Difference between revisions of "Inkscape quick start guide"

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m (Cleaning up image: changeing numbering)
(clearifying tutorial)
 
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[[File:Inkscape_logo.png|300px|thumb|right]]
 
  
'''To download inkscape, visit: [http://www.inkscape.org http://www.inkscape.org]'''
+
== inkscape screenshot overview ==
  
'''And download PDF : [[:File:inkscape-basics.pdf|Inkscape beginners tutorial - short]]'''
+
[[File:Inkscape_logo.png|300px|thumb|right]]
 +
[[File:inkscape-program-overview.jpg|600px]]
  
  
  
  
== screenshot program ==
+
'''inkscape is open source program and free to download ː[http://www.inkscape.org http://www.inkscape.org]'''
  
[[File:inkscape-program-overview.jpg|600px]]
 
  
  
 +
== instruction  ==
 +
This is a short beginners tutorial to explain how to turn a image into a vector PDF, ready to vinyl or laser cutting. 
  
  
== recommended YouTube's ==
+
=== set document size ===
 
+
*[http://wiki.fablab.is/wiki/Inkscape recommended video's listed]
+
*[https://sites.google.com/site/fablabiceland/home/teaching/software/inkscape icelandic video's listed]
+
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIauCyh_UshuncR5zI7NzYg FabLab Reykjavik YouTube channel]
+
 
+
 
+
== Setting document size ==
+
 
+
 
'''1.''' Go to menu > file > document properties.  
 
'''1.''' Go to menu > file > document properties.  
  
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*lasercutter - [[Epilog_Mini_24]] : '''60 x 30 cm'''   
+
*lasercutter - [[Epilog_Mini_24]] : '''max cutting area 60 x 30 cm'''   
*vynilcutter - [[Roland_GX-24_CAMM-1]] : '''58 cm wide'''  
+
*vynilcutter - [[Roland_GX-24_CAMM-1]] : '''max cutting area 58 or 48 cm wide, depending on roll size'''  
  
  
 
And close this window.
 
And close this window.
  
== Changing image to vector using trace bitmap option  ==
+
 
 +
 
 +
=== copy&paste image ===
  
 
'''3.''' Find a black&white image on google. Right click to copy the image.
 
'''3.''' Find a black&white image on google. Right click to copy the image.
 +
 +
(if your image is a PNG istead of Jpeg, then first save the file to the desktop, and in inkscape go to the menu > file > import)
  
 
[[File:3_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|300px]]  
 
[[File:3_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|300px]]  
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'''4.''' Back to inkscape, right click and to paste.  
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'''4.''' Go back to inkscape, right click and to paste.  
  
 
[[File:4_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|200px]]
 
[[File:4_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|200px]]
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=== change image to vector ===
'''6.''' Go to the menu and choose path > trace bitmap
+
'''6.''' select you image and go to the menu > path > trace bitmap
  
 
[[File:6_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|400px]]
 
[[File:6_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|400px]]
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'''7.''' While the image is selected, click on ok.
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'''7.''' In this window, click on update then on ok. (it can happen that the preview will no respond after clicking on update)
 
+
  
 
(if you want to know more about this menu ː watch [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-xxhphybnE this video])
 
(if you want to know more about this menu ː watch [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-xxhphybnE this video])
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'''8.''' A (vector) copy should have appeared over the image. Pick it up and drag it to the side.  
+
'''8.''' A copy should have appeared over the image. Pick it up and drag it to the side.
 +
 
 +
You can now delete the (original) image (select > right mouse button > delete) and keep the vector (copy).
  
 
[[File:8_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|400px]]
 
[[File:8_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|400px]]
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'''9.''' If you want edit the vector, select the edit mouse from the toolbar and click on the shape.  
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=== editing your design ===
 +
 
 +
'''9. optionalː''' To make changes to the vectorː select the edit mouse from the toolbar and click on the shape.  
  
The little squares that now appear (called nodes) can be changed and dragged around to where ever you like.  
+
The little squares that now appear (called nodes) can be dragged around to where ever you like.  
  
 
[[File:10_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|400px]]
 
[[File:10_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-to-vector.jpg|400px]]
  
== Cleaning up image  ==
 
  
  
'''10.''' Let say I want to remove the area’s, all highlighted in yellow, from my trace bitmap-ed drawing.
 
