Inkscape Video Tutorial 4
In this part of my Inkscape Video Tutorial I cover most everything about the Bezier tool, Node tool and Inkscape Path Effects. I also cover how to fix the common lxml wrapper for libxml2 is required OS X error.
I cover the different types of nodes and paths and how to work with them. I cover every Inkscape Path Effect : Pattern Along Path, Stitch Sub Paths, Bend, Construct grid, Gears, Hatches, Interpolate Sub Paths, Knot, Ruler, Sketch, Spiro Spline, VonKoch and provide examples for each.
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Transcript of the Video
g. Combine : Ctrl + K
h. Break Apart : Shift + Ctrl + K
i. Simplify : Ctrl + l : Eliminates nodes on a path, smooths the curves and eliminates points (Mainly used for artistic rather then technical drawings)
I. If you press Ctrl + l quickly the force used to simplify will increase.
II. You can also set how strong simplify is in Inkscape Preferences -> Misc. A setting above .01 will almost definitely be to high.
j. Inset : Ctrl + 9 : Shrinks the path (Create Duplicates to test )
k. Outset : Ctrl + 0 : Enlarges the path
44. The Node Tool
a. The node tool is used to edit points and the curves of paths
b. Clicking selects one object
c. Shift Clicking : Adds to the already selected objects
d. Alt Clicking : Selects the next object down
e. Clicking on a node selects it
f. Clicking between 2 nodes selects both of them
g. Tab : cycles through the nodes of the selected object
h. Ctrl + a : Selects all nodes in the selected path
i. ! : Selects the opposite nodes from what is selected
j. Delete a node with Delete (Delete Node Icon)
k. Add a node by double clicking (Add Node Icon)
l. You can also select two nodes and (Add Node Icon)
m. Shift + J : Moves 2 selected nodes into one
n. (Join Nodes with Line Segment Icon) : Draws a line segment between selected nodes
o. (Shift + B) There are buttons for breaking apart at nodes as well
p. Chart
q. Sometimes it is easiest to move a curve by grabbing the curve itself instead of nodes.
r. DRAGGING NODE HANDLES
I. Ctrl + Handle : Rotates in 15 degree increments
II. Shift + Handle : Handles rotate at the same angle
III. Option + Handle : Lock length of handle
IV. [ & ] : Rotate the node
V. < & > : Shrink the length of the handles
VI. Ctrl + Click Handle : To retract it
VII. Shift + Drag From Node : To drag out a handle
VIII. Ctrl + Drag node : Restricts dragging vertically and horizontally
IX. NO Shift + Dragging Node : Duplicates the path
X. Selected Nodes can be aligned with Align and Distribute Node Section
XI. Create Text : Path -> Object to Path : Drag Nodes + Alt : Node Sculpting smoothly bends the nodes
XII. Create Line : Select nodes : Hit Add Nodes : Option + Drag to make bell shape
XIII. h : Flips the line horizontally
XIV. v : Flips the line vertically
XV. [ & ] : Rotate all selected nodes
XVI. < & > : Scale all selected nodes
XVII. Drag a copy by dragging and hitting SPACE to drop a copy
45. PATH EFFECTS
a. Path effects don’t apply to text, clones or bitmaps. Work with paths & shapes
b. Path -> Path Effect Editor
c. The Effect List lists all the effects applied
d. To copy a path effect to another object, select the object to copy from Ctrl + C select the target and Ctrl + 7
e. To remove a Path Effect use Remove Path Effect in Path Menu
f. Fix the lxml wrapper for libxml2 error on Mac : https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/194132
g. PATTERN ALONG PATH
i. Takes a path or pattern and stretches it across another path
ii. Draw the path to place the pattern on
iii. Draw the pattern to paste and Path -> Object to Path
iv. Select the path to past on
v. In Path Effect Editor select Pattern Along Path and Add
vi. Click Paste Path
vii. You can change Pattern Copies to create many different designs
h. STITCH SUB PATHS
i. This effect draws stroke paths between 2 paths
ii. Draw to paths -> Ctrl + K (Combine)
iii. Paste on other paths after adding the Stitch Sub Path effect
iv. Draw a Hexagon -> Path -> Object to Path
v. Select each node and Break Path at Selected Node
vi. Apply Stitch Sub Paths
vii. Do the same with a circle
i. BEND
i. Takes a path and allows you to bend it along a control path
ii. Draw a long ellipse -> Path -> Object to Path
iii. Path Effect Editor -> Bend
iv. Click Edit on Canvas button
v. Add points to the control path and bend the control path
j. CONSTRUCT GRID
i. Draw a path with 3 points
ii. Path Effect Editor -> Construct Grid
k. ENVELOPE DEFORMATION
i. Take the grid I created and deform it
l. GEARS
i. Draws a series of gears across a path
m. HATCHES (ROUGH)
i. Fills a path with a squiggly line
ii. The nodes inside the hatches make it easy to manipulate the look
n. INTERPOLATE SUB PATHS
i. Creates additional paths between 2 other paths
ii. Draw 2 paths -> Ctrl – K
iii. interpolate Sub Paths
o. KNOT
i. Tries to make it look like 1 path is on top of another where they cross
ii. This effect crashes Inkscape for me all of the time.
p. RULER
i. Turns a path into a ruler
ii. You define the Unit, Distance between ticks, Length between major and minor ticks and more
q. SKETCH
i. Simulates sketching across a path
ii. Strokes follow the curve of the path
iii. Construction lines are tangent to the path
iv. By increasing Tremble you can distort the lines
r. SPIRO SPLINE
i. Smooths out a path (Use Pencil Tool)
s. VONKOCH
i. Generates fractals
Derek, Thanks for all of the wonderful tutorials. I love them. Your pacing is excellent. I’ve been waiting for and looking forward to this one in particular. I do have one question though. When distributing a pattern along a path, is there a way to simply make duplicates of an object that are not in any way deformed and to choose the number and spacing of those objects?
Hi Brody, You are very welcome 🙂 I’m glad you are finding them useful.
You can get the effect you want, but not with Pattern Along Path.
1. Draw your bezier path
2. Draw the shape you want on the path and convert to path
3. Select both
4. Extensions -> Generate From Path -> Scatter
I hope that helps. I’ll cover it in the next tutorial.
That works beautifully. Thanks again!
p.s. I made your leek soup for my family last week and it was a big hit. I even use it as baby food.
I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the leek soup. We are probably the only people in the world eating it. I got my baby through a constipation issue with it once. There is a healthy cure for everything 🙂