seeking vector french curves for inkscape

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:11 am

Does anyone know of vector french curves that can be imported into inkscape?

Lazur · Postby **Lazur** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 5:43 am

Hi.

French curves are used for manual drafting, is that really what you are after?
With them, you can hack together geometric shapes on paper, like ellipses or parabolas, while, inkscape can already plot those.
Are you planning to use a cnc cutter to manufacture such?

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:01 am

I want to use the curves as a guide to create regular and smooth curves. I can't do it by hand or with any of the probably basic functions I know in inkscape. I saw somewhere about using the bevier tool for this, but it leaves a trail of nodes which makes it difficult to modify the shapes. Also, I don't see how it can create the exact shapes I need.

in essence, I would like french curve as guides to use in a similar way to manual drafting. If they are vector, I could snap to lines and nodes which would simplify accuracy.

Postby **brynn** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 7:22 am

Try OpenClipArt: http://www.openclipart.org/ Or otherwise search the internet for free vector graphics. But be careful about any free vector site besides open clipart. Some less than reputable ones can send all kinds of unsavory stuff with your downloads. Sometimes even if you buy graphics from the internet, you can get malware. But Open ClipArt is usually quite safe

Lazur · Postby **Lazur** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:09 am

Using such guides would make drawing with inkscape more complicated.

How to make smooth curves with the pen tool?
Click on the "fundamental" points of the curve, to add nodes, then use the node tool to drag the segments to position,
adjust handles, and set nodes smooth.

Deciding where to add nodes can be mandatory.
For example the current stabile version converts ellipses to four noded paths.
So a 90° in turn definitely needs two nodes.
Also starting and end points of the curves, and inflexion points.
Horizontal-vertical extreme points may also be good some cases.

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:17 am

Thanks for the suggestion for openclipart.com. Unfortunately, no french curves.

I'm trying to do curves more complex than for geometric shapes. I used the spiral as a fr curve for some of it, but am hoping to find more variations.

I found someone offering vector french curves, but it was an unknown source, and in .ai, so didn't download.

rich2005 · Postby **rich2005** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 8:52 pm

Maybe as a starter. From a gif to a bmp then vectorised using Autotrace (still works in linux) using the centrerline switch.

Lazur · Postby **Lazur** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:26 pm

After a bit of manual adjustments.

frenchcurveII.svg: (12.32 KiB) Downloaded 292 times

In my humble opinion it is totally wrong if you can make a guiding shape better by perception.
These should be plotted by mathematical functions, parametric curves.

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:39 pm

Thank you! This is just what I was looking for. I have just basic skills in inkscape, so this is really helpful.

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 3:00 am

I just tried to do this myself. I found an image from a search and saved it as gif. I can trace paths. Using gif, it needs a lot of work. Can you tell me how to convert it to png, and would it be more clear? The edges of the image aren't sharp which doesn't help, but it is one that would be especially helpful.

Lazur · Postby **Lazur** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:11 am

A bit of digging and you can find larger image as well:
http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/489/304/247/1273148475215_hz-myalibaba-web17.hst.dsl.en.alidc.net_56.jpg

A list is available too (for ordering) with different types.
By tracing one image alike over manually, you will gain the experience to make smooth curves.

rich2005 · Postby **rich2005** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 4:22 am

A larger image will certainly help, did this before that last post.

This is more an exercise in bitmap tweaking than anything else. (all in Gimp)

The gif is a bit small so too many jaggies on the outline. First convert from indexed to RGB. Normally scaling these is a waste of time but in this case, a small gaussian blur then scale 300%.

To firm everything up a little adjustment using the threshold filter.

Since you seem to like a solid figure, this time straight in using Inkscape and trace bitmap.

I remember using these when I was a young engineer in pre CAD days

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:14 am

Thank you very much! I'm an artist using inkscape to create outlines of shapes to have masks cut from vinyl for sandblasting. I am not familiar with gimp, or the other features you mentioned, such as rgb. I really appreciate you taking the time to do this for me. I have been spending days working on a lacy shape with limited success. Now with the curves, I can get the grace into it that it needs.

Wish I had the where-with-all for getting programs and learning to do the kind of drawing in vectors that I use. Maybe inkscape has the capabilities but they are as yet unknown to me. For now, kind souls like you are a big help.

Does gimp offer better drawing than inkscape for complex shapes like I am doing? I attached the shape I'm working on. Not quite right yet, but well on its way.

Lazur · Postby **Lazur** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:42 am

Seeing more and more of the same picture surely leads to deeper understanding.

In this case, you could use the spiro-path feature with the pattern along path live path effect.

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Pencil

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-LivePathEffects-SpiroSpline.html

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-LivePathEffects-PatternAlongPath.html

tylerdurden · Postby **tylerdurden** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:51 am

: FLourishYoutube.jpg (80.13 KiB) Viewed 6661 times

Video tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8ofPJ9XPGs

keisha321 · Postby **keisha321** » Tue Sep 23, 2014 7:30 am

This video is great! Have a nice day.

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