Hi,

I quite new to Inkscape to this question may be stupid but I couldn't find the answer by searching so here goes!
I have seen people outline a picture or something when making an image and they have managed to make the line thickness vary at certain places. This is the effect I am trying to achieve. I heard about using a tablet with the calligraphy tool but I don't have a tablet and I would like to be able to achieve this by dragging some nodes around. Is this possible and if so how?

I do hope I am being descriptive enough, if I have not explained it properly please tell me.

Thanks!

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

You can use the Calligraphy tool without a tablet, and just draw with the mouse. With practice, you should be able to draw the lines with thickness where you want it, and perhaps not need to edit the nodes. But you certainly can edit the nodes too.

Or are you thinking about scanning in drawings that were done on paper? In that case, you will have to use Trace Bitmap, to convert it to vector. After that, it will have nodes that you can edit.

Also, lines that are thicker towards the middle can be drawn with Pen or Pencil tools, in spiro spline mode. This would usually be to create decorative objects, like scrolls, curly Qs and such, rather than to make traditional line drawings. For traditional line drawings, where you want to vary the stroke width, the Calligraphy tool is best.

If this doesn't answer your question, then maybe a screenshot or something, to show what you want to do, would help

Thanks for the help, I do appreciate it.

This image is not mine but I got it off google images to show the effect I am looking for. How the line thickness varies a lot, even on the same line, is what I am trying to do.



Thanks!

This might be of interest

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php ... owerStroke
http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/PowerStroke

It's still experimental though.

vdd0101 wrote:This image is not mine but I got it off google images to show the effect I am looking for.

For an effect like that you should use the calligraphy tool, probably with something close to the default settings for most of the strokes. Methods such as pen or pencil tool with shaping, or the new PowerStroke path effect, are good for more regular changes of line thickness.

Is the PowerStroke path effect already available? I thought it would be among v.0.49 improvements.

I dont think powerstroke is available. I cant find it in path effect editor.

It is available if you compile inkscape yourself with the LPEs enabled. See the bottom of dvlierop's second link.

-Rob A>

Oh boy, oh boy... hole thing about compiling is a bit too much for me now.

I've also purchased Serif Drawplus X5 to complement my Inkscape/Gimp work.

One nice feature is you can enable "pressure profiles" on any line created by a pressure sensitive tablet, or if no tablet, they provide a dialog to create a profile that can then be applied to a line or lines.

Here is a screen shot showing such a line and in the lower right corner is the profile editor.



The same thing can be done in inkscape's LPE, but not as easily.

-Rob A>

Interesting stuff, RobA

So yes, vdd0101, the Calligraphy tool is indeed what you need. At least until this new PowerStroke thing comes out in the next major version release.

I just duplicated the image, then turn off the stroke on the bottom image and turn off the fill in the top one.
then change the stroke to path and use the nodes and path to give the effect you want.
regards JC