Help with Inkscape lines

[TheRustinator]

Howdy! I'm a first time topic poster, and I'm very new to Inkscape. I've been tracing things like knife patterns. I'm noticing that sometimes it interprets a line as two lines, and I was wondering if there is a way to select the whole closed line instead of manually deleting each node individually, as it's TEDIOUS.
I figured someone here would know, I've been browsing tutorials and this amazing forum and so far can't find anything.
Thanks!
- Rusty

[adbuch]

If you are auto tracing knife pattern drawings, the normal method will pick up both sides of the lines. You can try using the option for Centerline Tracing (autotrace) to see if you have a better result. The problem with the Centerline Tracing is that often the result is many disconnected lines that you will need to manually edit to connect into closed paths.

For this particular example, the centerline method worked fine.

David

[TheRustinator]

Thank you, the centerline trace is working pretty good for most of my drawings! I will have to learn more, but I'm feeling encouraged.
Thanks again!
- Rusty

[acourtjester]

Another thing that will help is when having the item (as a path ) highlighted, use the Break apart function under the path menu Or the ungroup under the object menu. This will separate the drawing into its parts/lines, you can move, remove or modify any after you do that. This is really helpful if you want to do a layered or 3-D type project. I selected and cut the outside line for the backer layer and each part for coloring. this was done with a laser but the process is the same for plasma. see attached images.

[adbuch]

Very nice Tom! This has a real 3 dimensions look to it.

David

[TheRustinator]

That's amazing! I'm hoping to level up my skills soon. Last time I used a computer I think it was running Windows XP. It's a steep curve for me at the moment.
- Rusty

[adbuch]

That's amazing! I'm hoping to level up my skills soon. Last time I used a computer I think it was running Windows XP. It's a steep curve for me at the moment.
- Rusty

I'm still running Windows xp on several of my computers, and also Windows 2000. There are lots of programs that I have that won't run on anything newer than xp. Like my AutoCad 14 and Mastercam 9. These are still great operating systems and great programs to use.

David

[acourtjester]

One step at a time, there are many tutorials posted here for Inkscape and member that will help. Also many tutorials on YouTube to help, try to stay with one subject for easy learning, then move on. Thing become easier as you start seeing the big picture then move in for the close up things.