I'm working on a series of diagram illustrations and thought I'd do one or more in Inkscape.

I'm having some difficulty getting InkScape to do what I need to, based on how I'd do things in Illustrator....I'm working with a simple rectangle whose perspective I have the way I want it..making a work bench, so the perspective, positioning of the table top will inform that of other parts of the table, like the legs, the sides, etc.

In illustrator, I'd attack part of this by copying a segment of my table top rectangle, then paste it for use making other shapes. However, Copy/Paste and Cut/Paste don't seem to be operable. If I Cut, the result is as though I deleted (there is a delete command, which I did not invoke). If I copy, then paste, I don't get anything placed onto the drawing area. Most puzzling...

Do I need to somehow break my rectangle into sub-parts? I am using the Edit Paths by Nodes tool to try to get what I need..am I at least on the right road?

thanks for any pointers...

InkCat

Hi InkCat,

I have some troubles visualizing what you try to do, so I am not sure if I am giving you the right pointers here.

- Copy/Past and Cut/Paste take your original object and paste it at the location of your mouse cursor.
- Duplicate (Ctrl+D) makes an exact duplicate on top of your original.

You can use the Path operations to create cutouts of objects (I think in your case "Cut Path" may come in handy - see the last example at: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... ining.html
Note that you may need to convert objects to path first (Path > Object to Path, Shift+Ctrl+C).

If you want to combine several paths into one: Path > Combine
You can then use the Node Tool to edit nodes, add segments and so on. More on Path editing: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... iting.html

I hope this helps,
Syllie

Thank you, Syllie;

those links look promising and do deal with concepts I need to master for this type of illustration. As for Copy/Cut and paste, I tried mightily and got nothing, regardless of mouse cursor position...

Is it possible that the version of InkScape I'm using has issues? It's version 0.47-1 supposedly for Leopard/Snow Leopard (Mac OS X).

thanks!

Ink

InkCat wrote:Is it possible that the version of InkScape I'm using has issues? It's version 0.47-1 supposedly for Leopard/Snow Leopard (Mac OS X).

yes, X11 preferences need some tweaking to get copy&paste working in Inkscape 0.47.

See for example my earlier comments:

• InkscapeForum.com: cut & paste
• InkscapeForum.com: Mac Snow Leopard?

thank you, SUV...that seems to have had a positive impact on the situation...

I see also that "enable clickthrough" is included in the prefs for X11 now, too, whereas before, you had to type a terminal command to enable that.

Ink

Hello InkCat [meow].

Funny, had things worked a little differently in my life, I'd probably be right next to you using Illustrator and maybe just now having a curious interest in Inkscape. I would almost venture to say it was a momentous turning point in my hobbyist life.

In any event, glad to see at least the technical oddities seem to be taken care of. Granted I don't use Copy and Paste as often as I should, it still comes in very handy (especially when doing Paste Style, or CTRL+SHIFT+V).

As for your description on how to create your workbench, I think I have an idea of what you mean. But just to be sure, see the attached SVG of a box (yeah, just a box), and see if it more or less conforms to the angle and construct you have in mind per your plan of "attack".

The only tools I used to build it are the Rectangle Tool , Selector Tool and the Show Grid option for extra precision. Only the top rectangle was drawn to matching points on the grid, then resized and skewed using and also by moving the Center handle of the object to the lower-righthand corner to retain the position of my rectangle's base.

(by clicking an object twice with , you get access to Rotate, Skew and Center handle editing).

Once my top rectangle was done, I duplicated the rectangle (CTRL+D), and used to resize the duplicate rectangle downward, and skewed to the left to form the original rectangle shape -- with the grid enabled, this is literally a "snap".

Finally, I create a duplicate of this rectangle, resize it over to the right, and skew it upward to finish my box. Then I just change the color of the front and side so its different from the top of the box and offers a primitve shading effect. ^^b

Note that easy skewing is only possible because I moved the Center handle in the proper spot FIRST, and also because Duplicate objects inherit the center handle of their parent objects. Otherwise, this process wouldn't be nearly as cut and dry.

(also note that neither copy+paste, nor the , were ever used)

This took about a minute since I was being extra careful, but anyone who does this regularly and knows the essential shortcut keys could probably make a shape like this in seconds. Of course a workbench is no box, but I can kinda see how the same principals could be used to create a giant complex shape out of nothing but a single rectangle duplicated x number of times.

c-quel;

thanks for your thoughts...I can see your method working...I'd fiddled with that in Illustrator and didn't like the results, but it could be my running out of patience with the skew/distort/warp tools...I'm trying to fight off a cold and not at 100% right now.

my current plan is to establish the perspective by shaping a rectangle just so in Inkscape...

it won't be isometric; I want vanishing points.

