There are many ways to create flowing lines with Inkscape. Actually, to my eye, the lines in that chicken drawing aren't exactly flowing. They seem more....sketch-like, short, more straight than curvy. And the Inkscape tools that you would use for that might be different than what I think of "flowing". So for now, I'll just give you the basics. And you can clarify as needed, and as you learn.
Originally in Inkscape, the Calligraphy tool would be used to make variable width lines (thicker or thinner in various places, rather than the same width everywhere). But in recent years, we have some awesome new tools (mostly thanks to jabiertxof's LPE tools). Although of course the Calligraphy tool is still available. http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Calligraphy
In Spiro Spline mode, you can make fancy swirls and curves. I don't actually know what the B-Spline mode does - some special kind of curve, I guess.
In any mode, you can add a Shape option (see the control bar, which is the first bar of buttons above the horizontal ruler). If you use the Triangle In or Out shape, it automatically adds the Powerstroke LPE to the path. This allows you to adjust the width of the triangle shape. I'm not sure how much of this is covered in the manual. It seems to have been selectively updated, and I haven't had a chance to read whether these features are covered or not.
If you use the Ellipse shape in the Pen tool, it automatically applies the Pattern Along Path LPE. Similarly, it allows you to adjust the width of the shape profile. It is different from the Powerstroke LPE, but has a very similar effect as far as adjusting the variable width. Or you can create your own shape profile for the path, copy it, and use the From Clipboard option in the Shape dropdown menu. I assume that automatically engages Pattern Along Path, but I have not tried it.
The Pencil tool (also called the Freehand tool) has the same options on the control bar, for mode and shape/profile options. But it is essentially made for drawing freehand - i.e. making curved lines by hand. Note that the default options result in jerky lines, but after you tweak the control bar settings as needed, they can be much smoother. It makes fixed width lines unless you add a shape option as described already. Briefly, press the mouse button and drag the mouse, to make a freehand line.
Also, it's possible to sketch directly into Inkscape using a graphics tablet and pen, so that it's like real sketching with a pencil (rather than mouse). But you'd have to research about purchasing the graphics tablet.
Edit
There are some tutorials on this website, about making flowy, flowery type of lines. They are somewhat outdated (before the new variable width tools), but the tutorials are still valid. They are more what I think of a flowing lines, compared to the chicken. So maybe not exactly what you want. But just in case. http://verysimpledesigns.com/
Brynn, pretty much said it all. Using triangle in or out, as Brynn said, automatically does thinning, but I don't always want the thinning to start where it puts it, so that tends to drive me nutty. The other option would be to convert the stroke to a path once drawn, then you are able to manually adjust the nodes and create various widths, it works, but is labor intensive. There's no way to adjust the width of a stroke as you are drawing, if that's what you mean, except possibly using a graphic tablet, (I have no knoweldge of tablets). No idea if AI or other pgms have varying widths, it would be awesome if that were an option down the road.
I'm not sure what you mean by "more naturally". If you mean like hand sketching, as I mentioned, there's a small piece of hardware called a graphics tablet (in general) which allows you to sketch using a special pen, directly into Inkscape. I don't think it "breaks the bank" to purchase one, but I've never really looked into it.
If you mean like some techniques or tools that you've used in another program, I can't help. I'm an Inkscape gal, and haven't used other programs.
But maybe if you could explain with a little more detail, we could get an idea what you're looking for?
Or maybe watch some videos, you can see how other people draw with Inkscape?
The way i fake it is by using the eclipse tool then changing the lines into the kind of objects you can you can move the nodes and handlebars arounD. Im still looking for a tool or way you could just draw with your mouse and the lines will come out blobby, cornery and, random like the outlines of the chicken with little to no editing the nodes around. If anyone has the experience with that please share otherwise thank you for trying to help me😊🤟
Beginners' Questions How can i make flowing lines like this image
Inkscape.org
I want to make outlines lines more flowing like the black outlines of this chicken
my best try is the eclipse outline tool
There are many ways to create flowing lines with Inkscape. Actually, to my eye, the lines in that chicken drawing aren't exactly flowing. They seem more....sketch-like, short, more straight than curvy. And the Inkscape tools that you would use for that might be different than what I think of "flowing". So for now, I'll just give you the basics. And you can clarify as needed, and as you learn.
