Hey guys,

For years I have been lucky to have an illustrator license through work, and practically one feature alone has kept me from switching back to inkscape purely because of the amount of time and flow it saves me.

In Illustrator, after you place a node, you can press the "alt" key and temporarily change the pen tool to 'convert anchor point' tool (which looks like a carrot).
This powerful shortcut allows you to edit the handle direction and influence the curve before you draw the next node.

This allows for rapid organic manual path drawing and is intuitive to teach: place a node, aim the handle, drag the curve until it fits and place the next node, aim the handle, drag curve, place node, etc.

Now I am faced with teaching hundreds of kids how to draw vectors through a program at work, and I want them to learn on a program that they can get at home, regardless of their financial background.

I'm sure there is a hotkey or plug in that will allow me to achieve this affect but I am having trouble finding it. Does anyone have a solution for me?

Much appreciated. The kids will appreciate too.

Hello,
Maybe a sample video could help to understand the behaviour you mention.
Anyway, it's true that some features doesn't exist in Inkscape.

Maybe with this help, you could teach the children how to create and edit the paths:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... ating.html
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... iting.html

Also, the help of inkscape have information about keyboard shortcuts and special commands to edit and create paths

Sounds like dragging the pen tool is the closest...
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... ths-Bezier

To be honest, I find it quite difficult to draw Bezier curves with the Pen tool "on the fly". But it can be done, and some people are quite skilled with it. I would guess that sketch artists can probably pick it up fairly quickly. You click, hold mouse button and drag, to set a smooth node. As you drag, you can see the curve on the canvas, and as long as you don't release the mouse, you can adjust the curve, before you go on to the next node. To set a cusp/corner node, just click once.

Thanks for the super fast responses guys, I'm going through them in order. Thanks @hulf2012, I should have thought of making a video in the first place.

Here's a two minute screencapture describing the feature/work flow if my first post wasn't clear enough.
http://youtu.be/2NofWz9ZD08

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2NofWz9ZD08?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'll reply when I go through all the links you guys have replied with. thanks again.

Ok, got it... yes. With pen tool, if you make two nodes, hit enter and make a path segment, then shift-drag on the last node of the path (pen tool), you can orient the handle of the node before moving to the next.

Works here, anyway.

EDIT:

Actually the shift key works like the ALT in Illy making cusp nodes, just dragging makes smooth nodes.

^ Exactly.

melo3rd wrote:For years... one feature alone has kept me from switching back to inkscape

So, you were using Inkscape but then stopped and than again switching back to inkscape ?! How well did you used Inkscape at the first place and why were you switching back to inkscape? What does your claim in fact means?

Did you ever used Inkscape properly?! If you did, how comes you`re not aware of shift+LMB combo for this operation, which is kind of essential for you?!

melo3rd wrote:In Illustrator.....

Apparently, you`re an avid user of Illy, and perhaps you could list advantages of Illy (plugins and other stuff excluded) over the Inkscape?

mmm...
I've tried to mimic what I see in the video, also holding the "alt" key, and still... the behaviour in the video it's not simillar. At least for me... In the video it holds the shift key and can move the tangent handles of the bezier curve. I hold the shift key, I click on the tangent handle... and it doesn't show the same.
I have to admit that... I have to read the guide too ... . When drawing bezier curves, I too much conservative. "mas vale malo conocido que bueno por conocer"...

Let's see what happen.

Have the tool active....

- click & hold LMB - drag, and you`ll be able to position the handle - release LMB
- dragging the cursor will enable you to position the next node
- click & hold LMB - drag, and you`ll add new node, which enables you to define the curve - but before releasing LMB, press Shift and you`ll be able to position the asymmetric handle for the next portion of the curve/path. Combining Shift and Ctrl will constrain positioning in steps by default set angles / usually 15 degrees /.

OH YEAH! thank you guys so much. It's going to take me some time to get used to the Shift before release but that's technically even faster than the illustrator trick.

much love to @tylerdurden and @maestral, thanks guys.
this will impact so many kids.

@Maestral: I was using inkscape for pretty basic vector work before I graduated, not even trying the pen tool. At work we use illustrator to design for CNC machines including lasers, mills and waterjet cutters. Because of that I've had to get really fast at it over the last few years. Now that our company is working to go to low income schools and teach children these skills, it is important to me that the kids have the ability to go home and download any program we teach them on so they can practice. So now I am 'mastering' inkscape for the first time. I assume realistically when you compare illustrator and inkscape it's just a process of mapping functions to new icons. Our company also allows our users to work in Corel Draw, which can all the same things as illustrator but it takes a while to figure out how. I will probably have better feedback in a few weeks after I find all the functions I'm looking for in Inkscape.

Full sails and the following seas on your noble quest!
I`m speaking for my self, but am sure that majority of frequent members here will also provide needed help when asked. It would be interesting to see works of these young pupils as well.

By all means, I`d also warmly recommend going through the Manual with (or without) your young students since I`m pretty certain you could use it as a guide for covering the necessary topics. Tavmjong Bah wrote it really well. Still, even when you go through the whole manual, there will be some questions or you`ll do things differently - and doing even basic things with the open mind is a far more better experience than making a rocket simply by following the manufacturers instructions. Well, rockets are rockets, after all ,)

Here's another method, somewhat crudely demonstrated...

"Drag path to shape, easy tracing"
Click on image for youtube video:

2015-02-08_18-45-32.jpg (86.38 KiB) Viewed 4565 times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MSKpKlZ1gk


Good on 'ya for bringing Inkscape to the kids. I dumped my Adobe products for similar reasons... teaching other people craft, is only effective if they can access the tools.

I think that Inkscape has one of it's forces on tracing images. It's very intuitive because you can work directly on the path itself and forget about node editing while doing that. Of course there is editing to be done afterwards but you quickly get an idea of how the outcome will be.

This is my little fast video on the topic but I hope that it gives an idea even if I was in a hurry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK-YxI4hjpM

Tylerdurden is a PRO!

Not a pro, but happy to help when I can.

Both of you made a point, since this kind of treatment is not possible in Illustrator - Inkscape offers editing and adding nodes with the same tool. Even changing type of node is available through modifier keys.

Our new friend is teaching kids, or at least himself, a new tricks - so, you might just shed a spot of light on his new bag ,)

Agreed, Maestral. I understand that an Illustrator-fan would like to continue to use his Illustrator tools as he is used to but the target here are the children and they'll catch up on the intuitive methods that Inkscape uses

Alas, we can`t surpass our new friend on that path/aim, can we?

Maestral wrote:Alas, we can`t surpass our new friend on that path/aim, can we?

We are raindrops.