From: Kris Date: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 22:04:54 +0000 (+0100) Subject: Calligraphy and tips tutorial update X-Git-Url: https://git.tokkee.org/?a=commitdiff_plain;h=81de2cd28fa666f5c7db1f9191e197fea025c4a3;p=inkscape.git Calligraphy and tips tutorial update --- diff --git a/share/tutorials/tutorial-calligraphy.svg b/share/tutorials/tutorial-calligraphy.svg index 8bcee8623..39430b531 100644 --- a/share/tutorials/tutorial-calligraphy.svg +++ b/share/tutorials/tutorial-calligraphy.svg @@ -1,4 +1,5 @@ + @@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ currently functions. One great advantage that we have over the scribes of the past is the Undo command: If you make a mistake, the entire page is not -ruined. Inkscape's Calligraphy tool also enables some techniques which would not be +ruined. Inkscape's Calligraphy tool also enables some techniques which would not be possible with a traditional pen-and-ink. @@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ now on, Inkscape will remember those settings on startup. The Inkscape calligraphy pen can be sensitive to the velocity of -the stroke (see “Thinning” below), so if you are using a mouse, you'll probably want to +the stroke (see “Thinning” below), so if you are using a mouse, you'll probably want to zero this parameter. @@ -233,12 +234,12 @@ drawing tablets). This pair of options control the width of your pen. The width can vary from 1 to 100 and (by default) is measured in units relative to the size of your editing window, but independent of zoom. This makes sense, because the -natural “unit of measure” in calligraphy is the range of your hand's movement, +natural “unit of measure” in calligraphy is the range of your hand's movement, and it is therefore convenient to have the width of your pen nib in constant ratio to the size of your “drawing board” and not in some real units which would make it depend on zoom. This behavior is optional though, so it can be changed for those who would prefer absolute units regardless of zoom. To switch -to this mode, use the checkbox on the tool's Preferences page (you can open it +to this mode, use the checkbox on the tool's Preferences page (you can open it by double-clicking the tool button). @@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ the angle is determined by the tilt of the pen. Each traditional calligraphy style has its own prevalent pen angle. For example, the -Unicial hand uses the angle of 25 degrees. More complex hands and more experienced +Uncial hand uses the angle of 25 degrees. More complex hands and more experienced calligraphers will often vary the angle while drawing, and Inkscape makes this possible by pressing up and down arrow keys or with a tablet that supports the tilt sensitivity feature. For beginning calligraphy lessons, however, @@ -392,7 +393,7 @@ natural and traditional for right-handed calligraphy. The level of contrast between the thinnest and the thickest is controlled by the -fixation parameter. The value of 1 means that the angle is always +fixation parameter. The value of 100 means that the angle is always constant, as set in the Angle field. Decreasing fixation lets the pen turn a little against the direction of the stroke. With fixation=0, pen rotates freely to be always perpendicular to the stroke, and Angle has no effect anymore: @@ -659,7 +660,7 @@ splotches. This significantly expands the creative range of the tool. Unlike width and angle, these two last parameters define how the tool “feels” rather -than affect its visual output. So there won't be any illustrations in this section; +than affect its visual output. So there won't be any illustrations in this section; instead just try them yourself to get a better idea. @@ -704,7 +705,7 @@ it with Inkscape. This section will show you just a few simple examples. - First of all, to do letters, you need to create a pair of rulers to guide you. If you're + First of all, to do letters, you need to create a pair of rulers to guide you. If you're going to write in a slanted or cursive hand, add some slanted guides across the two rulers as well, for example: @@ -733,7 +734,7 @@ movement range, adjust width and angle, and off you go! Probably the first thing you would do as a beginner calligrapher is practice the basic elements of letters — vertical and horizontal stems, round strokes, slanted -stems. Here are some letter elements for the Unicial hand: +stems. Here are some letter elements for the Uncial hand: @@ -767,7 +768,7 @@ stems. Here are some letter elements for the Unicial hand: - If your hand is comfortable on the tablet, don't move it. Instead, + If your hand is comfortable on the tablet, don't move it. Instead, scroll the canvas (Ctrl+arrow keys) with your left hand after finishing each letter. @@ -779,7 +780,7 @@ each letter. If your last stroke is bad, just undo it (Ctrl+Z). However, if its shape is good but the position or size are -slightly