Inkscape Tutorials for Plasma

[adbuch]

Here is a thread with some great information about a set of Inkscape tutorials offered by LogosByNick - either on Youtube or from his website.
David

viewtopic.php?f=98&t=29671&p=206001#p206001

https://www.youtube.com/c/LogosByNick/playlists

https://logosbynick.com/inkscape/

[cdsnapp]

Thanks for the links. I downloaded the latest version of Inkscape and have been struggling to get a handle on it. Hopefully these videos will get me going in the right direction.
Chris

[adbuch]

Hi Chris,
Inkscape can be lots of fun to use once you get acquainted with the basics. I initially started off just using it for auto traces. Then some basic node editing. Tom and Rokcrler were both very helpful to me by sharing some or their techniques and insights. Let us know if you have any questions and we will try to help.

David

[cdsnapp]

Thanks David,
I downloaded the latest version and was wondering if there was an earlier version that is more user friendly or better for plasma cutting. Any suggestions? I appreciate your input.
Chris

[acourtjester]

Inkscape has made some big changes in the GUI, I have been using it for years and love it. But (always a but) the newest is really a change, I'm sure the functions are the same but how it appears has changed. As you learn how to use it the locations of the functions come easier.
Good luck and enjoy, it really is a great program. Look around at their web site and see if you can download 0.91 or ones before 1.2.

[ROKCRLER]

I tried the latest after 1.02 and didn't like it so i went back to 1.02-2 and quit updating. The new versions seemed clunky and awkward to me.

[cdsnapp]

Thanks guys,
I think I will try an earlier version and watch a few more tutorials. Hopefully I'll get the hang of it.
Chris

[acourtjester]

Stay with it jumping around only makes thing confusing. Many programs have similar functions but call them differently or use different Icons.
After you get the big picture its easier to add other programs to advance your skills and knowledge.

[cdsnapp]

Well I certainly don't need anymore confusion! I'm going to keep pecking at it. At least I know where I can go for some help. Thanks for the guidance.
Chris

[acourtjester]

There have been many tutorials posted by member here look for them with the search function in the upper right.

[N2 Welding]

Watching vids now.

[adbuch]

Thanks David,
I downloaded the latest version and was wondering if there was an earlier version that is more user friendly or better for plasma cutting. Any suggestions? I appreciate your input.
Chris

Hi Chris - I don't think it makes any difference at all as to which version you choose to use - as far as cnc plasma cutting goes. I was using one of the older version when I started with it a few years ago, then later updated to version 1.1.2 and was having pretty good luck with it. My only complaints were that the Path, Trace Bitmap tool wasn't very good at interactively showing a preview of the auto trace result, and of course that it would not directly import dxf files. So my solution for the lack of dxf import was to use LightBurn to convert from dxf to svg and then open with Inkscape.

When Tom announced that there was a newer version 1.2.1 - I tried it out. The feel was a little bit different, and the main difference that jumped out at me right away was the contents of the box that appears for a "right mouse click". In the older version, the box contained commands for undo and redo and told you what command you were undoing. This can be pretty handy at times.

With the newer version undo and redo are not present in the pop-up box. You can still do "Ctrl + Z" for undo and "Shift + Ctrl + Z" for redo, but you don't really know what you are undoing (or redoing) as far as I can tell.

For "Path, Trace Bitmap" the preview needs to be manually updated with the older version.

With the newer version it auto-updates.

The most significant change as far as I'm concerned was the addition of the capability to directly import dxf R14 files. And I am really surprised that in the official release notes this change was not even mentioned.

I have desktop shortcuts for both versions, but after a few weeks I found myself pretty much using the newer version exclusively - as far as Inkscape is concerned.

I will say that when starting out - if you are watching an Inkscape tutorial video - it helps greatly to be using the same version as the version being used in the video. Much less confusing when starting out.

I see that there is an even newer release than the one I am using - version 1.2.2. At this time I see no reason for me personally to upgrade as 1.2.1 seems to do everything I need quite well.

David

[Plasma-art]

but you don't really know what you are undoing (or redoing) as far as I can tell.

In the Edit dropdown menu it shows what you are un/redoing just the same as the old version did with right click.
Undo, redo is at the top of that menu.
Atleast I think I am at the latest update.

[adbuch]

I'm using Version 1.2.1. This is how it looks. Perhaps the newest version is different. If you're using 1.2.2, then let us know.
Thanks,
David

[adbuch]

Here is the older version.

But they both have an undo history button.

It's really no big deal. I just liked the convenience of seeing it with the mouse right click box.

David

[Plasma-art]

It was the undo history tab i meant.
Now i have had a cup of coffee english is a bit easier

[Dirtmotor]

in 1.2 the two arrows on right are undo and redo if that helps .

[cdsnapp]

Thanks for all of your input. I will be watching the videos and getting familiar with the software. I guess I just need to dive in and learn.
Chris

[acourtjester]

Pick a simple drawing and work with it in your free time that way you not in a rush. I use the old what will this do learning curve
Who cares if you screw it up your learning.

[cdsnapp]

True. I'm going to start playing with it and figure I'll just take my time and try not to get frustrated.
Chris

[adbuch]

Pick a simple drawing and work with it in your free time that way you not in a rush. I use the old what will this do learning curve
Who cares if you screw it up your learning.

Great advise Tom! That's exactly what I did. Started with something simple and then tried to figure out which particular Inkscape tool would accomplish a specific task. I find this approach easier for me than trying to learn the whole program at once. I used that same approach back in college with my engineering classes.

David

[adbuch]

in 1.2 the two arrows on right are undo and redo if that helps .

Thanks for that Dirtmotor! I hadn't even paid any attention to those arrows. I just got in the habit of using Ctrl Z and Shift Ctrl Z - much quicker for me. I tried the arrows, and they work great - but still don't tell you what command you are undoing or redoing. But all-in-all I still prefer this newer version over the older one I was using.

David

[acourtjester]

Not enough gray cells for remember keystrokes

ink 2.jpg (44.96 KiB) Viewed 1829 times

ink 2.jpg (44.96 KiB) Viewed 1829 times

[adbuch]

It was the undo history tab i meant.
Now i have had a cup of coffee english is a bit easier

Hi - A while back you had a nice example showing your method for exporting a dxf from Fusion 360 where I seem to recall you projected one of the sides of the solid model to a construction plane and then exported as dxf. I can't seem to find that post. Could you point me in the right direction please?
Thanks,
David