Hi,

I've been working on my first inkscape extension, to mirror the guillotine function available in GIMP.

(Updated) An up to date zip file is now available here:

http://code.google.com/p/inkscape-guillotine/

Please test!

Thanks,
Craig

looks like a pretty cool extension.. The explanation at your site is very clear, just wondering if you have an example scenario of how its used?

vwanweb wrote:looks like a pretty cool extension.. The explanation at your site is very clear, just wondering if you have an example scenario of how its used?

Hi vwanweb,

Sorry to have not got back to you very quickly, I have now set the forum to notify me when I get a reply, so I should be able to reply more quickly next time.

Here's how I use the extension (for my sign making business):

I have to produce templates on paper that are usually much bigger than A4, and they are usually just a word, or a couple of words on a rectangular page. For example: I might want the words "Our House" on a paper template that's 500mm x 150mm, but I only have an A4 printer, so I create a drawing in inkscape to the correct scale and size, and when I have the design right, I want to slice it up into rectangles that are less than 210mm x 297m in size (the size of A4 paper), ready for my printer.

So rather than export an entire PNG to gimp and use the guillotine tool there, I do the following:

Drag guides onto the page (in this case, one vertical guide approximately half-way along will do), then go to Export->Guillotine, I put in a directory name (such as C:\Users\Craig Marshall\Desktop, or ~/Desktop), and then a partial filename, such as "output", and it will export the two rectangles as output1.png and output2.png. I import these into a multipage openoffice document, then PDF and print.

It's much easier for me than either opening up a separate program, or drawing export rectangles onto a new layer then having to hide that layer most of the time.

Another (more common) use case is for people producing websites, they can drag many guides onto their webpage mockup, and slice the image up into small pieces for reassembly in a table, another is for cutting an icons or buttons file up, etc..

Craig

I think it's a handy extension to have. Throwing guides around my page is what I do anyway. Great work, Craig.

heathenx wrote:I think it's a handy extension to have. Throwing guides around my page is what I do anyway. Great work, Craig.

No problem, glad it's of use to you. It's in the inkscape trunk now too, so you should see it in 0.49

That's great news. I wish more extensions could be included.

If you have any ideas for extensions that could be of use, let me know. I might be able to help out. Not promising anything though, I have 2-3 ideas from a friend at the moment already..

Thank you for the explanation, this is a great enhancement. This extension along with the 'batch' and slice (JessyInk) methods makes one think of exporting to have a [more...] button option in the >File >Export menu.

Hi craigmarshall, is it possible to adjust this extension so that it can export the parts of the bigger picture to svg files instead of png?

Cheers,
Thom

Hi craigmarshall,

you did a good work.

My 2 cents is to implement a feature which allows to print some "cut marks" in the png files. These cut marks can facilitate the procedure to put the pictures together.

Ciao,
Rosario

I was just trying to use this extension, to find out how it works. .... Well, assuming it's the same extension as the one by the same name, in version 0.91? I wonder if we could get some more detailed instructions how to use it?

It says to use guides to define the rectangle you want. But it didn't export just the rectangle. It exported 9 images!

Also, what are "export hints"?

Maybe this is not that same extension?? Maybe I should make feature request "bug report", instead?

brynn wrote:Maybe this is not that same extension?? Maybe I should make feature request "bug report", instead?

No need for another report in the bug tracker - the one included in Inskcape 0.91 is the same extension, by the same author - it had been submitted for review and inclusion in

• Bug #618581 “Request: Add guillotine extension to trunk”

As you know there is no updated manual / documentation available for Inkscape 0.91 yet. The extension works as described by Craig in the detailed comment higher up in this topic: it exports rectangular slices of the page area which are cut along the positioned guides (see also, as mentioned by Craig, the similar option in GIMP). A common use case would be exporting sliced images for web-design (e.g. for buttons or menus), or - as in Craig's original case - for printing a drawing which is larger than the supported page formats of the desktop printer.

"export hints" are details (export dpi, export path and file name) stored with objects or the document itself when exporting to PNG Image; see also this section in the manual - these "export hints" are used e.g. when batch-exporting selected objects via 'File > Export PNG image'. They also get auto-filled into the options of 'File > Export PNG image' if the same area (or selection) had been exported before (and the file was saved after exporting).

Well, here's where the misunderstanding happened. I read this:

It lets you drag horizontal and vertical guides onto the drawing, then the resulting rectangles are exported as PNGs.

from this page https://code.google.com/p/inkscape-guillotine/ (which apparently may not be around much longer) (for future searchers).

I thought I needed to define a rectangle using guides. So I dragged out 4 guides, thinking they are defining the rectangle I want exported. But I didn't get 1 rectangle, I got 9!

The reason I was thinking of making the feature request "bug report" is because I would request a Help tab for the extension dialog, like many other extensions have. That help tab would make it clear that a "cut" is made for each guide, and that 1 guide will result in 2 PNGs being exported. It would also explain what "export hints" are. And finally, I would also request a Browse button, to enter the directory more quickly.

(This is another case of Inkscape being not-so-user-friendly for the many not-so-tech-savvy people who use it. Especially if we can't get a push for an "open manual" which would allow individuals or a team to edit the manual, and so the work isn't burdensome for 1 single, very busy developer; Inkscape needs more helpful tips. If I could have just looked it up, I never would have needed to post here.)

brynn wrote:I thought I needed to define a rectangle using guides. So I dragged out 4 guides, thinking they are defining the rectangle I want exported. But I didn't get 1 rectangle, I got 9!

Why would you need an extension to export a single rectangular area to bitmap? Inkscape can do that just fine via 'File > Export PNG Image' (draw the rect, remove fill, remove stroke, export selection to PNG).

The extension is called 'Guillotine' - here's a random picture of a related web search ('paper guillotine'):

Doesn't this imply a certain type of slicing to occur along the guides (through all stacked layers and objects of the drawing content on the page)?

Exporting just the rectangular area defined by the intersections of the four guides in my understanding would be more equivalent of working with a box cutter or paper knife:
,

brynn wrote:That help tab would (…) would also explain what "export hints" are.

"export hints" are not specific to this extension - they are part of the default built-in 'File > Export PNG Image' feature. This particular extension attempts to make use of them (if present at all) to work around a known limitation of the current extension system: extensions by design do not know the filename of the current document and its exact location on the disk. Related reports among others are

• Bug #1147603 “"Extract image…" makes images linked relative to one's home directly instead of where the SVG is located”
• Bug #1359471 “Full filename is not known in extensions”

brynn wrote:And finally, I would also request a Browse button, to enter the directory more quickly.

That request already exists (the feature is not specific to individual extensions):

• Bug #1070193 “Add “file” type to INX UI parameters”

Probably because I've never heard of a "paper guillotine". In the U.S. the image you showed is known as a "paper cutter". The only thing those of use who have ever heard the word "guillotine" know about it, is that it was some ancient punishment for asking the wrong question, and you got your head cut off.

The term guillotine is quite common globally for cutters in the print and paper trades.

If you google image search "guillotine cutter" the majority of examples are for paper.

Well, amazing as it may be, I had never heard that name before. And I do hold a Bachelor of Science degree, old as it may be, by now. I've never heard it called anything but a paper cutter.