WOW, This video answered so many questions, I have had a plasma cutter for years, and always recommend inkscape to friends if they want to design a sign of there own and dont want to spend money on expensive software. I am always surprised how many great features inkscape has! Would love to see a video on script text which creates so many more headaches with overlapping lines. Thanks again will be recommending this video to a lot of people!
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you found the video informative! Inkscape is indeed incredible software, and you can't beat the price! I I will take your suggestion about the video on script text into consideration :-)
Hi Daryl, I'm so glad I came across this video as I've been tearing my hair out trying to work out why I can't create a .dxf file containing text, so I can cut it out on my plasma cutter. After watching this video, it all makes sense that I have to convert an Object to a Path, so thankyou for creating this easy to follow tutorial...it's helped me immensely. I've also subscribed as I'll probably use Inkscape for creating my 'signs' for cutting, and I look forward to learning more about Inkscape from you.
I have been trying to make the circle bulky just the first circle for over an hour now. Seems like everybody else understands it a lot quicker than me I’m struggling lol
I hope you've got this issue solved by now (sorry for the delayed response...). In case you are still looking for an answer, I suspect it has something to do with how you are unioning the text. If the text is made up of multiple objects, (like the outline of the 9, and the shape that is the inside of the 9) then when you union those two objects both shapes merge into 1, the larger object will basically 'absorb' the smaller shape. In a case like that you would want to use 'difference' to remove the middle of the 9 from the outer shape first, before unioning the 9 with other objects. I hope that makes sense, and helps you out.
Great video huge help! Cant figure out why my circle wont duplicate like yours though. I duplicate it and drag it in but it resizes it off to one side. Not keeping the center for some reason. Any thoughts? subbed!
just started out with INKSCAPE and will be buying a CNC plasma table soon, just a quick question though that might sound a bit silly but how do i know if the plasma will cut out the whit areas or the black ones, sorry if this is obvious
I don't have a plasma cutter myself, but I do have a laser, and afaik the principles are the same: the machine will cut the paths. It doesn't care what colour is inside or outside. I like to work so the black is what stays behind, it's easier for me to think it thru that way. So in the case of this example, the white area would be getting cut away. Notice that the black components all overlay somewhat so that the material stays solid. Hope this explanation makes sense and is helpful. Edit: it can be good practice to toggle between regular and outline mode in inkscape to view the paths with no distracting colours. Ctrl numpad5 is a shortcut to toggle between views.
New to this program. Just downloaded the Inkscape 1.0.1 version and I don't see the saddlebag font. Does this come with a paid version or is there a text pack I have to download? I don't need the exact text, I just want to make sure I have all the options.
Inkscape does not 'have' fonts per se. It uses fonts installed in the operating system. I downloaded the saddlebag font from a website (can't remember which) and installed it in windows.
It will try to put the text on the path, which actually is the center of the stroke . You can select the text with the type tool and use the ctrl and up\down arrow keys to offset the text up or down from the baseline
@@MakerMinded hey i figured it out. i was making the cirlces and inputting text and that all worked. the problem was when i went to insert my image in the center, it wouldnt union. i had to bring the raw image in and trace it within the same inkscape window and then it worked. but it would not union an imported svg for some reason. (so i had to import the jpeg and retrace for it to union)
Great video, it's got me a lot further along my inkscape journey. However, my inkscape behaves much differently than yours. I try to use short cut commands as you do and it does something completely different. For instance shift +ctrl+c for me tries to do some sort of image capture. My circles also behave differently, when I stroke to path them, they split into three concentric rings, one is my original path, and the two others are inside/outside offsets. I then can't union the. Entire thing, if I ungroup the circles and the union the entire thing, it disappears completely. Inkscape has never performed for me like your videos. Are there various versions?
Yes there are various versions of inkscape. The latest is 1.1 I believe. This video was created with .92.4 I believe.. one big difference that may be experiencing is in 1.0 and newer, when you convert a stroke to a path, it also leaves the original path (possibly the 3 lines you speak of...) And also leaves them grouped . So you would need to ungroup and potentially delete the original path (would be the center line). Hope this helps.
The image capture issue may be an operating system issue? Perhaps another program uses that shortcut combination and is acting on it before inkscape does..