I was toying with the idea of using Inkscapes fine 3D tool, but at first, I want to do it the "hard way," so that it forces me to learn how to tackle everyday problems..

FYI, this particular kind of workbench is a wookworker's bench, complete with a shavings trough and a couple of built-in wood vises. Trestle-style construction.

After I get the line just right, I want to pull it into ArtRage for texturing and shading.

if all goes well, it ought to be a fairly decent image.

InkCat

lol! You sure you want to draw while you're that sick? Don't want you to pass out on the keyboard here.

Now with the extra description I have a much clearer idea of what you want to do. [sounds pretty cool, btw, I used to do some light carpentry myself]

[for the uninitiated, this is more or less how one of these things look like, give or take some embellishments...]



The 3D tool is its own special beast, so while it COULD be useful if utilized properly (especially in the case of a wookworker's bench which is replete with rectangular shapes), chances are [as a relatively newish Inkscape user] you are much better off with the "hard way" since it offers much greater no-nonsense control and [as you say] it's a good way to try out every other aspect of this program relevant to your piece.

In any event, if you want vanishing-point perspective, you have no choice but to rely on . Good news is that the rest of my guidelines (for creating the box) are still relevant; you just have to tweak the nodes after the duplicate rectangles are repositioned. But, feel free to tackle it however you prefer, it is art after all.

Truth is, no one taught me how to use Inkscape -- the ease of use and intuitiveness of the [then 0.43] interface pretty much taught me over time, and this following a very LONG tradition of Photoshop usage.

Well then, hope you feel better and good luck!

Not sure i quite understand what is required so ignore if way off base, but If i were to re- create C Quel's workbench image i would probably start off with Axonometric grid to help create all the objects

Oh yeah, that workbench image is just for fun reference (since there's so many types of workbenches), and is probably nowhere near what InkCat has in mind.

But you did just remind me that I've never used the Axonometric grid feature before.... shame on me.

*puts trying it on to-do list*

Alright...thanks you you guys, a glance at the manual and some earnest chair time, I've got a handle on the basics that I need to at least get started..

I am noticing 2 things I might want to call bugs, but I'll fly it by you all first...


Bug 1: when I zoom in past a certain number of zooms, some elements on-screen disappear. These are things which I have drawn and which are on layers whose visability is turned on. If I whap out a couple zooms, they re-appear. Some kind of video issue?

Bug 2: The key commands for Cut/Copy/Paste/Paste in Place seem not to be behaving properly...especially "Paste in Place." Not only are the things I just copied not Pasted in the same position as the copied items, but I have gotten other items copied previously...

Maybe this is some limitation to how the clip board works in X11?


No fatalities have resulted; the menu commands do function properly. I tend to be a key command person, so some day, it'd be real nice if those things got wired up properly.

cheers!

Inkcat

c-quel wrote:Oh yeah, that workbench image is just for fun reference (since there's so many types of workbenches), and is probably nowhere near what InkCat has in mind.

But you did just remind me that I've never used the Axonometric grid feature before.... shame on me.

*puts trying it on to-do list*

no, that is actually the beast I am trying to draw...the base is somewhat different than the mortise/tenon arrangement in the photo, but in all other ways the same.

Yeah, I will prbly use axonometric in future, but I spoze I want an isometric version first, then will make a perspective drawing from that (I'll have the Iso just in case).

Inkscape has an impressive toolset...my "to do" list is pretty long as well!


inkcat

Couple of minutes with Grids, and and got a rough one

Very very cool!
[same with that grid view, awesome] ^^

InkCat wrote:Bug 2: The key commands for Cut/Copy/Paste/Paste in Place seem not to be behaving properly...especially "Paste in Place." Not only are the things I just copied not Pasted in the same position as the copied items, but I have gotten other items copied previously...

Maybe this is some limitation to how the clip board works in X11?

I would not say your problem is a bug in Inkscape - but to get the 'Alt' key (like in Ctrl+Alt+v for 'Paste in Place') working in Inkscape running under X11 on OS X, you have to configure the keymap of X11 accordingly. This issue is covered by the FAQ "How to make the Alt key work ?".