Page 1 of 1

Finale: Flags and stems

Posted: 13 Apr 2016, 18:00
by benwiggy
Here's a problem that I have with Finale, and I'd be interested for your thoughts. The default stem thickness in Finale is 0.5pt. If the stem is made any thicker -- even 0.6pt, then it becomes thicker than the tapered end of the quaver flag, and so 'sticks out a bit'. One solution might be to place the flag further down the stem, but then your stem (plus flag) is no longer 3.5 spaces long.

Here's a mock up in Illustrator. Obviously, the stem is far too thick, but it shows the problem.
Screen Shot.png
Screen Shot.png (26.47 KiB) Viewed 7579 times
So, basically, my question is: should I keep the stem thickness at 0.5pt? (Staff height reductions will reduce this further.)
Or is there another option?

Re: Finale: Flags and stems

Posted: 13 Apr 2016, 18:15
by Knut
benwiggy wrote:Here's a problem that I have with Finale, and I'd be interested for your thoughts. The default stem thickness in Finale is 0.5pt. If the stem is made any thicker -- even 0.6pt, then it becomes thicker than the tapered end of the quaver flag, and so 'sticks out a bit'. One solution might be to place the flag further down the stem, but then your stem (plus flag) is no longer 3.5 spaces long.

Here's a mock up in Illustrator. Obviously, the stem is far too thick, but it shows the problem.
Screen Shot.png
So, basically, my question is: should I keep the stem thickness at 0.5pt? (Staff height reductions will reduce this further.)
Or is there another option?
You can increase the stem length in document options to compensate for lowering the flag.
Beyond that, your only options are to use a different font with thicker flags, or to keep the stem thickness as is.

Re: Finale: Flags and stems

Posted: 13 Apr 2016, 19:05
by OCTO
Is the note-head offset as well?
I find up-stem flag to be misplaced by default (stem drops out).
Knut wrote:You can increase the stem length in document options
I think that it than affects non-flagged stems as well, what he doesn't want.
That is definitely an issue. The flagged notes should have 'shorter' stems, in order to work with different flag-sizes.

Re: Finale: Flags and stems

Posted: 13 Apr 2016, 19:11
by Knut
OCTO wrote:Is the note-head offset as well?
I find up-stem flag to be misplaced by default (stem drops out).
Knut wrote:You can increase the stem length in document options
I think that it than affects non-flagged stems as well, what he doesn't want.
That is definitely an issue. The flagged notes should have 'shorter' stems, in order to work with different flag-sizes.
You're absolutely right. Sorry, I wasn't thinking.

And I agree that it should be possible to have individual stem lengths for flagged and unfledged notes.
This is also definitely one of the drawbacks from using the razor thin computer music fonts à la Maestro.

Re: Finale: Flags and stems

Posted: 14 Apr 2016, 05:55
by benwiggy
Many thanks for your thoughts.