@@MakerMinded I really appreciate the reply, I got it fixed by deleting all the nodes on the center ring. After I did that the union function performed as expected. As for the short cuts, I'm at a loss. Seems that half or so don't work and do random functions. I've deleted and reinstalled the software, run it with nothing else open, etc... Oh well... I really appreciate the response and advice!
@@pyroman590 The reason deleting the nodes on the center ring worked is because that would be the solid background ring as opposed to the stroke ring. When you union the solid background ring and the stroke ring you end up with a solid background ring that is the diameter of the stroke ring. As for the keyboard shortcuts, I really don't think it is an inkscape issue, since the keyboard shortcuts I use are the generally the default inkscape shortcuts. What is one keyboard shortcut that is not working for you, and what does it do instead?
Very helpful. you have just combined several of the how to videos i have save all in one tutorial that answered most of my questions. Thank you
This was an AMAZING video and really helped me create an ornament that a customer ordered. A million thank yous!!!
You're welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful and were able to create something to make a customer very happy!
Best tutorial I have found on this "start to finish" process. All other tutorials start with some DXF file and modify it. Great vid, thanks again!!
You're welcome. Glad you found it helpful.
My Crossfire plasma CNC arrives next week, this tutorial is perfect to help me get started with some great designs! Thanks for making the video!
WOW, This video answered so many questions, I have had a plasma cutter for years, and always recommend inkscape to friends if they want to design a sign of there own and dont want to spend money on expensive software. I am always surprised how many great features inkscape has! Would love to see a video on script text which creates so many more headaches with overlapping lines. Thanks again will be recommending this video to a lot of people!
Thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you found the video informative! Inkscape is indeed incredible software, and you can't beat the price! I I will take your suggestion about the video on script text into consideration :-)
Hi Daryl, I'm so glad I came across this video as I've been tearing my hair out trying to work out why I can't create a .dxf file containing text, so I can cut it out on my plasma cutter. After watching this video, it all makes sense that I have to convert an Object to a Path, so thankyou for creating this easy to follow tutorial...it's helped me immensely. I've also subscribed as I'll probably use Inkscape for creating my 'signs' for cutting, and I look forward to learning more about Inkscape from you.
Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad my video was able to help you make some sense of inkscape and preparing files for your CNC.
I did find it helpful!!!! Your teaching style is very good!!! Thank you!!
Thank you. You're very welcome!
Thanks for taking the time to do this!! Very good.
Glad it was helpful!
Very helpful. Very clear. Great work. Thank you for the video.
You are welcome glad it was helpful. Thank you for the kind words.
I wish i saw this video a year ago. Ive been using inkscape then saving as dxf or svg then doing all of the trimming manually in fusion 360.
Glad you found it helpful. Hopefully moving forward you will be able to simplify and speed up your workflow!
We found this very helpful thank you love you bestie!!
great tutorial
Great vid. Helped me out a lot. Thank you!!!!
You're welcome. I'm glad you found it helpful!
Dude FANTASTIC video. Ty ty ty
You're welcome. Glad you found it helpful.
thanks for showing how to export import.... i export as an svg and the file isnt showing up anwhere
Thank you for your help I hope you are still doing these I need the help....
Thanks for the comment. I still make these inkscape videos when I have time, which is unfortunately not as frequently as I would like..
Thanks so much. This helped me so much
You're welcome. I'm glad it was helpful.
Great work
Thank you!
Thanks great vid
I have been trying to make the circle bulky just the first circle for over an hour now. Seems like everybody else understands it a lot quicker than me I’m struggling lol
Have you tried adjusting the stroke width? Ctrl shift f will bring up the stroke options.
When I am doing this the space like inside the 9 or the 8 fills in, how do I correct this?
I hope you've got this issue solved by now (sorry for the delayed response...). In case you are still looking for an answer, I suspect it has something to do with how you are unioning the text. If the text is made up of multiple objects, (like the outline of the 9, and the shape that is the inside of the 9) then when you union those two objects both shapes merge into 1, the larger object will basically 'absorb' the smaller shape. In a case like that you would want to use 'difference' to remove the middle of the 9 from the outer shape first, before unioning the 9 with other objects. I hope that makes sense, and helps you out.
Great video huge help! Cant figure out why my circle wont duplicate like yours though. I duplicate it and drag it in but it resizes it off to one side. Not keeping the center for some reason. Any thoughts? subbed!
