Hello, i am facing special problem. I need to do something like this: http://fraso.sweb.cz/pics/tabak.jpg
The problem is, that when I do regular half circle, when I stroke it, the shape exceeds the original shape...Is there any possibility how to stroke it inside? not outside? When I draw the curve with bezier pen, I never can to accomodate it nicely to the smooth shape. Thank you for your advices.

That's been a much requested new feature -- the option to have the stroke inside, outside, or middle (where it is now) of the path. Of course I have no idea how hard or easy it might be to code, but the more support a feature request gets, the more devs will want to provide it. Search Launchpad for the relevant report (https://launchpad.net/inkscape).

Although.....while it's been a much requested feature, somewhere in the corner of my memory, I think I'm recalling that it can't be done yet because there's no SVG standard for it yet. I could be wrong about that, but it's nagging at me as I try to recall. Well whatever the reason, I've read about it in the forum, so you should be able to search it out, if you're interested.

Regarding the Pen/Bezier tool, it certainly does take a good deal of practice, and I guess everyone develops a technique that works for them. Generally, a single click sets a cusp/corner node, while a click + drag sets a smooth node with handles by which you can adjust the curve. Apparently some people are quite adept, and can click + drag away, and create a nice shape in the first try. Personally, I find it quite hard to control.

I use the Pen/Bezier tool in straight line mode, so that it only ever sets cusp/corner nodes. If I'm tracing something, I usually set nodes in the apex of curves, and then later change them to smooth. But it does depend on the shape of the curve. If I'm drawing something on a blank page, I just set nodes that are somewhere "in the ballpark" and after I finish the line, I switch to the Node tool and move them into position. Then after I finish the path, I go back and select the nodes that need to be smooth, and change them to smooth.

But anyway, just keep practicing, and you'll get better

Hi joe.darkman

I am not sure I fully understand your problem.
To get the text to stay inside the path first draw the half circle with the circle tool set to arc; from 0 to 180 degrees. Stroke width =1
Duplicate the half circle, then inset ( CTRL - Left Parenthesis ) the number of times you require depending on the thickness of your stroke and the inset setting step (in preferences).

Duplicate the circle once more and do the same number of insets again. If you want more spacing around the text than in my example inset a few more times.
Set the stroke width of the middle arc to the required size and use the inner arc to flow the text into.
You will end up with this;

(Click image for larger version)

Good Luck

RGDS
Ragnar