I figured this out but don't see how to delete the post. Is there a way to do this?

I wound up setting the width to 1. If there is another way to do the kind of drawing I talk about here, I'd be happy to hear about it.

Is there a way to draw a line in a more natural way than setting nodes and adjusting the lines?

I'm converting a sketch into inkscape and would like to keep more of the gestural effect. Drawing by clicking points and adjusting lines loses a lot of the feeling and looks kind of "stiff". The image will be cut by plotter into vinyl to make a mask for sandblasting.

Calligraphy is the only thing I can find but am hoping to find something that will create a single line, rather than a shape with a series of nodes on 2 sides (creating a single line of nodes instead), and that is easier to adjust after drawing it.

I'm using a touch pad - no tablet.

You can use the pencil tool, even though the sketchy feel is much related to the pattern used on the stroke.
But it works without pattern along path/powerstroke lpe too, and you can also set the smoothing of the tool.

If you are on linux and can put your hands on one of Jabiertxof's builds, roughen lpe will get you there adding the effect onto a clean drawing.


Other way is to add many nodes to the segments, then run the jitter nodes extension.