Effects: Zig Zag Smooth points draw a continuous wave (#2343)

Smooth Zig Zag ran the ridge points through a Catmull-Rom spline. Its end tangents slant across the path, and where the ridges are taller than about twice their spacing the sharp-turn floor of turn_tangent lengthens the handles, so the result read as straight diagonals with rounded tips. Each peak and valley is now a smooth point whose handles run along the path, a third of the way to the neighbouring ridge, so every span follows a half cosine through the path.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

crates/effects/src/distort.rs

@@ -267,8 +267,20 @@ pub fn twist(path: &PathData, b: Rect, angle: f64) -> PathData {
 
 const ZIGZAG_ARCLEN_ACCURACY: f64 = 1e-4;
 
+/// A Zig Zag ridge: where it sits, the path's unit direction there, and the length along the
+/// path to the ridges before and after it (zero at an open path's ends).
+struct Ridge {
+    p: Point,
+    dir: Vec2,
+    gap_in: f64,
+    gap_out: f64,
+}
+
 /// Zig Zag: `ridges` extra points per segment, evenly spaced along its length and alternately
-/// displaced along the normal.
+/// displaced along the normal. Corner points join them with straight lines. Smooth points make a
+/// wave: every peak and valley is a smooth point whose handles run along the path, a third of the
+/// way to the next ridge, so each span between them follows a half cosine (an S through the path)
+/// whatever the size of the ridges (#2343).
 pub fn zig_zag(path: &PathData, b: Rect, p: &Value) -> PathData {
     let size = num(p, "size", 10.0).clamp(-1e4, 1e4);
     let amp = if flag(p, "relative", false) { size / 100.0 * mean_size(b) } else { size };
@@ -277,29 +289,33 @@ pub fn zig_zag(path: &PathData, b: Rect, p: &Value) -> PathData {
     let mut subs = vec![];
     for sp in &path.subpaths {
         let segs = sp.segment_count();
-        let mut pts = vec![];
+        let gap = |i: usize| sp.segment(i).arclen(ZIGZAG_ARCLEN_ACCURACY) / (ridges + 1) as f64;
+        let mut pts: Vec<Ridge> = vec![];
         let mut k = 0usize;
         for i in 0..segs {
             let c = sp.segment(i);
             // Ridges are spaced by length, not by `t`: a line's retracted handles bunch `t` up
             // near the anchors, and so does any uneven curve.
             let len = c.arclen(ZIGZAG_ARCLEN_ACCURACY);
+            let step = len / (ridges + 1) as f64;
             for j in 0..=ridges {
                 let s = j as f64 / (ridges + 1) as f64;
                 let t = if j > 0 && len > 1e-9 { c.inv_arclen(s * len, ZIGZAG_ARCLEN_ACCURACY).clamp(0.0, 1.0) } else { s };
+                let mut gap_in = step;
                 let nrm = if j == 0 {
                     // Average the normals of the segments meeting at the anchor.
                     let prev = if i > 0 {
-                        Some(sp.segment(i - 1))
+                        Some(i - 1)
                     } else if sp.closed {
-                        Some(sp.segment(segs - 1))
+                        Some(segs - 1)
                     } else {
                         None
                     };
+                    gap_in = prev.map_or(0.0, gap);
                     let n1 = normal_at(&c, 0.0);
                     match prev {
-                        Some(pc) => {
-                            let s = n1 + normal_at(&pc, 1.0);
+                        Some(pi) => {
+                            let s = n1 + normal_at(&sp.segment(pi), 1.0);
                             if s.hypot() > 1e-9 { s / s.hypot() } else { n1 }
                         }
                         None => n1,
@@ -308,7 +324,7 @@ pub fn zig_zag(path: &PathData, b: Rect, p: &Value) -> PathData {
                     normal_at(&c, t)
                 };
                 let sign = if k.is_multiple_of(2) { 1.0 } else { -1.0 };
-                pts.push(c.eval(t) + nrm * (amp * sign));
+                pts.push(Ridge { p: c.eval(t) + nrm * (amp * sign), dir: Vec2::new(-nrm.y, nrm.x), gap_in, gap_out: step });
                 k += 1;
             }
         }
@@ -316,12 +332,18 @@ pub fn zig_zag(path: &PathData, b: Rect, p: &Value) -> PathData {
             if segs > 0 {
                 let c = sp.segment(segs - 1);
                 let sign = if k.is_multiple_of(2) { 1.0 } else { -1.0 };
-                pts.push(c.p3 + normal_at(&c, 1.0) * (amp * sign));
+                let nrm = normal_at(&c, 1.0);
+                pts.push(Ridge { p: c.p3 + nrm * (amp * sign), dir: Vec2::new(-nrm.y, nrm.x), gap_in: gap(segs - 1), gap_out: 0.0 });
             } else {
-                pts.extend(sp.anchors.iter().map(|a| a.p));
+                pts.extend(sp.anchors.iter().map(|a| Ridge { p: a.p, dir: Vec2::ZERO, gap_in: 0.0, gap_out: 0.0 }));
             }
         }
-        subs.push(if smooth { catmull_rom(&pts, sp.closed, 1.0) } else { SubPath::polyline(&pts, sp.closed) });
+        subs.push(if smooth {
+            let anchors = pts.iter().map(|r| Anchor::with_handles(r.p, r.p - r.dir * (r.gap_in / 3.0), r.p + r.dir * (r.gap_out / 3.0))).collect();
+            SubPath::new(anchors, sp.closed)
+        } else {
+            SubPath::polyline(&pts.iter().map(|r| r.p).collect::<Vec<_>>(), sp.closed)
+        });
     }
     PathData::new(subs)
 }

