hello!

how can I delete those vertical lines that indicate grades?

thanks!

I didn't see any vertical lines. But I think you might mean horizontal lines?

You'll have to use node editing. There might be a way to use a path operation, but I think that would involve more work.

1 - Select the nodes on those lines and delete them. Inkscape will try to retain the original shape, leaving probably some weird "bumps" there. There are a couple of ways to continue, and you might end up having to do a little bit of both.
2a - Select the 2 nodes on either side of the "bumps" with Node tool, then click "Make selected segments lines" button on Node tool control bar, or
2b - Manipulate the handles of the nodes near the remaining "bumps" to make the path smooth.

Actually the Eraser tool might work, in Cut Out mode. I'm so in the habit of node editing that I forget about the Eraser. So you could try that. But node editing will probably be more accurate. To try to be accurate with the Eraser tool, you'll need a steady hand, and the more you zoom in, the better it will look

yeah, I mean horizontal lines
thanks!

I tried the node method, with not enough success

I think the node tool resembles too much the free hand drawing and thus, it does not appeal much to me

what I expect from digital drawing is to be able to create similar or better drawings than those created by talented free hand artists

I want to draw mathematically and methodically

a good example of it, is this:

to delete those horizontal lines, I want to create a line which is parallel to the wall of the tube and to erase everything being at the left of that line, ie. those horizontal lines

that parallel line will match exactly the inner wall of the tube at the parts where there are no horizontal lines

or maybe create a white (thus erasing) rectangular that Inkscape will make sure it will match the inner wall of the tube (and thus erasing the horizontal lines)

Just how easy do you think this task should be? "Computer, erase those vertical lines." <Do you mean horizontal?> "Err, yes."

1. Nothing like the pencil tool. Select the path.
2. Select the nodes at the ends of the horizontal lines.
3. Delete those nodes.
4. Select the segment of the path that is curving where one of the horizontal lines used to be.
5. Click the "make segment between two nodes a straight line" button.
6. Clean up as needed if there are extra nodes that make it not a straight line.
7. Repeat for each horizontal line.

llogg, no offense, but that's exactly what I suggested!

user wrote:I tried the node method, with not enough success

I think the node tool resembles too much the free hand drawing and thus, it does not appeal much to me

what I expect from digital drawing is to be able to create similar or better drawings than those created by talented free hand artists

I want to draw mathematically and methodically

a good example of it, is this:

to delete those horizontal lines, I want to create a line which is parallel to the wall of the tube and to erase everything being at the left of that line, ie. those horizontal lines

that parallel line will match exactly the inner wall of the tube at the parts where there are no horizontal lines

or maybe create a white (thus erasing) rectangular that Inkscape will make sure it will match the inner wall of the tube (and thus erasing the horizontal lines)

Well, you can't get more mathematical and methodical than node editing, lol!

I suspect your lack of success with node editing is due to not using the Node tool . There are other ways to remove those lines. As I've said, the Eraser tool will work, but it will be hard to achieve accuracy or precision. The other way would be using a path operation, and in fact, that's what you're describing. That will take a little more work, to achieve the same precision as node editing, but it can definitely be done that way. I'll put the basic steps below.

First though, I'm really feeling strongly that I need to be frank with you, and make a few comments. Over the last week or so, you've been posting question after question about how to do this or that with Inkscape. We certainly do not mind helping people. After all, that's why we're here! Until you posted this question, your previous requests were fairly inappropriate, because you asked how to draw some fairly complex images, as if you expected us to write custom tutorials for you (and even better, I suspect, you hope that we'll actually draw the images for you). We are all volunteers here, and most of us don't have that much time to offer.

I was so encouraged when you posted this topic, because it really is a more appropriate question for us. However, as you demonstrated in some of your other topics, you appear not to be willing to try to learn on your own. Here, for some reason I can only surmise, you've said how the Node tool is too much like the "freehand" tool, which is the Pencil. The Node tool is nothing like the Pencil tool (almost AT ALL), and I think you must be confusing the Node tool with the Pen tool . This demonstrates that if you tried to follow my instructions using the Pen tool, instead of the Node tool, you could not have tried very hard. If you had, you would have quickly realized that you were using the wrong tool!

Please keep in mind that most of us don't have time to actually teach you how to use Inkscape. If you feel that you can't, or don't want to even try to learn on your own, I would suggest you find, and pay for, a proper instructional course of study. Or hire a working Inkscape artist to do the work.

Ok, to remove the horizontal lines in the way that you describe, you'll need to actually draw some more paths. I suggest using the Pen tool . Using that, draw a line that is parallel to the edge of the gray line, as if the line was going to actually cut off those horizontal lines (because it actually will do that, eventually). You'll undoubtedly have to use snapping to make the line precisely flush. There will actually have to be 2 lines -- one for the vertical portion and one for the diagonal portion. Those 2 lines need to be the right side of a rectangle (for the vertical line) and a parallelogram (for the diagonal side). So using the Pen tool, you'll need to click 1 (top, right corner of rectangle) 2 (bottom right) 3 (bottom left) 4 (top left) and double-click at the starting point to close the path. Do the same for the parallelogram. Next, as I said, you'll have to use snapping to make the right side flush. Click the 1st button on the Snap control bar to engage snapping. Also click Snap nodes or handles, and Snap to paths. All other buttons on snap control bar should be disengaged. Now drag the top right and bottom right nodes toward the gray path until the nodes snap to the gray-filled path. Now select the new rectangle and the gray object and do Path menu > Difference. Then select the parallelogram and gray object, and do the same. WAY more work! But it does the same think, basically.

