Hard clip or destructive clip help please

[Camcan]

Hi everyone,

I've been trying unsuccessfully to hard clip or destructively clip a path pattern into a path object.

Essentially what I'm trying to do is get the pattern inside the shape in such a way I can export as DXF and have it cut both the shape outline still, as well as the pattern infill.


I found this destructive clip extension though still couldn't get it to work
https://github.com/funnypolynomial/DestructiveClip

Here's a screenshot showing what I'm trying to do.

Shape on left, pattern on right.

What is the cleanest way to achieve this?

Thank you
Cam

[Moini]

The pattern is not really there multiple times, it is just *rendered* multiple times. You would need to take the pattern itself (as paths) and use the tiled clones dialog to tile it. Then unlink the clones, then - if necessary - join the path's ends, using this extension: https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-chain-paths . Then you can use Path > Cut path to cut off the parts you don't need. You need to remove the cuttings manually.

[Camcan]

Thank you Moini,

Will give this a try.

If anyone else has any novel ideas, please share

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

Can you clarify what you want to cut, regarding the pattern?  The pattern looks like lines or paths, as opposed to closed shapes.  So I'm not sure if you want to cut around the lines, so that all is left is the lines, or if you want the lines to be essentially....well, not exactly holes, but slits in the material?

Also, we can't tell from the PNG you shared, whether you've used a Pattern Fill, or whether you're using "pattern" in it's general definition, and the pattern is already made of paths.  If you could share the SVG file, we could do more than guess.

As far as I understand the destructive clip extension, it's sort of a shortcut.  Instead of using a path operation to get rid of the otherwise "hidden" or clipped away content, the destructive clip does it.  (I don't know exactly how it works.  For all I know, the extension actually does use a path operation.)  So assuming the extension will work on your particular contents, it still would only affect the outer boundary.  It would have nothing to do with the pattern on the inside, or with being able to cut the pattern.

I think Moini's suggestion is reasonable.  I might do it slightly differently, but only because of personal preference.  I'd be glad to go into detail, but I need to understand what kind of results you want for the pattern.  And also how you've made the pattern.

[Camcan]

Thanks for the warm welcome Brynn.

Yes the pattern is paths and isn't closed. What I'm trying to do, is use a closed path to clip the paths of the pattern on the inside of the closed path.

So I'd like to have the closed path with the patterned paths on its inside intersecting with the closed path.

I'm having trouble doing this.

I'll attach some files now

[brynn]

Oh ok.  For some reason, I thought you wanted to cut or etch the pattern into some material.  But I think I get what you're asking now.  Here's how I would do it.

1 - Delete the light green square that's around the patterns.  (or save it somewhere, if you need it for some reason)
2 - Select the whole pattern, and do Path menu > Combine (it will turn all one color, but that's how it has to be for now - later you can fix it)
3 - Select the large oval and small circle, and do Path menu > Combine
4 - Place the result on top of the combined pattern.
5 - Duplicate the oval object.
6 - Select one of the oval objects and the combined pattern and do Path menu > Cut Path

Now, 2 things have happened to the pattern.  One is that it's been broken into its individual pieces, as it was before you combined them (which is good, because that's what you need).  And each piece of the pattern which intersected with the oval objects has been cut at the intersection.  Now you need to go through and delete all the pieces (on the outside) that you don't want.  You should be able to delete large chunks by dragging a selection box around.  But when you get close to the edge of where the oval object was, you'll need to do it in smaller batches.  Don't forget you can zoom in for better control.  It will be a bit tedious because the pattern is so complex and detailed, but I don't know of any other way to do it.

After you get all the unwanted pieces deleted, you can select the appropriate pattern pieces and give them the proper colors.  Maybe group or combine them, to keep altogether.

[Camcan]

Hi Brynn,

Thank you very much! I had tried this except I didn't duplicate the image.

Brilliant, very happy.

Thanks again.
Cam

[brynn]

Glad to hear it!  You're welcome