off, it's better to switch to Selector temporarily (Space) and +slightly off, it's better to switch to Selector temporarily (Space) and nudge/scale/rotate it as needed (using mouse or keys), then press Space again to return to Calligraphy tool. @@ -791,7 +792,7 @@ again to return to Calligraphy tool. Having done a word, switch to Selector again to adjust stem uniformity -and letterspacing. Don't overdo this, however; good calligraphy must retain somewhat +and letterspacing. Don't overdo this, however; good calligraphy must retain somewhat irregular handwritten look. Resist the temptation to copy over letters and letter elements; each stroke must be original. @@ -924,8 +925,8 @@ elements; each stroke must be original. - Calligraphy is not only fun; it's a deeply spiritual art that may -transform your outlook on everything you do and see. Inkscape's + Calligraphy is not only fun; it's a deeply spiritual art that may +transform your outlook on everything you do and see. Inkscape's calligraphy tool can only serve as a modest introduction. And yet it is very nice to play with and may be useful in real design. Enjoy! diff --git a/share/tutorials/tutorial-tips.svg b/share/tutorials/tutorial-tips.svg index 616c2cbc6..9d288bc97 100644 --- a/share/tutorials/tutorial-tips.svg +++ b/share/tutorials/tutorial-tips.svg @@ -1,4 +1,5 @@ + @@ -50,12 +51,12 @@ - ::TIPS AND TRICKS + :: - + - + This tutorial will demonstrate various tips and tricks that users have learned through the use of Inkscape and some “hidden” features that can help you speed up production @@ -65,37 +66,37 @@ tasks. Radial placement with Tile Clones - + - + - It's easy to see how to use the Tile Clones dialog for rectangular grids and + It's easy to see how to use the Tile Clones dialog for rectangular grids and patterns. But what if you need radial placement, where objects -share a common center of rotation? It's possible too! +share a common center of rotation? It's possible too! - + - + If your radial pattern need only have 3, 4, 6, 8, or 12 elements, then you can try the P3, P31M, P3M1, P4, P4M, P6, or P6M symmetries. These would work nicely for snowflakes and the like. A more general method, however, is as follows. - + - + Choose the P1 symmetry (simple translation) and then compensate for that translation by going to the Shift tab and setting Per row/Shift Y and Per column/Shift X both to -100%. Now all clones will be stacked exactly on top of the original. All that remains to do is to go to the Rotation tab and set some rotation angle per column, then -create the pattern with one row and multiple columns. For example, here's a pattern made +create the pattern with one row and multiple columns. For example, here's a pattern made out of a horizontal line, with 30 columns, each column rotated 6 degrees: @@ -129,21 +130,21 @@ out of a horizontal line, with 30 columns, each column rotated 6 degrees: - + - + To get a clock dial out of this, all you need to do is cut out or simply overlay the central part by a white circle (to do boolean operations on clones, unlink them first). - + - + - More interesting effects can be created by using both rows and columns. Here's a pattern + More interesting effects can be created by using both rows and columns. Here's a pattern with 10 columns and 8 rows, with rotation of 2 degrees per row and 18 degrees per column. Each group of lines here is a “column”, so the groups are 18 degrees from each other; within each column, individual lines are 2 degrees apart: @@ -229,10 +230,10 @@ other; within each column, individual lines are 2 degrees apart: - + - + In the above examples, the line was rotated around its center. But what if you want the center to be outside of your shape? Just create an invisible (no fill, no stroke) @@ -318,35 +319,36 @@ scale, rotation, and possibly opacity: - How to do slicing (multiple rectangluar export areas)? + How to do slicing (multiple rectangular export areas)? - + - + Create a new layer, in that layer create invisible rectangles covering parts of your image. Make sure your document uses the px unit (default), turn on grid and snap the rects to the grid so that each one spans a whole number of px units. Assign meaningful -ids to the rects, and export each one to its own file. Then the rects will remember -their export filenames. After that, it's very easy to re-export some of the rects: +ids to the rects, and export each one to its own file (File " +"> Export Bitmap (Shift+Ctrl+E)). Then the rects will remember +their export filenames. After that, it's very easy to re-export some of the rects: switch to the export layer, use Tab to select the one you need (or use Find by id), and -click Export in the dialog. Or, you can write a shell script or batch file to export all -of your areas, with a command like: +click Export in the dialog. Or, you can write a shell script or batch file to export +all of your areas, with a command like: - + - + inkscape -i