Now, for at least the 3rd or 4th time, I'm going to refer you to the links and info in my forum signature. If you need help with any of this, it can all be found in any of that info.

And I'll also say this. Since I've alluded to the fact, in some of your other topics, that you've been asking too much of us (and I'm not alone in that) and you continue to show no interest in learning on your own, I will not be answering any more of your questions. If I see some (any) evidence that you're at least trying to learn on your own, of course I won't mind helping you along the way. But until I see such evidence, I have better and more important things to do. Sorry guy, I've wasted too much time on you by now

ofcourse I have not confused the node tool with the pen tool, hovering over each button, a tooltip displays the name of the tool it triggers

I deleted the nodes and it distorted the image more, so I abandoned it

now I made it work, but I still think working with nodes is not the best thing. in comparison with working with equations that generate lines, eclipses, etc

don't you think moving nodes is as "manual" and hand drawing? I bet you need steady hand to choose them and to move them

I am searching for more mathematical way, maybe inkscape is not the right solution for this, maybe a CAD software is more mathematical in vector editing

I used the node tool for a gear vector and it found hundreds of nodes! how can these be edited symmetrically and precisely?

It would be great if you cold evade linear functions as the only way to approach Inkscape (in comparison with math). As in mathematics, same thing can be done on several different ways in Inkscape aswell.

ofcourse I have not confused the node tool with the pen tool, hovering over each button, a tooltip displays the name of the tool it triggers

I deleted the nodes and it distorted the image more, so I abandoned it

now I made it work, but I still think working with nodes is not the best thing. in comparison with working with equations that generate lines, eclipses, etc

don't you think moving nodes is as "manual" and hand drawing? I bet you need steady hand to choose them and to move them

In my original instructions, I said that deleting the nodes would leave some "wierd bumps". But the very next step is how to remove those "bumps".

My original instructions for node editing (in this case) did not include moving any nodes.

Inkscape is primarily a graphical tool, not a math tool.... But you can perform this task really easily with snapping and Object->Difference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpIR4hd6ls4

-Rob A>

Interesting... Here's somebody trying to do equally good or even better artworks than "free hand artists" (yes, I consider myself one of these individuals), going an all mathematical way.. with lots of symmetry.. and maybe with the help of a CAD application. I'm sorry but I don't see how art necessarily requires maths or why symmetry and precisely specified geometrical shapes would make "better art". This all sounds more like an engineering drawing or technical blueprint to me, which I don't consider works of art. And in this case I suppose a CAD program would indeed be more suitable for your needs.

in comparison with working with equations that generate lines, eclipses, etc

Sorry.. but I don't think there's an equation for drawing an eclipse ;)

I deleted the nodes and it distorted the image more, so I abandoned it

Of course it will change the overall shape of an object if you remove parts of it. Remove one of the corners of a rectangle and it is no longer a rectangle. But you could, for instance, still adjust it to become a "clean" right-angled triangle by retracting the handles of the nodes that popped out when you deleted the other node.

I used the node tool for a gear vector and it found hundreds of nodes! how can these be edited symmetrically and precisely?

How else would you describe the shape of a gear if not via nodes and line-segments? I'd love to see your mathematical approach to do this in a simple equation or whatever. And then I don't think there's something like a gear vector anyway.. at least I never stumbled upon something like this in all my many years of school and university.

Hahaha.. sorry, I just couldn't resist to post this. No offense meant :)

llogg wrote:Just how easy do you think this task should be? "Computer, erase those vertical lines." <Do you mean horizontal?> "Err, yes."

1. :tool_node: Nothing like the pencil tool. Select the path.
2. Select the nodes at the ends of the horizontal lines.
3. Delete those nodes.
4. Select the segment of the path that is curving where one of the horizontal lines used to be.
5. Click the "make segment between two nodes a straight line" button.
6. Clean up as needed if there are extra nodes that make it not a straight line.
7. Repeat for each horizontal line.

If you press 'Ctrl' while deleting the nodes in step 3, there's no need for cleaning up unwanted curved segments afterwards.

From the manual:
«(Backspace, Delete, or Ctrl+Alt+Left Mouse Click): Delete selected nodes. Inkscape will attempt to preserve the shape of the path when nodes are removed by adjusting the handles of adjacent nodes. If you wish to remove a node and not change the handles of adjacent nodes use Ctrl+Backspace or Ctrl+Delete.»

The node tool in Inkscape 0.48 also offers an option in the preferences to swap the default behavior when deleting nodes.

Awesome tip, ~suv.