  
[[File:12_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-cleanup.jpg|400px]]
+
=== cleaning up ===
  
 +
'''10. optionalː'''  how to remove many details quickly, like all highlighted yellow area's of this example, .
  
 +
Select your design, and in the menu go to path > break apart.
  
 +
The image should break apart in a lots of little parts. Notice that the eye's turn black (this will be fixed later).
  
'''11.''' Select your design, and in the menu go to path > break apart.  
+
If it does not work, check if your design is not a group (menu > object > ungroup).
  
The image should break apart in a lots of little parts. Notice that the eye's turn black (this will be fixed later).  
+
[[File:12_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-cleanup.jpg|400px]] [[File:13_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-cleanup.jpg|400px]]
  
If it does not work, make sure that your design is not a group (menu > object > ungroup).
 
  
[[File:13_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-cleanup.jpg|400px]]
 
  
  
'''12.''' Optionalː if it is hard to see what you are doing, you can temporary tun you design to lines instead of colored fills.  
+
'''12. optionalː''' if it is hard to see what you are doing, you can temporary tun you design to lines instead of colored fills.  
  
 
Select you whole design and go to menu > object > fill&stroke.  
 
Select you whole design and go to menu > object > fill&stroke.  
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[[File:14_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-cleanup.jpg|400px]]
 
[[File:14_how-to-prep_inkscape_img-cleanup.jpg|400px]]
  
== Typing text ==
 
  
  
'''1.''' Choose the type tool from the toolbar. Click on your document and start typing.
 
  
[[File:14_how-to-prep_inkscape_text-tool.jpg|400px]]
 
  
 +
=== set file&stroke ===
  
  
 +
'''14.''' before we save the file,
  
'''2.''' Change the font into something fun by selecting the text
+
Select your design and go to menu > object > fill and stroke.
and choosing something different in the popdown menu at the top of the screen.  
+
  
[[File:15_how-to-prep_inkscape_text-tool.jpg|400px]]
 
  
 +
*'''for cutting shapes''': turn off fill, turn on stroke, set it to 255 red, and set the stroke style to 0.02 mm<br>
 +
*'''For engraving''' keep the fill on and set it to black, and turn the stroke off.
  
 +
[[File:inkscape-fill-and-stroke-menu.jpg|600px]]
  
  
== joining shapes together or cutting them out ==
 
  
[[File:inkscape-using-union.jpg|800px]]
 
  
 +
'''15.''' if you notice that objects need to be joined, first make sure it is not a group (menu > object > ungroup)
  
 +
[[File:inkscape-using-union.jpg|800px]]
  
  
[[File:inkscape-using-difference.jpg|800px]]
 
  
 +
=== save file as... ===
  
 +
'''15.''' Go to the menu and choose file > save as...
  
 
+
Navigate to the desktop > choose either vinylcutter or lasercutter folder.  
 
+
== Drawing (tracing) by hand using the bezier tool  ==
+
 
+
'''1.''' Start by opening up a image.
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In the menu choose file > open, select the right file and click open.
+
 
+
[[File:23_how-to-prep_inkscape_drawing-pen-tool.jpg|200px]]
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+
 
+
 
+
 
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'''2.''' From the toolbar choose the bezier tool.
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Make sure the mode and shape option at the top of the screen are set on standard.
+
 
+
[[File:24_how-to-prep_inkscape_drawing-pen-tool.jpg|200px]]
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+
 
+
 
+
 
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'''3.''' For this example I will use a photo of a flower. Let start by tracing one of the leaves.
+
 
+
On the starting point click once, move your mouse along the shape, and click again.
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+
Roughly trace the shape (keep clicking once, several times) and double click to finish.
+
 
+
[[File:25_how-to-prep_inkscape_drawing-pen-tool.jpg|400px]][[File:inkscape-drawing-by-hand.jpg|400px]]
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
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'''4.''' Use the fill and stroke options to change the color and line width to your own preferences.
+
shortcut to open window: [SHIFT] + [CTRL] + [F]
+
 
