path should be defined relative to something else on the canvas, so that if a small part of the image is changed, the rest will adjust appropriately. I've used a small amount of CAD software in the past, so this mentality may come from that. In the graphics design programs I have tried, it seems that many common UI elements encourage "eyeballing" rather than specific definitions, such as the handles used to adjust a point on a path.
The method of graphic design that I have in my head is a hypothetical where I create a hierarchy of constraints purely via specifying relationships like
- "Point A is 32 units directly above Point B"
- "The corner created by Point B should actually appear rounded with a corner radius of 0.4 * [length of Line AB]"
The impression I get from graphic design software and the online community around graphic design is that this is not how vector shapes are normally drawn. In adjacent questions on this community, some have mentioned markup languages and CAD software as viable methods of vector design, but I would prefer to stay in a traditional graphic design environment if possible.
What is it that I am misunderstanding about graphic design here? Is there a tool for the method I have in my head, or do I need to change some perception that I have about graphic design?