Hi All,

Another newbie and just wanted to find out how may questions have to be asked before you can post?

I have a specific question relating to creating a paisley image but when I put the query in the search box, nothing comes up?

Any help appreciated.

Thanks...

Welcome aboard!

First two posts needs to be approved -which decreases the spam by 90+%.
Most new users seeking for help head to the help section.
Can remember an old paisley tutorial, maybe you saw this one already?:
http://verysimpledesigns.com/vectors/inkscape-tutorial-paisley-motif.html

There are probably a few different ways to draw a paisley image. Maybe even several!

Are you talking about creating a single comma shape? Or are you thinking about a whole page of them? Maybe if you could show us an example we could give the best answer.

Hi Lazur and thank you for the welcome.

I did look in the help section but couldn't find anything there.

And YES this is exactly the tutorial I was following

However when I choose the bezier and set the mode to spiro its OK when I start, then position 2 but when I try to go 3 the spiro kicks in and doesn't let me create the shape?

Not sure if I can do this yet but here is a screen grab of sorts, showing what happens (left) between stage 1-2-3 with the finished image to the right. When really what I expected was something like this (right screen) and make the curved changes universally?

Sorry tried to upload an image but cant...

Hi Brynn,

Yes, just a single image.

I think the screenshot might help here but I guess that will have to wait until I have enough posts?

I hope this string with the explanations helps other newbs with some inkscape queries, its got me flummoxed. Still that wouldn't be hard just picking up this tool for the first time

One other thing; when I try to use the elipse tool I get an odd shape little ellipse and its follows me around the page but I just cant seem to anchor it or set its width and height in px ??

I've tried to upload a screenshot in png and gif but get this error?

Invalid file extension: inkscape-forum-paisley.gif

Does it have to be an inkscape extension?

As far as I know attachments are not allowed on every board on this forum.
Maybe time to move this topic to the help section.

Edit: done. Also edited the first message so it may get more focus.

Thanks Lazur,

I'll try again - Screenshot?

So position 1 and 2 - I have my line like dot to dot.

However when I try to go down to point 3, although it says Shape 'None' - The spiro takes over and I cant take it further to create a similar image to the one on the right of the screen.

Hi All,

Really stuck with this now. Been trying to find out all I can but I'm obviously not explaining this very well.

So I hope the attached image helps?

I've zoomed out so you can see all that all the elements on the page have been grabbed.
You'll see that the image I'm working on I've managed to change some colours and that's the image I'm trying to get into again.

However every button or arrow I try to click seems to be locked and I cant do anything.

*I know that what I'm doing is a basic newbie error but if I could find out why I wouldn't be bothering anyone on the forum

I'm trying to create a drawing like this.

Easy enough to start No1 but when I get to 2 do I click enter or something else to get to No3?

If I click enter I end up with a red box at position 2 but cant get to No3 without the spiro taking over?

I'm using an Acer laptop without a mouse, could this be the problem as some videos I've looked at mention press the left mouse?

Sorry about this but keen to get started

As of 0.92 the spiro effect is applied live, so you have two options:

1) Just click in the places indicated and let the spiro sort itself out as you go along. If you hold shift whilst closing the path, your first/last point will be a cusp node, and you can skip all the bit about changing the nodes to auto-smooth.

2) Don't enable spiro mode and just draw the path with straight lines as it appears in the tutorial. You'll then need to add the spiro effect from the Live Path Effects dialog, and change the node types to get it to kick in.

The first option is probably easier, but you need to have a little faith that the spiro shape will sort itself out as you go along.

Thanks Xav,

So do I begin holding the shift or any or key?
If I don't hold it I cant get further than No2
Hold the alt or ctrl key?
Press the enter at each stage?

I know I'm missing something really evident here. Used adobe fireworks etc for years but I know this is a great tool and that's why I'm here but I'm just not getting this and its making me feel a bit daft tbh!

Yes, you need to hold the shift key in the beginning.

Assuming version 0.92:

1) Select the tool and enable spiro mode
2) Click the first point, without holding any modifiers.
3) Click the second, third, fourth... You will get a spiro shape drawn, not straight lines. Just go with it.
4) Repeat until the last distinct point (11 in your image)
5) Hold shift and click on the first point to close the shape.

Holding shift just ensures that the first/last point is a cusp node. If you don't hold shift you can still select the node afterards using the tool and explicitly change it to a cusp node for the same effect.

Thanks Xav and conormcg,

Yes it is 0.92

Still something going wrong here and I think I'm doing all you say.

I've got this far but no matter how many times I try it. The space between N1 and 2 are always in a straight line and I've always kept the end point not selected i.e. not a blue marked box. Although I have noticed that point No2 is a blue square when the rest apart from 1 are circles??

Not sure how the second point is a cusp (diamond shaped corner node) unless you were holding Shift whilst clicking. But anyway, you can just select that node using the tool and convert it into a smooth node using the button on the toolbar.

Taking a leaf out of Tylerdurden's book:

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant

Thanks Xav, I'll give this a try!!

off-topic: key-mon and peek rule!

OT screen recorders... continued here: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=32880

Thanks!