area-id -t filename.svg - + - + for each exported area. The -t switch tells it to use the remembered filename hint, otherwise you can provide the export filename with the -e switch. Alternatively, you can @@ -354,28 +356,28 @@ use the svgslice - - Non-linear gradients + + Non-linear gradients - + - + The version 1.1 of SVG does not support non-linear gradients (i.e. those which have a non-linear translations between colors). You can, however, emulate them by multistop gradients. - + - + Start with a simple two-stop gradient. Open the Gradient editor (e.g. by double-clicking on any gradient handle in the Gradient tool). Add a new gradient stop in the middle; drag it a bit. Then add more stops before and after the middle stop and drag them too, so that the gradient is smooth. The more stops you add, the smoother you can -make the resulting gradient. Here's the initial black-white gradient with two stops: +make the resulting gradient. Here's the initial black-white gradient with two stops: @@ -384,11 +386,11 @@ make the resulting gradient. Here's the initial black-white gradient with two st - - + + - + And here are various “non-linear” multi-stop gradients (examine them in the Gradient Editor): @@ -475,25 +477,25 @@ Editor): - - - - - - - - - - Excentric radial gradients + + + + + + + + + + Excentric radial gradients - + - + - Radial gradients don't have to be symmetric. In Gradient tool, drag the central handle + Radial gradients don't have to be symmetric. In Gradient tool, drag the central handle of an elliptic gradient with Shift. This will move the x-shaped -focus handle of the gradient away from its center. When you don't +focus handle of the gradient away from its center. When you don't need it, you can snap the focus back by dragging it close to the center. @@ -507,28 +509,28 @@ need it, you can snap the focus back by dragging it close to the center. - - - - Aligning to the center of the page + + + + Aligning to the center of the page - + - + To align something to the center or side of a page, select the object or group and then choose Page from the Relative to: list in the -Align dialog (Ctrl+Shift+A). +Align and Distribute dialog (Ctrl+Shift+A). - - Cleaning up the document + + Cleaning up the document - + - + Many of the no-longer-used gradients, patterns, and markers (more precisely, those which you edited manually) remain in the corresponding palettes and can be reused for new @@ -537,47 +539,30 @@ Defs command in File menu. It will remove any gradients, patterns, or which are not used by anything in the document, making the file smaller. - - Clipping or masking a bitmap + + Hidden features and the XML editor - + - + - By default, an imported bitmap (e.g. a photo) is an image element which is not -editable by the Node tool. To work around this, convert the image into a rectangle with -pattern fill by Object to Pattern (Alt+I). This will -give you a rectangle filled with your bitmap. Now this object can -be converted to path, node-edited, intersected with other shapes etc. In -Inkscape Preferences (Misc tab), you can set the -option of always importing bitmaps as pattern-filled rectangles. + The XML editor (Shift+Ctrl+X) allows you to change almost all aspects +of the document without using an external text editor. Also, Inkscape usually supports +more SVG features than are accessible from the GUI. The XML editor is one way to get +access to these features (if you know SVG). - - Hidden features and the XML editor + + Changing the rulers' unit of measure - + - - - The XML editor allows you to change almost all aspects of the document without using an -external text editor. Also, Inkscape usually supports more SVG features than are -accessible from the GUI. The XML editor is one way to get access to these features (if -you know SVG). - - - - Changing the rulers' unit of measure - - - - - + In the default template, the unit of measure used by the rulers is px (“SVG user unit”, -in Inkscape it's equal to 0.8pt or 1/90 of the inch). This is also the unit used in +in Inkscape it's equal to 0.8pt or 1/90 of the inch). This is also the unit used in displaying coordinates at the lower-left corner and preselected in all units menus. (You can always hover your mouse over a ruler to see the tooltip with the units it uses.) To change this, open Document Preferences @@ -585,13 +570,13 @@ change this, open Document PreferencesPage tab. - - Stamping + + Stamping - + - + To quickly create many copies of an object, use stamping. Just drag an object (or scale or rotate it), and while holding the mouse button down, press @@ -599,57 +584,57 @@ drag an object (or scale or rotate it), and while holding the mouse button down, repeat it as many times as you wish. - - Pen tool tricks + + Pen tool tricks - + - + In the Pen (Bezier) tool, you have the following options to finish the current line: - - + + - + Press Enter - - + + - + Double click with the left mouse button - - + + - + Select