Is there a quick way to achieve the following? (Please scroll down the image to see everything).


On top of the screenshotI have all separate paths. The desired result is to make a new object from pieces of the paths, as shown below on screenshot (the new object has black stroke).
I'ld like to do this because I would like to fill the new object, but avoid the bucket tool.

I achieved the result by duplicating paths/adding nodes/deleting segments/joining nodes. It's a lot of work, and since extra nodes cannot easily be placed at path intersections (?), the end result is not always exactly precise.

I have a feeling there are more efficient ways to do this?

Attached also the svg file.

Yes, the ability to place nodes at intersections is a real obstacle. I usually drag out a couple of intersecting guides, with the intersection where I want the new node.

But for your question, I don't think there's a way to do it precisely, except by node editing. But generally, the Paint Bucket tool could work. As long as the space is completely enclosed (or you can use the Threshold setting and make it work if the space that isn't completely enclosed only has tiny gaps) it will fill that space.

Usually, it doesn't fill the entire space. One of the frequent messages we get is that it leaves a thin white space between the new fill and the paths. You can mostly fix that by using the Grow/Shrink setting (on the control bar). However, most of the time, using the Bucket tool requires some node tweaking afterwards. I usually set up snapping, and snap the new fill's nodes to the outlining path's nodes.

And if you don't need the fill, you can just add a stroke and remove the fill. But by the time I do all that work, I think I might as well have just used node editing.

Sometimes there are situations where you could use path operations. But I don't think in your example, that would work. Although maybe someone else would know a trick.

The bucket tool is OK, but I like an object with a fill better. Because the bucket tool adds a new object, and if you change the original object afterwards, you may have to retweak the bucket fill also.

In my example, where the paths don't really intersect but only "touch" (the end node of one path snapped onto the second path, not crossing it), I can't even use "cut path".

Actually, it's not that big of a problem, I only wondered if there were more efficient ways to do it...

BTW, has there been a feature request to add a node at path intersection? Same as "cut path" actually, but without deleting the top path? Can't find any searching for "add node at path intersection" in Inkscape bugs.

I don't know if there is a feature request. And the LP search is so bad that I just don't trust it. It works better, at least for me, the fewer words I use. So searching "node intersection" turns up 9 reports. "path intersection" gives 15 results. M aybe also try "add node". I've even searced for bug reports that I made, and know are there. And I search words that I know are in the title. But the LP search feature can't find them! I would make a feature request for LP search to work better!

One thing that is missing is that the node tool should snap to intersections when inserting nodes (by double clicking).

dvlierop wrote:One thing that is missing is that the node tool should snap to intersections when inserting nodes (by double clicking).

Oh yes, great idea! I mentioned it in the Google+ Inkscape community (as a reaction in this post), and made a basic feature request about it (#1448859). (If you can, go to the feature request and click "does this bug affect you too?" and/or comment on it, so devs see there's an interest.)

brynn wrote:I don't know if there is a feature request. And the LP search is so bad that I just don't trust it. It works better, at least for me, the fewer words I use. So searching "node intersection" turns up 9 reports. "path intersection" gives 15 results. M aybe also try "add node". I've even searced for bug reports that I made, and know are there. And I search words that I know are in the title. But the LP search feature can't find them! I would make a feature request for LP search to work better!

Funny thing is that when I started a bug report/feature request and it did a search on the title I chose ("look for similar bugs" or something, forgot what it says), some interesting links did show up...

Snapping in the node tool has been improved in rev. 14189. When double clicking to insert a node, Inkscape will now snap to any intersections of the path with itself or with other paths. Also, when grabbing a point on the path and dragging this in order to deform the path, this point will now also snap.

Waw, great!