I want to duplicate the two angled lines - circled in green - around the circumference of the circle, to create a star. (Specifically, a 9-pointed star; the guidelines on the right represent a 40 degree wedge.) I tried to do it by selecting the two angled lines, and the large circle, and using Extensions>Generate from Path>Scatter, but I get a result which is somewhat unexpected, where they are not spread evenly around the circumference, see for example where indicated by the green arrow.



If it's not already blindingly obvious, I'm very new to drawing graphics and to Inkscape. If anybody's able to tell me what I'm doing wrong, or whether there's an easier way to achieve my goal, I'd be most grateful. Thanks!

You can use the star tool to create the star, you can control the spike ratio by moving the handle while holding Ctrl to keep it symmetric, or change the number on the toolbar.

Thanks, prkos, for the tip re creating a 9-pointed star using the star tool, but I actually want to make some Islamic geometric patterns, so I'm not sure whether the star tool is going to do everything that I need as I make the design more complicated. I really want to be able to create a 40 degree segment - which ultimately will be quite a bit more complicated than just a star - and then replicate it 8 times, to create 9 identical 40-degree segments.

Could I have done what I intended using the scatter command? If so, what did I do wrong?

2) If I do create a star using the star tool, can I apply curves to the lines of the star? I tried selecting lines and adding nodes, but that didn't seem to work.

After you create one "complicated 40 degree segment", you might be able to do a radially tiled clone (Edit menu > Clone > Create Tiled Clones), to make it radially symmetrical. There are probably a few different places to find instructions, but one place is Help menu > Tutorials > Tips and Tricks. Also see Help menu > Inkscape Manual.

I'm not sure what kind of curves you want to use with a star. And rather than try and describe what all is possible, I've uploaded a file of a bunch of things I made with the star tool a while ago -- just simple strokes, nothing fancy, all with 5-point star/polygon setting. Just to give you some idea what can do Very basic instructions here: Help menu > Tutorials > Basic Shapes. Also see the same manual I mentioned already. If that's not exactly what you have in mind, maybe you could show us an example of what you want to create?

It seems much more complicated to adjust it through the scatter extension. Adjust the normal and tangential offsets to try to bring the corners together, and also the circle size and the length of the wedge matters.

It's easy to calculate the correct spoke ratio of the star to get the angles you want, and after you get the star shape you like you can convert it to a path, this turns it into a normal path and is no longer editable with star tool, and you can add nodes and edit them like in any other path.

If you need to create "concentric" stars, you can duplicate the star and resize it holding Ctrl and Shift, Ctrl keeps the ratio and Shift transforms while keeping it centered.

Thanks for your input. I'm trying to create designs similar to these:



I think I'll fiddle with the radially tiled cloning tool, thanks.

I'm trying to create designs similar to these:

Oh yeah, those are very nice. I think you will be able to use the star tool for some very basic outlines. And the outline of the one in the middle might be done with the Spirograph extension, although it will take much experimentation to get it right. I've also done a huge amount of work with the Spirograph effect, and would be glad to share spirograms I've created. But all the intricate detail will certainly need to be done differently.

Those look like a lot of fun

Don't forget to read about tiled clone symmetry in the manual http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Tiles.html

don't forget there is a bug in inkscape with cloning if you RESIZE your canvas the Tiled Clone feature goes bezerk. Thanks to ~suv's input, you can make a new layer and is it for your tiled clones or open a new document run the tiled clones then copy and past them into your base document or layer