http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... ttern.html

I'm all the way to Step 5b. But don't know how to do 5c and onwards.

Pls see my attached inkscape file.

If you'll notice in Step 5c, the words "Create Tiled Clones" are a link. And they will take you here:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Tiles.html
(the instructions for using the Tiled Clones dialog)
I've found that dialog to be tricky to use, so if you still need help, please don't hesitate to ask

byrnn,
i did read that page on Tiled Clones Dialog, but I'm still stuck.

Step 5c says

With Create Tiled Clones dialog, create a tiling large enough to fill the target object. Make sure Use saved size and position of the tile box is checked. The tiling will then use the saved dimensions of the base tile before it was decorated (the dimensions when the first tiling was made) rather than the current bounding box, which may include objects that extend outside the border. (Once an object has been tile cloned, Inkscape keeps a private record of the original tile size and position that can be used for later recloning.)

My questions:

What is the target object?
How do we know whether we are creating a large enough for the target object?

Well I think the target object is whatever use you plan for your tiling. Like if you look a little further down, you see the author is creating something in an oval shape. Or like if you wanted a star shape or something? Or if it's to be the background of an image for example, you need to make sure it's big enough to fill the background of that image.

It looks like the next step is going to be clipping the tiling to fit whatever it is you want to use the tiling for. So it just has to be big enough to cover that area.

Thanks for the reply.

I was used to the guides from the previous pages, where the author did not miss any substeps. But in Step 5C, there are a lot of unstated sub-steps. I'll create an oval object as my target object and see if I can continue the tutorial.

Hi inksquid,

I recently did this tutorial myself as I am writing a seamless pattern creation tutorial for my site. I agree it is a bit confusing, but once you grasp what is going on - it does make sense, really!

To answer your questions:
Tav assumes that you know what object you want to fill with your tiling. In the tutorial this is the ellipse. In his example he made the 3x3 tile array and that was large enough to fill the ellipse (or the other way around, the ellipse he created fitted easily within the created tiled area). But if your shape is larger or smaller or has a different ratio, you may need an array with more or less tiles.

The other instruction is to tick the "Used save size and position" box. When your base tile was first cloned, the clones all fitted snug to each other. In a next step the base tile group is opened and new elements are added. The bounding box of the tile is now larger than the original one. If you now clone again without this checkbox ticked, the cloned tiles will move and align at the new outer edges. This breaks the patternas it will not extend on top of the other tiles as intended.

Please also be aware that from step 5 onwards it is not really a step-by-step tutorial, but more guideline on how to use tiled clones. Tav uses the created base tile for tiled cloning and pattern creation and for the latter he also explains how create a seamless pattern. So this step actually describes 3 applications of tiled clones and not a single result, which is reason for your confusion as this indeed deviates from his other examples.

Cheers,
Syllie

syllie--can't wait to see your seamless pattern tutorial. love your site and the inkscape tutorials there.

The seamless pattern tutorial is now posted in the tutorial section: http://verysimpledesigns.com/vectors/in ... terns.html