Inkscape.org
Beginners' Questions Having problems with setting node types + shortcut keys
  1. #1
    Angel Angel @Imbrium

    Okay, so I'm an Inkscape noob. I'm having some trouble with nodes and paths. As well as their associated shortcut keys. What I want to do essentially is ink drawings with vector lines.

    I've figured out how to get just lines (paths) with no fill, even how to set it to no fill automatically. However, the issue I'm having is with the shortcut keys. There doesn't seem to be a shortcut for Auto-Smooth node mode, or any of the other node modes: Inkscape keyboard and mouse reference. Or, if there are, I can't find them. I currently have to manually select each node, go up to the top of the window and select the correct node mode. With detailed images, that's a massive pain the the butt and a time-waster.

    I'm running the latest? version of Inkscape since I just downloaded it today. It's pretty much the same on both my Mac and PC. Surely there's a shortcut for auto-smooth or the other node modes, right? (The options seen in my screenshot)

    What I would really, truly and dearly love, is a way to switch node modes while drawing. Not after. Doing it after takes ages. Or even set it to be auto-smooth on default. I'm using the Pen tool, because I really can't free-hand to ink well with any kind of precision.

    Any help would be very much appreciated.

    One more thing of note: the current design of the layer opacity is extremely un-intuitive. It took me 10 minutes to figure it out, even with google searches since it kept leading me to guides for older versions. I only figured it out after finding a post of someone else complaining of the same thing. A tiny little rectangle at the bottom of the window labeled "O:[100][-][+]", with no slider and no indication of which layer's opacity it's adjusting isn't at all obvious. Something at the bottom of the layers window would be a lot easier to understand. Or even an option for a slider right next to the eye and lock icons. Not trying to be snippy, but it seriously made me want to eat my tablet in frustration since there's also no option for it in the Layer menu. Pretty important feature when inking!

    Screenshot 2022 09 25 225450
  2. #2
    Tyler Durden Tyler Durden @TylerDurdenβš–
    *

    The devs are working on putting the opacity/blur controls back at the bottom of the Layers & Objects dialog as an option. Could be a while tho. 

    Also:

     

    Deleted obsolete info

    More here:

     

    http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Bezier

  3. #3
    Angel Angel @Imbrium

    Doesn't work. I've tried doing those shortcuts, and they don't do what I need.

    The Shift+S option brings up the smoothing handles, and switches it back to the default mode. That's not what I'm looking for.

    Shift+C cycles it through having smoothing handles and not having them.

    I guess if I ctrl + click on the node enough times (three times), it changes from the diamond to the circle (auto-smoothing). Slightly better, but not by a lot.

    Again, same on Mac and PC.

  4. #4
    Tyler Durden Tyler Durden @TylerDurdenβš–

    The spiro-mode is much like auto smooth and allows for creating cusp nodes on the fly, by holding the shift key... not sure if that is helpful.

     

  5. #5
    Tyler Durden Tyler Durden @TylerDurdenβš–
    *

    In node editing mode, Shift-A on a node does not convert node to auto-smooth?

  6. #6
    Angel Angel @Imbrium

    Sorry, I had an emergency yesterday.

    Spiro mode is great if you want to make circles, semi-circles or ellipses, but lesser curves, not so much. Unless you make a million nodes, it just wants to make semi-circles. But a function like that where you can press shift mid-way through drawing is exactly what I'd love to see with the regular Bezier Paths.

    Shift+A converts the diamond to a square... and that's smooth mode. But it's not auto-smooth. That's represented with a circle. Auto-smooth creates much smoother curves than just smooth mode does. (Sorry, I got that part wrong the other day, I blame my brain fog for missing that bit.)

  7. #7
    Tyler Durden Tyler Durden @TylerDurdenβš–

    Sorry to hear you got in a jam.

    Shift+A on an existing node here makes an auto-smooth node, Shift+S makes smooth. 

     

    System and version info? Installer used (msi, dmg, exe, etc)?

  8. #8
    Angel Angel @Imbrium

    Mac OS is 11.6.8 (Big Sur), Inkscape version 1.2.1, .dmg.

    Windows OS is Windows 10 Home, 21H2, Inkscape version 1.2.1, .exe

    Yes, I know, they're both older computers and older OSes.

    What you're doing there, I absolutely can't do. All I get are straight lines. Pressing Shift during drawing does nothing. Which version are you using?

  9. #9
    Tyler Durden Tyler Durden @TylerDurdenβš–

    Inkscape 1.2.1 (9c6d41e410, 2022-07-14) under Win 8.1. XD

    Something similar under Linux mint 20.3

    Seems odd.

    I'm dragging at each point to make the smooth nodes, then holding shift and dragging to create the cusp nodes on the fly.

    The one OS I don't have for testing is Mac, of course.

  10. #10
    Angel Angel @Imbrium

    Feeling less brain-fart-y today, I'm better able to absorb what you're saying here.

    Okay, so, dragging the tool while clicking makes smooth nodes (square node shape). Holy cow, that is not the least bit intuitive at all. And not fantastic if I'm doing very careful work (but better than nothing). Then if I press Shift+A, it will give me Auto-Smooth nodes (circle node shape). But Shift+A won't function if I don't drag while clicking to place the nodes. I... what? Huh? πŸ€―

    Why should it make a difference in how the node is created as to whether or not the Shift+A works? I feel the developers still have some work to do on these features. And something like 75% opacity on the nodes and handles would be nice so I can better see what I'm doing while editing nodes.

    But THANK YOU for helping me to figure this out. I very much appreciate it. This will make my inking much faster.

  11. #11
    Tyler Durden Tyler Durden @TylerDurdenβš–

    It takes some getting used to...  I always need to practice dragging the opposite way before holding shift when I want two Bezier handles at the node.

     

    Imbrium

    something like 75% opacity on the nodes and handles would be nice so I can better see what I'm doing while editing nodes.

    Seems like a fine idea. Feel free to request it as a new feature. https://inkscape.org/forums/beyond/how-to-report-bugs-or-request-new-features/

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