Originally in Inkscape, the Calligraphy tool would be used to make variable width lines (thicker or thinner in various places, rather than the same width everywhere). But in recent years, we have some awesome new tools (mostly thanks to jabiertxof's LPE tools). Although of course the Calligraphy tool is still available. http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Calligraphy
The Pen/Bezier tool, in Regular Bezier mode, makes flowing lines with fixed width. http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Bezier
In Spiro Spline mode, you can make fancy swirls and curves. I don't actually know what the B-Spline mode does - some special kind of curve, I guess.
In any mode, you can add a Shape option (see the control bar, which is the first bar of buttons above the horizontal ruler). If you use the Triangle In or Out shape, it automatically adds the Powerstroke LPE to the path. This allows you to adjust the width of the triangle shape. I'm not sure how much of this is covered in the manual. It seems to have been selectively updated, and I haven't had a chance to read whether these features are covered or not.
If you use the Ellipse shape in the Pen tool, it automatically applies the Pattern Along Path LPE. Similarly, it allows you to adjust the width of the shape profile. It is different from the Powerstroke LPE, but has a very similar effect as far as adjusting the variable width. Or you can create your own shape profile for the path, copy it, and use the From Clipboard option in the Shape dropdown menu. I assume that automatically engages Pattern Along Path, but I have not tried it.
The Pencil tool (also called the Freehand tool) has the same options on the control bar, for mode and shape/profile options. But it is essentially made for drawing freehand - i.e. making curved lines by hand. Note that the default options result in jerky lines, but after you tweak the control bar settings as needed, they can be much smoother. It makes fixed width lines unless you add a shape option as described already. Briefly, press the mouse button and drag the mouse, to make a freehand line.
I think the Pencil tool has some kind of features for making sketch-like lines, but you'd have to read up in the manual about it. I've never used those features. http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Pencil
Also, it's possible to sketch directly into Inkscape using a graphics tablet and pen, so that it's like real sketching with a pencil (rather than mouse). But you'd have to research about purchasing the graphics tablet.
Edit
There are some tutorials on this website, about making flowy, flowery type of lines. They are somewhat outdated (before the new variable width tools), but the tutorials are still valid. They are more what I think of a flowing lines, compared to the chicken. So maybe not exactly what you want. But just in case. http://verysimpledesigns.com/
Thank you Im familiar with these tools I appreciate all your help but I still cant find what im looking for to make that style of lines more naturaly
Brynn, pretty much said it all. Using triangle in or out, as Brynn said, automatically does thinning, but I don't always want the thinning to start where it puts it, so that tends to drive me nutty. The other option would be to convert the stroke to a path once drawn, then you are able to manually adjust the nodes and create various widths, it works, but is labor intensive. There's no way to adjust the width of a stroke as you are drawing, if that's what you mean, except possibly using a graphic tablet, (I have no knoweldge of tablets). No idea if AI or other pgms have varying widths, it would be awesome if that were an option down the road.
I'm not sure what you mean by "more naturally". If you mean like hand sketching, as I mentioned, there's a small piece of hardware called a graphics tablet (in general) which allows you to sketch using a special pen, directly into Inkscape. I don't think it "breaks the bank" to purchase one, but I've never really looked into it.
If you mean like some techniques or tools that you've used in another program, I can't help. I'm an Inkscape gal, and haven't used other programs.
But maybe if you could explain with a little more detail, we could get an idea what you're looking for?
Or maybe watch some videos, you can see how other people draw with Inkscape?
The way i fake it is by using the eclipse tool then changing the lines into the kind of objects you can you can move the nodes and handlebars arounD. Im still looking for a tool or way you could just draw with your mouse and the lines will come out blobby, cornery and, random like the outlines of the chicken with little to no editing the nodes around. If anyone has the experience with that please share otherwise thank you for trying to help me😊🤟
The Calligraphy tool can probably be configured to draw like that. Or the aforementioned graphics tablet (which uses Calligraphy tool, usually).
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Creating.html#Paths-Calligraphy