I need to use Inkscape to turn a circle/oval into something that looks like this:



I could draw it with the pen tool and adjust the path accordingly, but that takes a while, and I will need to do it several dozen times for the same project. I'd like it to look slightly different each time, too, not just like the same object sized up and down. I tried using the tweak tool to work something out, but nothing seems to be working properly. I have no problem adding the tail manually each time, but I would like to work out some way to automate the process of protruding the nodes from the object with a smooth, curved "slope" to each point, as above. Any advice?

As I understand it Illustrator has a "Pucker" option to automate this kind of operation (or, indeed, the opposite - to balloon the path out to create "thought bubbles"). Unfortunately Inkscape lacks such a tool, as far as I know.

My advice would be to stop thinking in terms of moving the nodes, but rather think in terms of curving the lines in between. These are the steps I take when I need a speech bubble like this:

1) Draw out a normal oval of the right size and shape to enclose the text.
2) Convert to path.
3) Select all the nodes and press Insert a couple of times to add some new ones. Or double-click on the path to place them by hand. Or both.
4) With all nodes selected, use the "Make selected segments lines" button to change it from a smooth oval to a series of connected straight lines.
5) Drag the middle of each line segment with the mouse to get the shape you want. You may need to adjust the node handles to get exactly what you're looking for.

It's not automated, but is probably a faster approach than trying to "protrude" the nodes. After you've done one, you can copy it and manually move a few nodes to create a different version. You can also use the Jitter Nodes extension to move all the nodes a little bit.

Here's one I threw together to check my instructions:

Thanks, Xav! That's very helpful, and I probably should have been able to figure that out on my own.

"The Greys" looks cool, by the way! I'm gonna drop you an email and get you some free publicity.

Evan Henry wrote:I need to use Inkscape to turn a circle/oval into something that looks like this:



I could draw it with the pen tool and adjust the path accordingly, but that takes a while, and I will need to do it several dozen times for the same project. I'd like it to look slightly different each time, too, not just like the same object sized up and down. I tried using the tweak tool to work something out, but nothing seems to be working properly. I have no problem adding the tail manually each time, but I would like to work out some way to automate the process of protruding the nodes from the object with a smooth, curved "slope" to each point, as above. Any advice?

Draw a *,Ctrl++, delete inner nodes.
Extensions/modify path/straighten segments, then jitter nodes.
If jittering makes shape edge have inner cuts, then Ctrl++, then Ctrl+Shift k, Shift click on the good part and delete the unnecessary ones.
If you want to generate thingies with more random dimensions, draw two of them and interpolate.

Evan Henry wrote:"The Greys" looks cool, by the way! I'm gonna drop you an email and get you some free publicity.

I look forward to hearing from you - I love a bit of free publicity


Lazur URH, that's a nice alternative approach. I've never really even noticed the Straighten Segments extension before - I can definitely see that coming in handy from time to time.

I'd also do it the way that XAV does. Then once you have one made, be sure to duplicate it and move the nodes around, you'd be surprised at just how fast you can manually manipulate the nodes once you have spent the necessary time on the very first one. For ease, you might place each completed item on a separate layer. Just had a thought that jitter nodes might work for one callout.

BTW, the Greys are one of my most fav comics, love that style of humor! kudos.

It won't come out looking exactly the same, but you can play around with creating a star with like 15 corners and mess with the spoke, rounding, and sizing.