Hold shift and ctrl while resizing, that should constrain it proportionally and resize around the midpoint.
@@MakerMinded Bingo! Thanks man saving me time!
@@jrpalmer7021 You're welcome!
just started out with INKSCAPE and will be buying a CNC plasma table soon, just a quick question though that might sound a bit silly but how do i know if the plasma will cut out the whit areas or the black ones, sorry if this is obvious
I don't have a plasma cutter myself, but I do have a laser, and afaik the principles are the same: the machine will cut the paths. It doesn't care what colour is inside or outside. I like to work so the black is what stays behind, it's easier for me to think it thru that way. So in the case of this example, the white area would be getting cut away. Notice that the black components all overlay somewhat so that the material stays solid. Hope this explanation makes sense and is helpful.
Edit: it can be good practice to toggle between regular and outline mode in inkscape to view the paths with no distracting colours. Ctrl numpad5 is a shortcut to toggle between views.
Great video. What version of Inkscape are you using?
Thank you. I believe that was done in 0.92.4. I am now using v1.1
New to this program. Just downloaded the Inkscape 1.0.1 version and I don't see the saddlebag font. Does this come with a paid version or is there a text pack I have to download? I don't need the exact text, I just want to make sure I have all the options.
Inkscape does not 'have' fonts per se. It uses fonts installed in the operating system. I downloaded the saddlebag font from a website (can't remember which) and installed it in windows.
Hi can You tell me how thin can be the gap at the plasma cutting?
Thx
Sorry, I can't help you with that. You'll have to do some tests with your machine to determine your tolerances.
great video..one question how do you get the text on the outside of the circle...it seems to want to put it on the center of stroke
It will try to put the text on the path, which actually is the center of the stroke . You can select the text with the type tool and use the ctrl and up\down arrow keys to offset the text up or down from the baseline
@@MakerMinded Thank You!
followed step by step but when i union at the end, everything except exterior circle goes blank
What version of inkscape are you using?
@@MakerMinded hey i figured it out. i was making the cirlces and inputting text and that all worked. the problem was when i went to insert my image in the center, it wouldnt union. i had to bring the raw image in and trace it within the same inkscape window and then it worked. but it would not union an imported svg for some reason. (so i had to import the jpeg and retrace for it to union)
@@adamrodriguez6025 perhaps when you imported the other svg it was grouped? You can't Union grouped object.
Great video, it's got me a lot further along my inkscape journey. However, my inkscape behaves much differently than yours. I try to use short cut commands as you do and it does something completely different. For instance shift +ctrl+c for me tries to do some sort of image capture. My circles also behave differently, when I stroke to path them, they split into three concentric rings, one is my original path, and the two others are inside/outside offsets. I then can't union the. Entire thing, if I ungroup the circles and the union the entire thing, it disappears completely. Inkscape has never performed for me like your videos. Are there various versions?
Yes there are various versions of inkscape. The latest is 1.1 I believe. This video was created with .92.4 I believe.. one big difference that may be experiencing is in 1.0 and newer, when you convert a stroke to a path, it also leaves the original path (possibly the 3 lines you speak of...) And also leaves them grouped . So you would need to ungroup and potentially delete the original path (would be the center line). Hope this helps.
The image capture issue may be an operating system issue? Perhaps another program uses that shortcut combination and is acting on it before inkscape does..
@@MakerMinded I really appreciate the reply, I got it fixed by deleting all the nodes on the center ring. After I did that the union function performed as expected. As for the short cuts, I'm at a loss. Seems that half or so don't work and do random functions. I've deleted and reinstalled the software, run it with nothing else open, etc... Oh well...
I really appreciate the response and advice!
@@pyroman590 The reason deleting the nodes on the center ring worked is because that would be the solid background ring as opposed to the stroke ring. When you union the solid background ring and the stroke ring you end up with a solid background ring that is the diameter of the stroke ring.
As for the keyboard shortcuts, I really don't think it is an inkscape issue, since the keyboard shortcuts I use are the generally the default inkscape shortcuts. What is one keyboard shortcut that is not working for you, and what does it do instead?
Mine isn’t letting me put text to path !!! What am I doing wrong
Hard to say without knowing the exact steps you are taking. Perhaps your text is already converted to a path?
What app is it