+
[[File:26_how-to-prep_inkscape_drawing-pen-tool.jpg|400px]]
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
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'''5.''' To make the line smooth, first change to the edit mouse from the toolbar.
+
With this tool selected, click on one of the nodes (squares) to select it.
+
 
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When 1 is selected, click in the top icon menu bar on the node icon with the 2 handles.
+
 
+
[[File:inkscape-drawing-by-hand-screenshot-program.jpg|600px]]  [[File:27_how-to-prep_inkscape_drawing-pen-tool.jpg|200px]]
+
 
+
 
+
 
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'''6.''' This may take so practice, but keep on going until you're happy with the shape.
+
 
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End result:
+
 
+
[[File:29_how-to-prep_inkscape_drawing-pen-tool.jpg|400px]]
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
== Changing color of object: (fill and stroke menu) ==
+
 
+
'''1.''' Go to menu > object > fill and stroke.
+
 
+
[[File:inkscape-fill-and-stroke-menu.jpg|400px]]
+
 
+
*Lasercutting / Vynilcutting : '''no fill > set stroke''' in red with a line width of 0.01 mm.
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*Laser engraving (raster) : '''no stoke > set fill''' on black color.
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
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== Saving as PDF  ==
+
 
+
 
+
'''1.''' Go to the menu and choose file > save as...
+
  
 
[[File:30_how-to-prep_inkscape_saving-as-pdf.jpg|200px]]
 
[[File:30_how-to-prep_inkscape_saving-as-pdf.jpg|200px]]
  
  
 
 
'''2.''' Choose where you want to save the file, on public computers a good place is (usually) the desktop.
 
 
   
 
   
 
Type in a descriptive file name, and select PDF as file format. Then hit the save button.
 
Type in a descriptive file name, and select PDF as file format. Then hit the save button.
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'''3.''' In this dialog window make sure the standard resolution setting is 600.  
+
'''3.''' In this window the resolution to 600. And you need to choose if you want to export as drawing or as page.  
  
And you need to choose if you want to export as drawing or as page.
 
  
if unsure, export as drawing. (You can always fix the size later on if necessary.)
+
'''- Exporting as drawing:''' will mean you document size will be cropped to the size of your drawing.  
Hit ok when ready.
+
(It will ignore your document properties setting.)
 
+
 
+
 
+
'''- Exporting as drawing:''' will mean you document size will be as big or as small as you drawing.  
+
So it will ignore any document properties settings.  
+
  
 
'''- Exporting as page:''' will mean it will export your document properties settings.  
 
'''- Exporting as page:''' will mean it will export your document properties settings.  
So you're drawing will get cut if a part is drawn outside the document window.  
+
So you're drawing is drawn over the edge of the page, it will get cut off.  
  
  
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 +
== recommended YouTube's ==
  
 
+
*[http://wiki.fablab.is/wiki/Inkscape recommended video's listed]
 
+
*[https://sites.google.com/site/fablabiceland/home/teaching/software/inkscape icelandic video's listed]
== Tips for saving file for laser cutter  ==
+
*[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIauCyh_UshuncR5zI7NzYg FabLab Reykjavik YouTube channel]
 
+
 
+
'''Cutting out shapes: set the line width to 0.01 mm'''
+
 
+
* You can change this by fist selecting your artwork [ctrl] + [A]
+
* Then open up the fill and stroke menu [shift] + [crtl] + [F]
+
* Go to the stroke style tab and change the width to 0.01 mm
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
'''For engraving shapes, set you drawing on a black fill (no stroke)'''
+
 
+
* You can change this by fist selecting your artwork [ctrl] + [A]
+
* Then open up the fill and stroke menu [shift] + [crtl] + [F]
+
* Go to the stroke paint tab and click on the [X] (no paint)
+
* Then go to the fill tab en click on the cube (flat color)
+
* Also check in this tab is the opacity is at 100%
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
'''The documents color mode needs to be in RGB (not CMYK)'''
+
note that in inkscape standard is RGB, but in illustrator it is not.
+
 
+
Read more laser cutter: [[Epilog_Laser]]
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
== Saving file for vinyl cutter ==
+
 
