Since I'm poking around these forums already, I thought I might ask about something that I've thought of from time to time.

I'm wondering if there is a better method or process to draw than what I am doing. To clarify, I'm talking about creating images that look like hand drawn-cartoons: they have lines that make up the shape and details of the image and are filled with generally flat colors.

The issue is that with more complex designs, one cannot wholly rely on simply using the fill and stroke settings. Many lines don't completely enclose the shape, so I would wind up having one set of paths for the outline, and another set of paths for the fill.
But things wind up usually being a little bit more complex because I usually don't wind up drawing a "final form" of the linework. I have objects that I typically draw in front of another one, and it is hard to draw the one in back only where it is visible. A lot of lines are easier to draw right if I can draw the whole line out in one motion or tweak its exact shape as one unbroken line.

If this were a line I drew on paper, I could just erase the line in the spots where it isn't supposed to be visible. And I've seen some vector programs that actually let the user do this. But I know of no such option in inkscape. But maybe there is, so I'm asking.
Is there a way I can trim down a line without changing its shape? A feature that can detect that another line crosses over it, and then removes the portion of a line that is past that crossover, adding a new node at said point that retains the shape of the previous line?

EDIT: Here's a visual reference for what I'm talking about.

Note thatneither of these objects is a complete path where the end reaches the beginning.

There's not a feature that can detect that one line crosses another. But you should be able to see it for yourself.

To see it, you might want to consider using layers. So that you can hide a layer on top so you can see what's on a layer below.

After you see it, Inkscape does indeed have tools to remove parts. While there's an Eraser tool, I almost never suggest using it. I find it doesn't always work. And even when it does, often has undesirable results.

Otherwise, you'll want to read up on Path Operations or also called Booleans. You can find them in the manual. And one of the tutorials (from the Help menu) covers it as well (Basic, Shapes or Advanced, I can't remember which one - don't worry about the one called advanced -it really is an introduction to paths, and is written for beginners - might even be the one with the operations explained.)

Usually you would use Difference for removing something. But sometimes Intersection works just as well. I probably use Cut Path, the 3rd most often. It all depends on how you "see" the canvas working, and also depends on your own preferences, which you'll develop over time.

Here's a short example, and you can refer to the aforementioned documentation for more details.

Let's say you have a Calligraphy line which forms the variable width border of one of your cartoon characters. If you aren't using any transparency, of course you can just draw something on top of it, to cover it up. That's the simplest way. But if there's some transparecy, or otherwise you prefer to keep the file size down, here's how to use Difference to remove part of it.

1 - Draw a new rectangle on top of it, so that each side of the rectangle falls on the place where you want it to be cut. Or if the area to be removed needs curved edges, maybe you would use a circle. Or you can draw any custom shape using the Pen/Bezier, or maybe Pencil tool. Edit - Or often, there is an existing shape in the drawing already, which you can simply duplicate, to use as the shape which "cuts the hole".

2 - Select the new path (rectangle, circle, whatever) and the calligraphy border.

3 - Path menu > Difference

Done! (The rectangle or circle or new path is more or less consumed in the operation. So it just disappears, leaving a space in the calligraphy border where is used to be.)

There are several features that do the things you're looking for - and all of them can be found in the Path Effects menu.
I.e. specifically you're looking for 'clone original', 'fill between many', 'fill between strokes', 'powerstroke' and 'knot'. Most of them aren't exactly self-explicatory.

You can find explanations in the release notes for 0.92 (http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php ... notes/0.92), in the forums and on some mailing list threads, and also in Jabier's youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/jabiertxof/videos, note that some things that are recorded have changed, or didn't make it into 0.92). I have posted several explanations and step-by-step descriptions in various places during the last year or so, and I think there may also be some in the Full Circle articles written by Xav (list at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11981).

My Full Circle articles cover all the Live Path Effects that were present in Inkscape up to version 0.91. There have been several new ones added in 0.92, including some of the specific ones Moini mentioned. I'm currently working on the first of several articles that will detail these new LPEs, but it will be a few months before I've covered them all and the magazines are available.

Yes, for cartoons the fill and the outline often have to be separate objects.
Tip: To make a cartoon more natural, I find avoid using the tricks that Inkscape offers. such as in-front and behind.

I have some methods I use for cartoons:

1) If a line goes behind an object, draw it as "2 separate lines with a gap". It is more work, and creates more ragged ends, and things don't exactly line up, but it gets you "thinking" in a real hand drawn way.

2) If you do want to break a line that goes behind an object,
- a) Duplicate (CTRL-D) the obstructing object. (It should be in-front of your line.)
- b) Select your line and the duplicate of the object
- c) Go to the menu Path and click Division. Your line becomes broken, and the duplicate object is deleted.
- d) Remove the broken (hidden) portion of your line.

I've updated the original post with an image to make what I'm talking about clearer.

ianp5a wrote:1) If a line goes behind an object, draw it as "2 separate lines with a gap". It is more work, and creates more ragged ends, and things don't exactly line up, but it gets you "thinking" in a real hand drawn way.

I disagree. When I draw something by hand, and everyone else I've watch draw, we draw the lines as a single motion as much as possible, and then when we go back to ink it we break up the pieces. Or erase the lines that need to not be there, depending on the tools available. But drawing it initially as two separate lines is just asking for trouble.

ianp5a wrote:2) If you do want to break a line that goes behind an object,
- a) Duplicate (CTRL-D) the obstructing object. (It should be in-front of your line.)
- b) Select your line and the duplicate of the object
- c) Go to the menu Path and click Division. Your line becomes broken, and the duplicate object is deleted.
- d) Remove the broken (hidden) portion of your line.

I just tried this, and all it did was add an extra line to connect the endpoints of my line. It didn't break anything up at all.

For the example you're now showing, I would use Path menu > Cut Path

-- Duplicate the path shaped like a finger, and put it on top of the horizontal path
-- Select both
-- Path menu > Cut Path

It will appear as if nothing has happened. But if you deselect everything, then select the paths with the Node tool, you will see that path has been cut, and you can delete the part that you no longer need.

Edit
Oops, I missed ianpa's message somehow. Cut Path is similar to Division. In some situations, they do exactly the same thing. but other situations, they're a little different. Sorry for the repetition.

Marscaleb wrote:I've updated the original post with an image to make what I'm talking about clearer.I disagree. When I draw something by hand, and everyone else I've watch draw, we draw the lines as a single motion as much as possible, and then when we go back to ink it we break up the pieces. Or erase the lines that need to not be there, depending on the tools available. But drawing it initially as two separate lines is just asking for trouble.

It might depend on the style of cartoon you are after. Especially if you think about inking. I made that suggestion for good reason. And I know it works. If it doesn't suit you then don't use it. But don't put me/it down.

I'm sorry; how is that putting you down?
You made your statement and I disagreed.

The comment that "everyone you see does" sounded as if you dismissed my suggestion irrelevant. Whatever. My point goes in the direction of inking. Where you are more likely to draw it in 2 parts. And some cartoon styles do have a more ragged and gappy look. E.G. Gary Larsen style. Where background lines can actually stop "before" the foreground object.

Also yes, Cut Path looks like it can do the same job as Divide. I've noticed Divide sometimes produces different results on the same objects. Maybe it's got quality issues.

Note that 'clone original' is, unfortunately, broken in 0.92... :-/ (just found out when I was preparing for my next workshop). A patch is underway, though.