Hi I'm looking for the best way to create hour markers on an analog watch dial.

What I want is to only create 1 hour marker and then activate a "rotational symmetri function" that places this hour marker in intervals of e.g. 30 degrees.

The workaround I have to use now is that I create the first hour marker. Then I copy it 11 times and rotate each of them to the correct place. This is fine unless I want to tweak the look (length, width, shape) of the hour marker. Then I have to redo this procedure all over again.

Please tell me there is a better way.

Hi.

You can use cloning instead of making duplicants or copies.

By copy/pasting (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Alt+V) each object will have a separate definition if gradients/custom dasharray/custom markers are used.
Usually it is better to make duplicants (Ctrl+D) than that, where all objects will have the same defs.
But this case, cloning (Alt+D) is the best solution.
By that, you can change the parent object and the clones will follow.

You might as well use the create tiled clones option.


http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18313

Hi

Yes there's a better way.
( The example below does not use clones - to make it simpler for a beginner - )

• a. Draw a circle, to get it round hold ctrl while drawing.
• b. Turn on snapping to center of object and snapping of guidelines - turn on all snapping options if in doubt.
• c. Pull in a vertical guide line by click and hold on the ruler - then pull to center of circle.
• d. Pull a horizontal guide line to center of circle. The guides are represented as lines in the example below as guide does not show in the browser.
• e. Select the text tool, type a character in approx 12'oclock position.
• f. Set text to center justified and align to the vertical guide line.
• g. Click "slowly" on the text twice to get the rotation center to show - it's a small cross in the middle. Zoom in if you don't see it.
• f. Click on the cross and move to intersection of guide lines.
• h. Duplicate the character Ctrl D.
• i. Click on the character until the markers for scaling changes to rotation handles.
• j. Click on the the rotation handle, hold downCtrl and rotate it.
• k. Repeat h, i and j for the rest of the characters.
• l. click on each character, press F8 and change the text.

(Right-click image to download)

If you want to change the characters to be "right side up" -
Click twice on the character - move the rotation center to the center of the character and rotate.

Have fun.
RGDS
Ragnar