Hey everyone, first post, new to Linux as well. I'll also admit I'm quite new to vector graphics as well.

I looked up reviews of vector graphics programs on linux and this one was clearly the favourite among enthusiasts.

But to the point of this. I'm required to make a working portfolio for my Pharmacy Technician program. I want to incorporate the Rx symbol into the page to spice them up. Apparently adding stuff to the left and top makes your portfolio pop and I want mine to pop more than others. I drew this up in class:



and this is the picture I'm starting with:


I think it'll look nice if I play around with some gradients and have it progress down and then back up. Problem is I have no clue how to make the squiggly part. I have to create that piece so that I can piece it together. I'll figure out the bottom later. I could try a million different things and probably be wrong on each one so I'll ask a knowledgeable community. What would be the best way to achieve that shape so that I'll be able to add colour fill gradients to it?

There is more than one way to skin this cat, but the one way you can't is to do it all as a single object. An single object can't overlap itself. It looks like from your drawing that you've already figured out that you need to break twist up into sections. So I'm guessing your looking for the easiest and most precise way to do it? I would draw one entire length, duplicate it and flip it horizontally. I would then make another duplicate of the flipped version. Now select the bottom object and the top one and go to Path > Division. The top object will disappear and the bottom object will be cut up into pieces where it overlaps. You can then select those pieces and raise then over the top object so to create the intertwined look.

You'll probably see very fine gaps between the pieces. You can combine pieces and join the nodes to remove those gaps.

If what I've said isn't clear, let me know and I'll create a small tutorial. I actually think this process has been discussed before but am not sure what you would search on.