crates/effects/src/tests.rs

@@ -510,6 +510,31 @@ fn zigzag_spaces_ridges_evenly_along_a_straight_line() {
     }
 }
 
+/// #2343: Smooth points make a continuous wave, not a zigzag with rounded tips. Every peak and
+/// valley is a smooth point whose handles run parallel to the line, and the curve between them
+/// follows a cosine, even where the ridges are much taller than they are apart.
+#[test]
+fn zigzag_smooth_is_a_wave() {
+    use vectorcraft_geom::kurbo::ParamCurve;
+    let line = PathData::single(SubPath::polyline(&[Point::new(0.0, 0.0), Point::new(100.0, 0.0)], false));
+    for size in [3.0, 30.0] {
+        let out = run("distort.zigZag", json!({"ridges": 9, "points": "smooth", "size": size}), &line);
+        let sp = &out.subpaths[0];
+        assert_eq!(sp.anchors.len(), 11);
+        for a in &sp.anchors {
+            assert!(close(a.h_in.y, a.p.y, 1e-9) && close(a.h_out.y, a.p.y, 1e-9), "size {size}: handles not level at {a:?}");
+        }
+        for i in 0..sp.segment_count() {
+            let c = sp.segment(i);
+            for k in 0..=20 {
+                let q = c.eval(k as f64 / 20.0);
+                let want = -size * (std::f64::consts::PI * q.x / 10.0).cos();
+                assert!((q.y - want).abs() < 0.03 * size, "size {size}: {q:?} off the wave ({want})");
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 /// #1554 on curves: a circle's ridges sit at equal angles, at the radius plus and minus the size in
 /// turn all the way round.
 #[test]

docs/effects-parity.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Effects parity
 
-> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-10-16 · **Change:** minor (G2: Effect › Sketch › Halftone Pattern; Photoshop filters 30/57, 27 remaining (22–38 h); Round Corners also rounds corners where a curve meets a line or another curve, with Live Corners' cut; straight corners unchanged; score unchanged; Revolve: automatic smooth shading and default-on Cap with continuous rims; wide shadows and glows at high zoom, #1706; stacked Transform effects, #1705; 3D on nonzero compound paths, #1724; pattern tiles redraw, #1723; scores unchanged; Roughen's Smooth turn-backs, #1643; Scribble per region, #1648; score unchanged; Warp Arc bends in the object's proportions, #1578; Zig Zag ridges evenly spaced, #1558; effect parameters checked, #1592; score unchanged; raster effects after a pattern, radial or freeform gradient fill export at their place and size, #1536; score unchanged; 3D and Materials on outlined type and other shapes of many small curves, #1481; Twist 0° to 360°, #1524; twisted walls keep their faces, #1525; score unchanged; 3D and Materials: Inflate takes Twist, Taper and Cap; score unchanged; 3D and Materials: Perspective as the documented 0°–160° angle; 3D and Materials: the documented light settings) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x)
+> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-10-16 · **Change:** minor (Zig Zag's Smooth points make a continuous wave, #2343; G2: Effect › Sketch › Halftone Pattern; Photoshop filters 30/57, 27 remaining (22–38 h); Round Corners also rounds corners where a curve meets a line or another curve, with Live Corners' cut; straight corners unchanged; score unchanged; Revolve: automatic smooth shading and default-on Cap with continuous rims; wide shadows and glows at high zoom, #1706; stacked Transform effects, #1705; 3D on nonzero compound paths, #1724; pattern tiles redraw, #1723; scores unchanged; Roughen's Smooth turn-backs, #1643; Scribble per region, #1648; score unchanged; Warp Arc bends in the object's proportions, #1578; Zig Zag ridges evenly spaced, #1558; effect parameters checked, #1592; score unchanged; raster effects after a pattern, radial or freeform gradient fill export at their place and size, #1536; score unchanged; 3D and Materials on outlined type and other shapes of many small curves, #1481; Twist 0° to 360°, #1524; twisted walls keep their faces, #1525; score unchanged; 3D and Materials: Inflate takes Twist, Taper and Cap; score unchanged; 3D and Materials: Perspective as the documented 0°–160° angle; 3D and Materials: the documented light settings) · **Target:** Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.x)
 
