I have an image in which you can see where the nodes should be place to complete the drawing, but when I try to place the nodes on these points the resulting path does not match. Could somebody point out what I may be doing wrong.

Awesome bird.

I don't see the problem, sorry. What path are you adding nodes to and what is specifically happening to the path to not make it match?

If you notice on the blue outline of the eagle there are nodes, and when I place a node on the selected spots and continue around I end up with lines that would remind you of tying your shoe. Is it possible while you are laying down a path to make a node smooth or corner depending on what you want. Or do you have to wait until you are finish and then go and change things?

So you are adding more nodes to the blue path - between the existing nodes. Does the line bend up after every node you add? How are you adding the nodes? You say when "adding nodes on the selected spot" are you refering to a specific spot illustrated in that screenshot? I assume you're not trying to add a node where the mouse cursor appears in that image.

If you have Opera zoom in 150% and you will see little circles on the blue outline of the eagle those are where the nodes are supposed to go

Ok I see you hold the shift key when you want to corner that appears to be why this was not working

Oh, I thought we were looking at an Inkscape drawing showing the path you've already laid, but I just realised that that is a Illustrator drawing. Look how stupidly small those Illustrator nodes are.

Ok, so your tracing a screenshot of someones Illustrator drawing. Now I get it. And you're adding nodes where they have nodes. So before I go on, are you familiar with changing the node type (smooth/cusp) and adjusting the handles for a node to change path direction and curve?

capnhud wrote:Ok I see you hold the shift key when you want to corner that appears to be why this was not working

Kinda, holding shift creates a node with only handle as opposed to two. In most cases you will need to lay your path without concern for the direction of each segment, then after that you adjust the handles on each node to suit.

are you familiar with changing the node type (smooth/cusp) and adjusting the handles for a node to change path direction and curve?

I just becaeme familiarized with using the shift to corner like I wanted. Usually I would create something with the pen and then go back and manually change the nodes. Nver while actually creating the path did I change the node.

capnhud wrote:

are you familiar with changing the node type (smooth/cusp) and adjusting the handles for a node to change path direction and curve?

I just becaeme familiarized with using the shift to corner like I wanted. Usually I would create something with the pen and then go back and manually change the nodes. Nver while actually creating the path did I change the node.

Ah, ok. I pretty much always lay smooth nodes that when when I done I can convert them to cusp nodes and have a handle to modify the curve of the path on each side of the node.

Are smooth nodes just mainly you are laying and then dragging?

Yeah, that's right. I describe the process here - http://www.microugly.com/inkscape-quick ... awing-path

I was looking around and most tutorials don't really introduce the idea of Nodes and Handles and specifically define how to use them. It's kinda an assumed knowledge but I could see it being a hurdle for some. If I get time maybe I'll create a tutorial that explores them.

Well since I found out about using shift with the pen tool, my problems as far as laying paths have disappeared.

Ok one last question concerning correctly placing nodes. What do you do if a node does not have a handle or only has only one handle but it is diamond shaped?

Nevermind needs to be changed to smooth but what is the keyboard shortcut that allows you to move both handles simultaneously on a smooth node. I tried Ctrl+Del but that just gets rid of the node

Shift + S changes the node to smooth. Note that you can find all keyboard shortcuts here - http://www.inkscape.org/doc/keys045.html