Hi there, I'm very new to Inkscape and graphic design in general. I'd like to design a logo that features a Nautilus, but I have no idea where to start. I have roughly figured out what the tools do but am not familiar at all with the more powerful stuff. It looks really fun and I wouldn't mind giving it a go myself, however I haven't had any training in design - I work in IT!
OK I've just realised that I'm sounding really negative so I'll stop here. The jist of it is, is it possible to draw a Nautilus using Inkscape, and if so what sort of tool/technique should I read up on and use?
I appreciate your time
Thanks,
Cecile.

Whoops should prob. give some background.

I tried using the Spiral tool, coupled with the Node tool, but am trying to aim for something with a less regular pattern - the word logarithmic comes to mind (the inside chamber has got a smaller width, the outside chamber has got a larger width, and then it branches out. The calligraphic tool, although very tempting because it produces stylish lines, is too freehand so I can't keep control on it.

You might be able to use "Tile Clones" with rotation and scaling to get a start, but I wouldn't expect to get very close to your picture

Well you could probably write a scrip using a fractal to do the basic outline, but that is more a knowledge of math and script writing rather than a knowledge of inkscape. Once you get the out line down you could use stroke to path then jitter nodes to ruff it up some. Or us the on sections of the shell. Then extrude under effects generate form paths as a sort cut to the 3 d effect. Mostly inkscpae is just slogging through stuff right now unless you are a good scripter.

Live paths will get tantalizing close but probably not close enough. Stitch sub paths needs two combined paths which makes it has to get lines all the way down the spiral.
Steps for first image below: Do a spiral, convert to path, brake it apart, then combine back together, duplicate since you will lose the spiral when you do the path stitch. Followed by with setting on the side. Same menu to a bend the path and finally extrude. To manipulate the spokes on the spiral individually breaking them apart shift ctrl K. Extrude items need to be un-grouped to work with. For complicated paths a couple of un-groups to get to the individual paths.



You'll might want to read a few tutorial or watch
http://screencasters.heathenx.org/blog/ ... fects-lpe/

A nice looking example of stitch subpaths.
http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/gal ... ilight.png

Thanks for your replies! I'll give it a go - this is going to be fun! <rubs hands>