+
'''Cutting out shapes: set the line width to 0.01 mm'''
+
 
+
* Fist selecting your artwork [ctrl] + [A]
+
* Then open up the fill and stroke menu [shift] + [crtl] + [F]
+
* tun off the fill, and turn on the stoke.  
+
* Go to the stroke style tab and change the width to 0.01 mm
+
 
+
 
+
'''If you use text make sure the font is outlined and joined for a nice result.'''
+
 
+
* You can change this by fist selecting your artwork [ctrl] + [A]
+
* Then send the text object to path by [shift] + [ctrl] + [C]
+
* Make sure you shapes are not grouped by [shift] + [ctrl] + [G]
+
* Join the letter together by union [shift] + [ctrl] + [+]
+
 
+
 
+
 
+
  
  

Latest revision as of 18:58, 22 April 2016


inkscape screenshot overview

Inkscape logo.png

Inkscape-program-overview.jpg



inkscape is open source program and free to download ːhttp://www.inkscape.org


instruction

This is a short beginners tutorial to explain how to turn a image into a vector PDF, ready to vinyl or laser cutting.


set document size

1. Go to menu > file > document properties.

1 how-to-prep inkscape document-size.jpg



2. Change the width and height to your preference.

2 how-to-prep inkscape document-size.jpg



And close this window.


copy&paste image

3. Find a black&white image on google. Right click to copy the image.

(if your image is a PNG istead of Jpeg, then first save the file to the desktop, and in inkscape go to the menu > file > import)

3 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg



4. Go back to inkscape, right click and to paste.

4 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg



5. Re-size the image to fit in the page. Hold the [CTRL] key down to keep the image in proportion.

5 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg


change image to vector

6. select you image and go to the menu > path > trace bitmap

6 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg



7. In this window, click on update then on ok. (it can happen that the preview will no respond after clicking on update)

(if you want to know more about this menu ː watch this video)

7 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg


8. A copy should have appeared over the image. Pick it up and drag it to the side.

You can now delete the (original) image (select > right mouse button > delete) and keep the vector (copy).

8 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg


editing your design

9. optionalː To make changes to the vectorː select the edit mouse from the toolbar and click on the shape.

The little squares that now appear (called nodes) can be dragged around to where ever you like.

10 how-to-prep inkscape img-to-vector.jpg



cleaning up

10. optionalː how to remove many details quickly, like all highlighted yellow area's of this example, .

Select your design, and in the menu go to path > break apart.

The image should break apart in a lots of little parts. Notice that the eye's turn black (this will be fixed later).

If it does not work, check if your design is not a group (menu > object > ungroup).

12 how-to-prep inkscape img-cleanup.jpg 13 how-to-prep inkscape img-cleanup.jpg



12. optionalː if it is hard to see what you are doing, you can temporary tun you design to lines instead of colored fills.

Select you whole design and go to menu > object > fill&stroke.

Inkscape-fill-and-stroke-menu.jpg


13. You can now select the bits you want to delete, and clean up the design.

When done, select everything and go to menu > path > combine. That should fix the eye's again.

14 how-to-prep inkscape img-cleanup.jpg



set file&stroke

14. before we save the file,

Select your design and go to menu > object > fill and stroke.


  • for cutting shapes: turn off fill, turn on stroke, set it to 255 red, and set the stroke style to 0.02 mm
  • For engraving keep the fill on and set it to black, and turn the stroke off.

Inkscape-fill-and-stroke-menu.jpg



15. if you notice that objects need to be joined, first make sure it is not a group (menu > object > ungroup)

Inkscape-using-union.jpg


save file as...

15. Go to the menu and choose file > save as...

Navigate to the desktop > choose either vinylcutter or lasercutter folder.

30 how-to-prep inkscape saving-as-pdf.jpg


Type in a descriptive file name, and select PDF as file format. Then hit the save button.

31 how-to-prep inkscape saving-as-pdf.jpg



3. In this window the resolution to 600. And you need to choose if you want to export as drawing or as page.


- Exporting as drawing: will mean you document size will be cropped to the size of your drawing. (It will ignore your document properties setting.)

- Exporting as page: will mean it will export your document properties settings. So you're drawing is drawn over the edge of the page, it will get cut off.


Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination



recommended YouTube's


Links