 Every entry of Illustrator's Effect menu, by its public feature name, against VectorCraft's effects catalogue
 (`effect_catalog()` in `crates/effects/src/lib.rs`) and the Effect menu built from it
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Part of [target-app-parity.md](target-app-parity.md); open work is in [gaps.md](
 |---|---|---:|---|
 | Convert to Shape | Rectangle, Rounded Rectangle, Ellipse | 3/3 | — |
 | Crop Marks | Crop Marks | 1/1 | — |
-| Distort & Transform | Free Distort, Pucker & Bloat, Roughen, Transform, Tweak, Twist, Zig Zag | 7/7 | Free Distort's dialog has a handle on each corner of the object's bounds, moved by dragging or with the arrow keys; Transform's Transform Objects/Patterns and Scale Strokes & Effects options, invisible Reflect checkboxes (#885); Zig Zag's ridges are evenly spaced along each segment (#1558); Roughen with Smooth keeps turn-backs smooth instead of cusps that draw as spikes (#1646) |
+| Distort & Transform | Free Distort, Pucker & Bloat, Roughen, Transform, Tweak, Twist, Zig Zag | 7/7 | Free Distort's dialog has a handle on each corner of the object's bounds, moved by dragging or with the arrow keys; Transform's Transform Objects/Patterns and Scale Strokes & Effects options, invisible Reflect checkboxes (#885); Zig Zag's ridges are evenly spaced along each segment (#1558), and Smooth points make a continuous wave whose peaks and valleys have handles along the path (#2343); Roughen with Smooth keeps turn-backs smooth instead of cusps that draw as spikes (#1646) |
 | Path | Offset Path, Outline Object, Outline Stroke | 3/3 | With Use Preview Bounds on, Align, Distribute and the Transform panel still measure type that carries Outline Object by its layout box (preview bounds leave out effects) |
 | Pathfinder | Add, Intersect, Exclude, Subtract, Minus Back, Divide, Trim, Merge, Crop, Outline, Hard Mix, Soft Mix, Trap | 10/13 | Hard Mix, Soft Mix, Trap |
 | Rasterize | Rasterize… (as a live effect) | 0/1 | the live effect (Object › Rasterize exists) |
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ angular cut caps, exact visibility, 3D Classic, Turntable, 3D export) is 25–45
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-10-16 | minor | Zig Zag with Smooth points draws a continuous wave: every peak and valley is a smooth point with handles along the path, a third of the way to the next ridge, so each span follows a half cosine through the path instead of a straight diagonal with rounded tips, also at the ends of open paths and for ridges much taller than they are apart (#2343); score unchanged (estimated) |
 | 2026-10-16 | minor | G2: Effect › Sketch › Halftone Pattern (Size, Contrast, Pattern Type Circle, Dot or Line; black ink on white paper, Size in points at any Document Raster Effects resolution); measured Photoshop filters 30/57, 27 remaining (22–38 h). |
 | 2026-10-15 | minor | Round Corners rounds corners whose anchor carries a handle (where a curve meets a line, or two curves meet) with the round cut Live Corners uses (#1144), reaching `radius` along each side; before, they were left sharp. Corners between handle-less anchors are rounded as before; score unchanged (estimated) |
 | 2026-10-14 | minor | Revolve: automatic smooth vector shading, default-on Cap with continuous curved rims, and bounded seam joins; angular cut sides remain open. Scores and hour estimates unchanged at this rounding |