Using patterns in Inkscape

This is a tutorial on how to use patterns (such as seamless patterns, elements, or digi papers) in Inkscape. I’m using Inkscape 0.47 due to compatibility issues with some cutting programs and the newest version of Inkscape.

1. Open Inkscape and create a document that is the same size as your paper you will be printing on. I want to print strips to make paper tapes, so I made a rectangle that is 1.5×11 inches (I’m printing on US letter size paper and will run the strips through a 1.5 inch Xyron then cut the strips into smaller widths).
   
2. Create or import a pattern into your document. In this example I used four circles with gradients and a white background square. Digi-papers or seamless patterns also work very well.
   
3. With your pattern selected use Object/Pattern/Objects to pattern.
   
4. Click on the Fill and Stroke icon to bring up that window.
   
5. With your shape to be filled selected, click on the Pattern button.
   
6. If you have created multiple patterns in your document you will need to use the drop down box to select your new pattern fill. The newest pattern will be on the bottom of the upper section.  Unfortunately they are given numbers by Inkscape and I don’t know of any way to change it to something else.
   
7. The pattern fill can be adjusted using the Node tool. Select your filled shape and then select the Node tool.
   
8. The X on the pattern will adjust the position of the fill, the circle adjusts the rotation, and the small box will adjust the scale. Hold down the Control key to constrain the proportions or angle.
   
9. Here are two strips that I made. The one on the left was made using a digi-paper and the one on the right was made with my vector pattern.  I would fill my page with either strips or digi paper before printing.
   

Inkscape has a bug that can result in white lines through shapes filled with patterns.  If you have a main color other than white you can put a duplicate shape filled with the main color behind the shape with the pattern fill.

Using Print2Cut to cut stamped or pre-printed images

Have you ever wanted to cut out an image that is either already printed or stamped?  What about cutting photos?  Here is how you can do that with eCAL or SCAL3.  This would probably work with any program that has the print and cut ability.  I used a transparency, but you could use vellum or even office paper and a light box (or window).

1. Open your file in eCAL/SCAL and size to the size that you want to cut.  I also change my cut shape to no fill and add a stroke.  Print with registration marks.  If I’m printing the same cut file in different sizes, I put each size on a new page and label the pages with the dimensions.
   
2. I have been printing one shape, and then turning the transparency around to print another shape on the other end.  I also write the file name and the shape size next to each shape.
   
   
3. Place the printout over a piercing mat (or a mouse pad) and poke all three of the dots in the center of the registration marks.
   
   
4. Place your template over the  image you want to cut.  The transparency make it very easy to position (and also to avoid the stray marker near the edge of the image  ).
   
5. Use a pen or a marker and place a dot in each of the three registration marks.  I like to number them, but that really isn’t necessary.
   
6. Position the print on the mat.  Placement doesn’t need to be exact.  Just make sure that it isn’t turned sideways.  Click on the Print2Cut button and go through the Print2Cut steps like normal.
   
7. The results:  One previously printed image that has been cut out exactly like I wanted.  

Path simplify and opening more than one SCUT2 file at a time

I found three more new features in SCAL 2.021.

One is the ability to open more than one SCUT2 file at a time.    If you click on the Import svg button or use Import from the file menu you can open multiple SCUT2 files.  Each one will open in a new page, but if you want them on the same page you can copy and paste them where you want them.

The font list is now alphabetical, no more lower case font names at the bottom of the list.

The other new feature is the ability to simplify your cutting files.  Here is how you use it.

1. Select the Path that you want to simplify and from the menu use Path/Simplify.
   
2. A dialog will appear.  You can change how severe the simplification by increasing or decreasing the threshold.  Click on Preview to see the change.  The number of nodes is shown above both the before and after images.  A higher threshold will result in more nodes being removed, but can cause distortion of the shapes.  Click OK when you like the results.
   
3. This is what my simplified text looks like using the default of 50.  It originally had 623 nodes and the simplified letters had 194 nodes and will cut faster than the original.
   

I have updated my original post on the SCAL  2.021 update to include all of the features that I found after I wrote that post.

SCAL 2.021 Object Merge

I found another new addition to SCAL 2.021 today.  For those of you familiar with Inkscape, this would be the same as Path/Combine.  It doesn’t change the cutting lines, just the fill settings.  This is really useful when working with paper piecing files to combine pieces together into one layer.

Here is an example of how it works.

Shapes before using Object Merge

Shapes after using Object Merge