This video covers advanced path and node manipulation techniques.
For demonstration purposes I'll create a path by converting a stroke.
I select the Bezier tool, click and hold the control key down
while dragging downward to create a perfectly vertical stroke.
I right click on the stroke width at the bottom
of the screen to change it. I right click on the stroke width at the bottom
of the screen to change it.
I change the stroke color by holding down the shift while clicking on a color.
The stroke kind of looks like a narrow rectangle
Let's make it into a rectangular path. The stroke kind of looks like a narrow rectangle
Select stroke to path. This converts it Let's make it into a rectangular path.
into a regular path with a node at each of Select stroke to path. This converts it
the four corners. At this point it's no into a regular path with a node at each of
longer a stroke... I want it wider the four corners. At this point it's no
I select both the nodes on the right. longer a stroke... I want it wider
I hold down the control key and press one I select both the nodes on the right.
of the arrow keys on the keyboard to I hold down the control key and press one
move all to currently selected nodes at once. of the arrow keys on the keyboard to
move all to currently selected nodes at once.
Here I use ctrl + right arrow if I move all to currently selected nodes at once.
move all to currently selected nodes at once.
If I wish to move them less of a distance
I can use the arrow keys alone without the ctrl key. If I wish to move them less of a distance
I can use the arrow keys alone without the ctrl key.
two nodes that I want to put extra nodes between.
I click the toolbar insert new nodes
plus symbol once which inserts a single node perfectly centered. I click the toolbar insert new nodes
plus symbol once which inserts a single node perfectly centered.
Clicking "+" a second time inserts nodes between
all the nodes that are currently Clicking "+" a second time inserts nodes between
selected. I click on the canvas to all the nodes that are currently
unselect then I select the two nodes and selected. I click on the canvas to
make a new node between them. unselect then I select the two nodes and
I can move multiple nodes at one time by make a new node between them.
selecting them and then clicking on one I can move multiple nodes at one time by
of the selected nodes selecting them and then clicking on one
and holding the control key down and
dragging to the right for example the and holding the control key down and
control key ensures that they move only dragging to the right for example the
horizontally ensuring the notes keep the control key ensures that they move only
same y-coordinates after dragging I move horizontally ensuring the notes keep the
a single node by holding the control key same y-coordinates after dragging I move
clicking on the node and dragging I a single node by holding the control key
might naively try to create a nice clicking on the node and dragging I
rounded shape by dragging nodes but might naively try to create a nice
there are these sharp corners and it's rounded shape by dragging nodes but
far from smooth a neat technique for there are these sharp corners and it's
smoothing out a drawing especially one far from smooth a neat technique for
that has a lot of nodes is to select the smoothing out a drawing especially one
offending node and press the Delete key that has a lot of nodes is to select the
on the keyboard to delete it Inkscape offending node and press the Delete key
will try as best as it can to maintain on the keyboard to delete it Inkscape
the shape I hit control Z to put the will try as best as it can to maintain
note back it's often surprising how many the shape I hit control Z to put the
nodes you can delete and still be able note back it's often surprising how many
to work with a much simpler shape here I nodes you can delete and still be able
select multiple nodes and hit the Delete to work with a much simpler shape here I
key select multiple nodes and hit the Delete
now I'm going to try to work with nodes
on the left I'll create some now I'm going to try to work with nodes
between these two I select this node and on the left I'll create some
press the Delete key between these two I select this node and
I expect a nice straight line to remain press the Delete key
after that but it shows these handles I expect a nice straight line to remain
when I see that I know it's not a after that but it shows these handles
straight line between the remaining when I see that I know it's not a
nodes but a curve I hit control Z to straight line between the remaining
demonstrate a better way I select the nodes but a curve I hit control Z to
node to delete I hold down the control demonstrate a better way I select the
key while I hit the Delete key on the node to delete I hold down the control
keyboard this ensures that the segment key while I hit the Delete key on the
that remains is a straight line and not keyboard this ensures that the segment
a curve that remains is a straight line and not
I put the node back again with control Z a curve
I'll once again show that deleting I put the node back again with control Z
without using a control key leaving a I'll once again show that deleting
curve we can fix that curve this is without using a control key leaving a
another way I can select the two nodes curve we can fix that curve this is
containing the curve then using the another way I can select the two nodes
toolbar I can change the curve to a containing the curve then using the
straight line I'm showing here now how toolbar I can change the curve to a
to move two nodes away from a central straight line I'm showing here now how
point equally normally you just drag on to move two nodes away from a central
each node but it's easier to select two point equally normally you just drag on
nodes and hold down the control key each node but it's easier to select two
while pressing the right angled bracket nodes and hold down the control key
to separate them equally it's better while pressing the right angled bracket
straighten up here between these nodes to separate them equally it's better
I'll hold the ctrl and press the right
angled bracket multiple times I'll hold the ctrl and press the right
on the Left we have four nodes I want to
make the distances between each of them on the Left we have four nodes I want to
equally it's a little known that you can make the distances between each of them
work with nodes in the align and equally it's a little known that you can
distribute dialog work with nodes in the align and
here I select distribute selected nodes
vertically thanks for watching here I select distribute selected nodes