Inkscape capabilities

[jim cubie]

I'm back.  I was using Inkscape for some model building designs.  You gave me a lot of help which I appreciate.  The svg format was very important to getting cricut to cut small smooth curves.  YOu also advised me to look at other programs to create simple shapes which I have done -- I use Librecad.

I also use a program called "Modelbuilder" which I use to design cardstock buildings for model railoads.  It is a pretty good program, but its files cannot be exported which is a big problem for a number of reasons -- including that I can't use it with my Cricut.  But it has several functions which are very important.  Rather than me wandering around Inkscape trying to find them, can I ask you you whether Inkscape as the following functions.

1   A "bring to front, and send to back" option?  That is, if I import a square of bricks I can shape it like a wall.  I then import  a picture of a window and place it on top of the brick wall. Then Iwant to reverse the order by "sending  to the back" the windows so that are not visible?  Can I do that?  Where in inkscape?

2.  Changing object shape- let's say I bring in a square block of bricks to make the front of a house.  I want to take the top one third of the square block of bricks and make it like a peak of a house- a triangle on top of a rectangle.  Can I change the shape of an object as I have described.  Or can I create a shape and fill it with a texture as you can in Sketchup? Some other option?  Where in inkscape?

Thanks again for all of your help.  I know it is a labor of love.

Also -- my email got hacked so I have a new email.  I have tried to change my profile.  I am using the password I have written down for Inkscape. MY new email is [email protected].  The only difference is the addition of the integer "1."  I won't know if you have responded unless my email address is changed in your system.

[Lazur]

Hi.

The z-orderof the objects can be altered by PgUp/PgDown/Home/End, and there is an arrange extension you can use to restack objects automatically.

Depending on the object you have, it is possible to edit it manually.
You can create a pattern fill in the objects menu however that's only a rendered visual, won't transfer to "cnc lines".
With a more detailed explanation there may be a focused solution we can give.

[jim cubie]

Thanks got the z order figured out.

Here is an example to illustrate the second question.  I have imported and image of clapboard siding which will be the front of a house.  I want the house to have a peak, shaped like the triangle I placed over the upper part of the siding.  How do I get the area in the triangle to look like the siding which is below it? See attached file.

[Lazur]

Clipping can be used in that case.
If you group the raster image and clip the group, you can reposition the image relative to the clipped area.

Other option is, converting the raster image to a pattern fill, although it is not a seamless image -won't tile well- and in general pattern fills have bad rendering support in pdf-s.


Side note: making a seamless texture from that raster image can be done in a raster editor in a few minutes.

[jim cubie]

I am just starting this process so your answer is way over my head.  Did you look at the file I attached?  What type of image is it?  Raster?  What kind of file do I need so that when I stretch the pattern in the file vertically the clapboards do not get wider in the vertical direction.

[Lazur]

That's a photographs which is always a raster image. Select the object and read the bottom indication line in the inkscape window.
It tells the px size of the raster image. If you stretch the pattern, it should distort and get wider.
However that description indicates you want to use a seamless pattern fill ie. resizing the filled object boundaries and having a continuous pattern at its original scale.
Pattern fills can do that.

Select the raster image, and convert it to a pattern fill in the object menu or by Alt+I.
That creates a rectangle with the custom pattern fill. Copy object (Ctrl+C).
Then, select the object you want to give the same fill attribute and paste style (Ctrl+Shift+V).

"Should work well", although the photograph is not of a seamless texture.

[jim cubie]

Thanks,, got it working

[brynn]

Regarding your email.  Posting an email address in a forum is a sure way to get tons and tons and tons of spam at the email address - and to have it hacked.  All email addresses are hackable, but those posted publicly are considered fair game.  Best practice for internet security includes never posting one's email address publicly.

(There are bots and spiders and all sorts of automated scripts, constantly crawling the internet.  Some have legitimate uses, such as search engine spiders.  We like those.  Some are trying to register fake members and post spam.  We don't like them, and actively block them.  Some are snatching up every email address they can find.  We can't even see them, much less block them!) 

(For example, we average approx 25,000 visits per day.  But only approx 400 of those are human.  All the rest are various automated bots which have many, many different purposes.  Some purposes are respectable, such as search engine spiders, but most are not.)

If you need to share an email address with someone, you can use the forum's Private Message feature.  That way, only the person you address the message to will see it.  And the bots can't get to it there.

You can change your email address.  Click the Profile tab near the top, then Modify Profile > Account Settings, and Email is about halfway down.  And be sure to click the Change Profile button at the bottom of the page, to make it take effect.  Then go back to your profile, to confirm that it's correct.

If you need help, let me know