inkscape tool selection

[judderman]

Hi Guys I am totally new to inkscape and was following the tutorials on how to use it iwas just on lesson 4 where they were talking about using nodes (that was a new one on me) all of a sudden when I tried to use the ellipse tool I clicked on it and as I move my curser to the work area it change to a tiny cross hair like a gun sight and when anything appears on the screen it looks like a square/oblong with three nodes on it I have tried everything I can think of even removing inkscape from my pc but when it is installed again the problem is still there I would appreciate some help with this probl;em as it is driving me crazy

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

No worries -- we can get it sorted out.  But first I need to understand a little better.

Lesson 4 of which tutorial?  It doesn't sound like what you're seeing are actually nodes, so I'm worried whichever tutorial you're using might not be giving correct terminology.

Whenever the Ellipse tool is enabled, it does have a tiny crosshair, but it's beside a small oval.  The crosshair can help you align the new object that you're about to draw, although by itself, it's probably not very precise.

But when you click-drag, you should see an oval being drawn.  If you don't see that, and all  you see it 2 tiny circles and a tiny square (and a large dashed line rectangle), then probably you have made the last thing you drew with the Ellipse tool transparent.  Here's an article which can help you find the problem:

http://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=18

Let us know if you still can't get it working, and we can provide more details.

[Moini]

To me, this sounds as if the OP were drawing transparent objects. In that case, take a look at Brynn's guide here: http://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=18)