Hello Inkscape gurus!

I have been doing pretty well with Inkscape figuring things out and googling and what not (I think), but I have run into a question that I haven't been able to figure out. I am creating a shape using the calligraphy tool and tweaking it using several tools, mainly the path tool to do the final touches. The shape is a zig-zagging irregular the ends of which are finally joining together to create a closed shape. Now, I have been joining segments together successfully using Path > Union. I have figured out that sometimes, when segments seem to be part of the same path (though I don't know how that happened), I first have to break them apart before unioning them. So far so good. Now, I want to join the ends together to close the shape (that is now one contiguous path). Path > Union isn't working, and I can't break it apart, since it is one long circular (essentially) path.

Any ideas? (I hope I explained that well enough - please tell me if I can clarify).

Many thanks, in advance!

Sam

Hi.

If I have understood your problem correctly;

Select the object -F1
Change to 'node mode' -F2
Select All Nodes -CTRL A
Perform a path Union -CTRL +

You will now have a closed path.

Good Luck
RGDS
Ragnar

Thank you, Ragnar.

However, I'm afraid it didn't work. Please see attached screenshot showing that the two ends are still separate.

All of the steps seemed to produce the expected result, until the last one.

Thoughts?

Sam

Hi.

Im sorry, I misunderstood your original question.

What you basically want is an 'outline' of your original shape.

Try this method;
(For this to work the stroke have to 'overlap' as in your example.)
In the example below 'your shape' is red and the rectangle light blue.

Draw a rectangle around your shape;
Select box and your shape and perform Path Difference
Perform a Path Union
Perform Path Break Apart
Select the inner part and the outer box, press delete.

You will now hopefully have an outline of the shape.
You might have to perform minor 'node editing' on the final shape.

See example below.



Good Luck.
RGDS
Ragnar

Hello there,

if I get it right you are looking for something like this?


If we could see the whole picture we may suggest other solutions as well.

(Like adding a stroke to the calligraphed shape is rather confusing.)

Thanks - will try tomorrow. Happy 4th!