the Pen tool again - - + + - + Select another tool - + - + Note that while the path is unfinished (i.e. is shown green, with the current segment red) it does not yet exist as an object in the document. Therefore, to cancel it, use @@ -657,10 +642,10 @@ either Esc (cancel the whole path) or Undo. - + - + To add a new subpath to an existing path, select that path and start drawing with Shift from an arbitrary point. If, however, what you want is to simply @@ -668,13 +653,13 @@ either Esc (cancel the whole path) or - - Entering Unicode values + + Entering Unicode values - + - + While in the Text tool, pressing Ctrl+U toggles between Unicode and normal mode. In Unicode mode, each group of 4 hexadecimal digits you type becomes a @@ -685,13 +670,13 @@ an em-dash (—). To quit the Unicode mode without inserting anything press Esc. - - Using the grid for drawing icons + + Using the grid for drawing icons - + - + Suppose you want to create a 24x24 pixel icon. Create a 24x24 px canvas (use the Document Preferences) and set the grid to 0.5 px (48x48 gridlines). @@ -701,13 +686,13 @@ number, and export it at the default 90dpi (so that 1 px becomes 1 bitmap pixel) get a crisp bitmap image without unneeded antialiasing. - - Object rotation + + Object rotation - + - + When in the Select tool, click on an object to see the scaling arrows, then click again on the object to see the rotation and shift arrows. If @@ -717,10 +702,10 @@ doing this, the rotation will occur around the opposite corner. You can also dra rotation center to any place. - + - + Or, you can rotate from keyboard by pressing [ and ] (by 15 degrees) or Ctrl+[ and Ctrl+] (by 90 @@ -728,43 +713,28 @@ degrees). The same [] keys with - - Open dialog as an object palette - - - - - - - If you have a number of small SVG files whose contents you often reuse in other -documents, you can conveniently use the Open dialog as a palette. Add the directory with -your SVG sources into the bookmarks list so you can open it quickly. Then browse that -directory looking at the previews. Once you found the file you need, simply drag it to -the canvas and it will be imported into your current document. - - - - Drop shadows + + Drop shadows - + - + Inkscape supports the Gaussian blur SVG filter, so you can easily create blurred drop shadows for objects. Select an object, duplicate it by Ctrl+D, press PgDown to put it beneath original object, place it a little to the right and lower than original object. Now open Fill And Stroke dialog and change Blur value to, -say, 5.0. That's it! +say, 5.0. That's it! - - Placing text on a path + + Placing text on a path - + - + To place text along a curve, select the text and the curve together and choose Put on Path from the Text menu. The text will start at the beginning @@ -773,13 +743,13 @@ be fitted to, rather than fitting it to some other drawing element — this will more control without screwing over your drawing. - - Selecting the original + + Selecting the original - + - + When you have a text on path, a linked offset, or a clone, their source object/path may be difficult to select because it may be directly underneath, or made invisible and/or @@ -788,13 +758,13 @@ offset, or clone, and press Shift+D to m corresponding path, offset source, or clone original. - - Window off-screen recovery + + Window off-screen recovery - + - + When moving documents between systems with different resolutions or number of displays, you may find Inkscape has saved a window position that places the window out of reach on @@ -804,18 +774,18 @@ option to save window geometry (Inkscape Pref Windows tab). - - Transparency, gradients, and PostScript export + + Transparency, gradients, and PostScript export - + - + PostScript or EPS formats do not support transparency, so you should never use it if you are going to export to PS/EPS. In the case of flat -transparency which overlays flat color, it's easy to fix it: Select one of the -transparent objects; switch to the Dropper tool (F7); make sure it's in +transparency which overlays flat color, it's easy to fix it: Select one of the +transparent objects; switch to the Dropper tool (F7); make sure it's in the “pick visible color without alpha” mode; click on that same object. That will pick the visible color and assign it back to the object, but this time without transparency. Repeat for all transparent objects. If your transparent object overlays @@ -823,19 +793,19 @@ several flat color areas, you will need to break it correspondingly into pieces apply this procedure to each piece. - + - + Exporting gradients to PS or EPS does not work for text (unless text is converted to path) or for stroke paint. Also, since transparency is lost -on PS or EPS export, you can't use e.g. a gradient from an opaque +on PS or EPS export, you can't use e.g. a gradient from an opaque blue to transparent blue; as a workaround, replace it by a gradient from opaque blue to opaque background color. - +