Hello all. i'm learning how to use inkscape to create artwork for tshirts. the problem i'm having is knowing how to spot color (in different layers?--i don't even know if i'm saying that correctly). from my understanding i need to do this for every color including the black outline. also need to do a white flash layer. i need help!!!

I probably don't know a lot of details about the Inkscape to screenprinted t-shirts process, but I can at least help you get started.

It's my understanding that you need a different layer for each different color you plan on using. So that might be a good place to start, set up your layers. Also use the Zoom tool to set your canvas to 100% (or it can be set manually from the bottom right corner of the screen). (I don't know why Inkscape always opens with the canvas at 35% zoom, but it annoys the heck out of me!)

What you do next depends on how you're going to create your image. So are you going to draw it by hand directly on the canvas (using either mouse or tablet), or trace something (that was either pasted in or scanned in)? But basically, do whatever you need to do to create your image.

Remember that each color will be moved to its own layer, and needs to be able to stand alone as an object (even though it may not be an individual object in the design). Therefore, the outline that defines each color needs to be a closed path. For example, this image:

It's probably too complex for a t-shirt, or else I think it would take a highly skilled screen printer to do it. But it serves well to make my point. All the light blue color inside the crudely drawn thick black line actually underlies the whole generally circular shape (that's defined by the thick black line), while the red and yellow diamonds are on top. But you would not want that for screenprinting. You would want to make sure that each visible light blue shape is a closed path. And where I've drawn a triangle with a thick black line, it's filled completely with yellow, while here, I have the light blue diamonds on top. So you'd want a closed path in the shape of the visible yellow part, for that layer.

A lot of how you make that happen depends on how you draw your image. We would need more info on your particular project, to suggest how it might be done. I'm guessing you'll use a lot of Path Operations. Please see my signature for links to some excellent resources for learning about it. Also, search the forums -- recently there was a topic by someone making art for a t-shirt, so you could learn from there too.

If you're new to Inkscape, it's probably going to take some trial and error, but we'll be here to help if you get stuck. Please don't hesitate to ask

PS - I'm not sure what "white flash layer" means. It may simply mean a layer consisting of a white rectangle of the size of the image?

brynn. thanks so much for your quick response. i hand draw and scan the artwork. then edit in inkscape. (use bezier tool). i don't know how to put an image in the message like the one you put in your response. but i think i added an attachment to an unfinished image i'll use to understand things better. the image is of the number one and a cent sign. the one is blue and the cent sign is green. they are independent of each other (their own layer). they have a black stroke. i don't know how to make the black outline independent from the number one and the cent sign so it can be it's own layer (using the black to make the image pop and to hide any flaws). hope that's not too confusing. thanks for your help.

To put an image in your message, use the 'Img' tag button just above the message box. Click that button and you get {img}{/img} except I changed the brackets to parentheses, otherwise the forum software will think I'm trying to display a real image, and it will disappear when I click Submit. Of course you have to have your image hosted somewhere, and once you've done that, you put the URL of the hosted image between the tags, like so {img}http:/ whatever.com{/img}. But sometimes it's better to attach the SVG, so other members can examine your problem closely.

Anyway, I've downloaded your image, and understand your question. I know you said it's an unfinished image, so you realize that everything's on one layer in that image, right? Ok, so you have 3 colors -- blue, green and black -- so 3 layers in all, or 2 new layers. You can create the layers using the Layers dialog (from the Layers menu).

-While you have everything still on one layer, select everything, and Duplicate (Edit menu or button).
-Move the duplicate to a different layer (Layer menu).
-Open the Fill and Stroke dialog (Object menu) > Fill tab.
-Click the X and you will see the fill colors disappear, leaving only the stroke (outline). And if you want it to be thicker, go to the 'Stroke style' tab and adjust Width. Be sure you have it how you want before doing the next step, because after the next step, you won't be able to change the width very easily.
-Path menu > Stroke to path.

Now back to the layer with everything on it:
-Select the 1.
-Move it to the last empty layer.
-Fill and Stroke dialog > Stroke paint tab, click X, which removes the stroke.

This leaves the cent sign alone on the original layer.
-Fill and Stroke dialog > Stroke paint tab, click X to remove the stroke.

Using the Layers dialog, you can rearrange the order of the layers to your liking, or according to whatever the printer might need. I'm thinking the black outline layer should be on top. For a regular image, it should be on top, but for screen printing, I'm not sure how that works. Maybe it should be the last color applied? But the screen print operator should be able to advise on that.

And that should do it

thanks so much brynn!! very very helpful. i'm sure i'll have other questions. this is a great start.

You're welcome

hi brynn. i told you i would have more questions. so someone posted a question that i too had trouble with. the original post is below. they got a response but it was not detailed enough for me. you are great with step by step instructions. i have attached an example of what i'm trying to achieve. i tried some things out. but still unsure. thanks a million.


original post:
Goal: Trace a bitmap, then make the resulting vector objects non-overlapping like a jigsaw puzzle.

The most simple example I can think of is like a Venn Diagram. Say you create two intersecting circles, with the second on top of the first. Now from the first circle, I'd like to cut out the portion that was overlapped by the second, kind of creating a crescent moon shape so that neither of the two circles are overlapping, but they still appear as if they are.

Is this what you're after?



Path menu > Difference is one of the Path Operations that I mentioned in an earlier reply.

If you look in the Help menu, both the Inkscape manual and Tutorials are good for learning about Inkscape. You could also try the Quick Guide that's in my signature; it may be a little more simplified.

Let me know if I misunderstood your question, and I'll try again

excellent! i've been experimenting with the difference tool. but wasn't sure if i was doing it properly. i am going to try this to see if i understand. once again...YOU ARE THE PHENOMENAL.

hi there. quick question? how do i change the size of my artwork/image after it has been created? can it even be done? thanks again.

danesha wrote:hi there. quick question? how do i change the size of my artwork/image after it has been created? can it even be done? thanks again.

Firstly, please read the forum rules in regard to off topic posts. I declined this post the first time you posted it with clear instructions to post in a new topic.

That aside, you can probably select all your objects at once (Ctrl+A) and scale them to the new size.

because i am fairly new to all of this and don't know how to send a message directly to you (microugly), i am sending a message to you this way. i am truly sorry if i broke any rules or offended anyone with my naivete. i appreciated brynn's sincere assistance with my learning of inkscape thus far and thought he/she could help me out once again. since i had a question that will ultimately lead to the original topic of the post, i felt that it was a legitimate question that actually belonged as a continuation to the post. in fact i didn't even think one way or another as to whether it "belonged" in this post. i still don't quite understand why, but i accept the rules. i'll just keep reading the posts and hope i get answers to any questions i have. i don't want to be reprimanded again for just wanting to learn.