New guy here. I'm not sure I have all the definitions perfectly clear, but I'll try to explain my query as well as I can.

Is it possible to create a line of variable width, without actually having two paths which form an object or shape?

I've been going through the Inkscape tutorials (which btw is awesome stuff, I absolutely love the pedagogical approach) and looking through the manual, but I can't seem to find any way to do this. I'm aware of such ways as using "stroke to path" to be able to change the width of the line, or the "shape" setting for the pen tool, but all the different ways to do this is actually creating a shape, and I lose the ability to alter my line as a single path. I find it very tedious and time consuming to do it this way, and it will also create problems if I scale my drawings, as I want to preserve my stroke width with scaling so that different parts of the drawing won't have different stroke widths if some objects are scaled.

I've tried a couple of other vector graphics programs, such as Illustrator and Xara, where this is possible. I've gotten quite hooked on Inkscape though, because those other programs are either ridiculously expensive, or simply a pain to use.

Thanks for your time.

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

You can solve the problem of the stroke width getting scaled by deselecting the 'scale stroke width' button on Selection tool control bar.

As far as creating lines with varying widths, the only way I know, is using the Calligraphy tool. But it's really the equivalent of Stroke to Path, as far as the result (closed path object). However, unlike Stroke to path, you can draw the lines with variable widths from the start, rather than changing the width using nodes after doing Stroke to path. I'll be honest. I've found it hard to control the Calligraphy tool with a mouse. I think people who use graphic tablets (such as Wacom) have much more control, what with the pressure sensitivity, etc.

However, the Calligraphy tool technically creates objects which are closed paths. So the 'scale stroke width' setting does not affect it....unless you added a stroke to it.

All that said, I'm not sure if I understand what you're asking for. But I hope I've provided enough info to be of some help. Otherwise, there are other members who know more about other vector graphics programs, and may have a better idea what you're looking for.

You can work with the path effect 'Pattern along path' - also in use when drawing a path with a shape selected (see controls bar of the pencil (freehand) and pen (bezier) tool). The 'shape' or 'pattern' can be edited and modified on-canvas so that the width varies along the path. Details about working with path effects are in the manual: Live Path Effects (LPEs)

There is a 'PowerStroke' path effect in development (probably ready for 0.49, can be tested in current development builds (unstable!)):

• Inkscape Wiki (blueprint): PowerStroke
• recent dicussions on the mailing list (inkscape-devel):
  Subject: Powerstroke requests, Subject: powerstroke
• Release notes 0.49 (work in progress): PowerStroke

Thanks to both of you for your replies. Very much appreciated!

brynn, the scaling problem with using the calligraphy tool is the same as with using stroke to path. If I use a calligraphy stroke alongside a normal pencil stroke and scale them both, I will end up with the calligraphy stroke thicker or thinner than the pencil stroke, depending on how I scale. If I chose to work only in calligraphy, there wouldn't be a way around the scaling problem. The PowerStroke that ~suv links to is exactly what I want to do. The stroke width vary, but will remain proportional if the stroke was to be scaled, and I can still edit the stroke as a simple path.

~suv, awesome suggestion! It never occured to me to even try the Patter along path tool. I think I got confused by the lizard, not realizing that such a complicated tool could provide such a simple solution to my problem. The PowerStroke you link to is exactly what I actually was looking for (yay Inkscape developers!), but the Pattern along path will most definitely keep me more than happy until that tool is released in a stable version of Inkscape. If I may say, I think this suggestion of using the PAP to vary the stroke width should be included as a tip in the manual, at least until the PowerStroke is released.

Thanks again to the both of you.

Even "simpler" is to copy a path to your clipboard with ctrl+c (must be a path, not a group or object), then in the pen or pencil tool select the shape dropdown and select "clipboard".

This is just a shortcut to applying the pattern along path LPE.

-Rob A>