patterns and paths

[cc]

[This topic was split out from another, since it's a different subject.]

Ugh, I see, dang, that's frustrating, I can really see how useful that tool can be... IF only it didn't crash so!! 

Well, thank you for the Jitter Nodes, suggestion, of course, I've only played with it for a small bit of time now, but so far I can't seem to get the effect like the Tweak Tool's 'Roughen Parts of Path'. Even the Tweak RPOP hasn't the heights & depths of the AI Warp Tool I'm really after but I could fake that a bit more. Will continue to play & learn... maybe there's a fix somehow? But I'm open to other ways to get the desired results.

So I have come up with yet another question, this time regarding Patterns. In AI we can make Patterns and Brush Strokes out of most any design, (for say Textile/Wallpaper/GiftWrap Repeat work) THEN we can "EXPAND" the Pattern/Brush Stroke, releasing or exposing it back to the original work. Now I THINK Patterns can be created this way in Inkscape: • Clone | Edit > Clone > Create Tile Clone •  I've not played with it too much yet but, IF this is how we may achieve a pattern HOW may we EXPAND the pattern back to the original artwork again?

[Moini]

For patterns, select an object or a group, and do Object > Pattern > Objects to pattern.

For bending and stretching a shape to follow a path, do
1. create the shape
2. copy it to the clipboard

3. draw with the Pen or Pencil tool, using 'Shape: from clipboard'.

or

3. apply it to an existing path with: select path, Path > Path effects : + > Pattern along path, paste from clipboard (icon) and adjust the settings of the effect

[cc]

Thank you Moini! But Ooo, while trying: Object > Pattern > Objects to pattern, Inkscape evidently didn't like my pattern and crashed!? Will try again...

Sorry, I think I am confused, for Bending and Stretching a shape to follow a path -- is this like creating a custom Brush? Meaning my object will be what I draw with a Pen/Pencil tool... (see examples, I created the vector graphics then turned them into 'Brushes'. These are the results from the Bézier Tool S shapes, the top showing the vector outlines). IF this is the same idea, it didn't work for me or I did something incorrectly?

Likewise, I wasn't able to put my object on an existing path with: select path, Path > Path effects : + > Pattern along path, paste from clipboard (icon) and adjust the settings of the effect, now I actually HAVE done this before...

Are my objects with fills, gradients, & multilayers too complex for the above steps? Can I achieve such a BRUSH like result, as in my samples??

And per my pattern question, I got (next attempt with no crash) the Object > Pattern > Objects to pattern to work, now I'm trying to get some of the patterns I created in AI and Expand them so I can change some aspects & colors etc in Inkscape. But when I reverse and go Patterns to Objects to expand these, they are just a box, as if it's an imported image and I can see none of my original vector line work, just a box outline... Is it possible to get back to the original vector art as I created in AI? TY
 

[Moini]

Some of these will work with the LPE 'Pattern along Path', and some will require the 'Pattern along Path' extension to work.

The Live Path Effect wlll only work for single color, single object items that you want to repeat along the path, while the extension will work for groups and alternating stacks of objects, too (or maybe the Scatter extension will, too).

You may need to look these up and watch or read tutorials for more details on how to use them.

[Lazur]

The bend path effect can distort multiple paths/multiple fills if you like.
However that also means they will be distorted entirely. The circular shape of the buttons won't be preserved and the zipper would look off.

Bending is fitting for the rope but for the rest, custom markers may come handy.
Here are some examples on that:
red pelikan
scissors pattern

[brynn]

I went ahead and made these last few messages from the other topic, into their own topic.

In Inkscape, Pattern fills are a very different thing than Pattern Along Path.  Patterns are typically used to fill an object, while pattern along path places the same outline object along a specific path.  One is about fills and the other is about outlines repeated along a path.  (Well, usually it's about outlines repeated, but there's also the stretch option.)

A pattern fill is raster in nature.  It can be used to fill a vector shape or path.  Pattern along path is all vector.  After you create your pattern along path, and you convert it back to a regular path (Object to Path) you could then apply a pattern fill to the individual units of the PAP.  That's the only way I could conceive using them together.

Pattern to Object will have no effect on pattern along path.  Although it might be similar to what you describe as "expanding".  I'm not entirely clear what you mean.  If you want to edit a pattern, then you have to use Pattern to Object.  It probably will turn into a rectangle, and it might not be in the same place on the canvas.  Most of the time it shifts to the top-left corner of the page (turn on the page border to find it, if necessary) but sometimes it returns to the place on the canvas, where it was when you first converted it to a pattern.

Sorry, I think I am confused, for Bending and Stretching a shape to follow a path -- is this like creating a custom Brush?

Yes.  Eventually, I think developers are planning (or at least they were) on calling them brushes, and greatly expanding the available "stock" "brushes".  I was trying to convince them not to use the word "brush" because a brush from a raster program works very, very differently from the way Inkscape or other vector programs create a similar effect.  I was hoping they could come up with some word to indicate a vector brush (even "vector brush" would be ok with me).  My concern about it, is that I spend all my time explaining why developers do what they do, and how to make it work.  And frankly, they don't have to worry about explaining it over and over again.

You could use Tiled Clones for this, if the "path" would follow a regular formula.  And if you have enough patience to sort out the Shift tab of that dialog (it only works in percent, not any other units).  If you're a math whiz, you might like it.  I tend to use the Scatter extension more than PAP.  It doesn't have as much distortion of the pattern, as pap does.  Plus, I think it can use imported raster images.  And the Spray tool could be considered in the same ballpark, but not if any sort of precision is needed.

Patterns:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Attributes-Fill-Stroke.html#Attributes-Patterns

PAP extension:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Extensions-GenerateFromPath.html#Extensions-PatternAlongPath
PAP LPE:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-LivePathEffects-PatternAlongPath.html

manual:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/index.php

Oops, Lazur posted while I was typing.  Here's the manual info for markers:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Attributes-Stroke.html#Attributes-Stroke-Markers