Hi, I'm looking for a tip to simplify the number of nodes in an image (see attached file). The difficulty for me is that the border between the two countries is the same. When I use the simplification of the Inkscape program, the nodes between France and Spain are not the same.
Hi There, What I often do, is use the node tool (F2). Then I select some nodes by dragging around them and just hit Delete. I do that several times on a path where there are too many nodes. That is for me the fastest way to simplify a path.
So, in your case, select both countries (F1) and then switch to the node tool (F2) . You can select and delete nodes, on both countries at the same time. Then the borders will stay identical.
I am sure many more helpful tips 💡 will be added today in this topic. Good luck with it!
Hi Kirstie, Thank you very much for your answer. So I simplified the border with your method, it works very well. Then I selected all the nodes other than the border and I did Path - Simplify. The simplification has also simplified my border and all my nodes are shifted. The simplification works very well with Inkscape except in my case with the border.
I would break the common border away from each region, then simplify each piece. It's a bit fiddly... I'd delete one of the countries' common borders, then duplicate the common border of the other after simplification to make a perfect match. Then combine the paths for each country.
The simplify path function is unpredictable. I don't use it when the results must be exact. So I would only use a manual method, like deleting nodes. I am glad that my method worked on the borders. :-)
@Tyler: I always like to watch your little movies!
I've seen reports that with some operating systems, you can select a subset of nodes in a path, and Simplify works only on that subset. But in Windows, I've never been able to do that. It only works for me on the whole path.
That's really great, you gave me some good advice. So for the border I use Kirstie's method, I simplified it manually and for the rest I use Tyler Durden's method (Menu - Path - Simplify). Thanks for the little video. Now I have a lot of work to do because I have to do it for all the countries in the world 😥 but if there is only this solution I will do it.
Maybe someone could give me a link to have an image (SVG) of the world map with only the borders of countries in high resolution and small size (very few nodes), it would avoid me to make all these simplifications.
Wikimedia Commons has tons of maps in SVG files. From what I've seen, most or all of them have the same problem with too many nodes. But it certainly can't hurt to search, and have a look at them. (Because I surely have not seen them all!)
As it displayed the Netherlands, ánd Belgium, ánd Luxembourg, it feels quite detailed. :-) But the borders are not very detailed and have holes between them.
I need exactly five SVG files (5 continents), I have worked for the moment on the African continent but now I am looking for a solution to simplify it the number of nodes. I think I'll take your advices. It's going to take time, but I'll do it. 😵
I am really happy with this forum. I am French and I used a translator. I am often angry because people often make wrong answers because they don't understand the problem. Here on this forum you understood my problem and you tried to find a good solution for me.
Beginners' Questions Simplify the nodes
Inkscape.org
Hi,
I'm looking for a tip to simplify the number of nodes in an image (see attached file). The difficulty for me is that the border between the two countries is the same. When I use the simplification of the Inkscape program, the nodes between France and Spain are not the same.
Thank you for your help
Hi There,
What I often do, is use the node tool (F2). Then I select some nodes by dragging around them and just hit Delete.
I do that several times on a path where there are too many nodes.
That is for me the fastest way to simplify a path.
So, in your case, select both countries (F1) and then switch to the node tool (F2) .
You can select and delete nodes, on both countries at the same time.
Then the borders will stay identical.
I am sure many more helpful tips 💡 will be added today in this topic. Good luck with it!
Hi Kirstie,
Thank you very much for your answer. So I simplified the border with your method, it works very well. Then I selected all the nodes other than the border and I did Path - Simplify. The simplification has also simplified my border and all my nodes are shifted. The simplification works very well with Inkscape except in my case with the border.
I would break the common border away from each region, then simplify each piece. It's a bit fiddly... I'd delete one of the countries' common borders, then duplicate the common border of the other after simplification to make a perfect match. Then combine the paths for each country.
Here's how to break the paths apart:
Hi I.mnu,
The simplify path function is unpredictable. I don't use it when the results must be exact.
So I would only use a manual method, like deleting nodes.
I am glad that my method worked on the borders. :-)
@Tyler: I always like to watch your little movies!
I've seen reports that with some operating systems, you can select a subset of nodes in a path, and Simplify works only on that subset. But in Windows, I've never been able to do that. It only works for me on the whole path.
That's really great, you gave me some good advice. So for the border I use Kirstie's method, I simplified it manually and for the rest I use Tyler Durden's method (Menu - Path - Simplify). Thanks for the little video.
Now I have a lot of work to do because I have to do it for all the countries in the world 😥 but if there is only this solution I will do it.
Maybe someone could give me a link to have an image (SVG) of the world map with only the borders of countries in high resolution and small size (very few nodes), it would avoid me to make all these simplifications.
Thank you again very much for your help.
Wikimedia Commons has tons of maps in SVG files. From what I've seen, most or all of them have the same problem with too many nodes. But it certainly can't hurt to search, and have a look at them. (Because I surely have not seen them all!)
Yes, I spent a lot of time on this site ( Wikimedia Commons ), there are a lot of choices but with a lot of nodes
Hi l.mnu,
The question is: how simple do you want it to be?
Because it looks like these two things are in contradiction:
simple, but with accurate borders.
You could try this website. You have to scroll a bit before the open clipart is displayed.
https://publicdomainvectors.org
I've found this example: https://publicdomainvectors.org/en/free-clipart/DVD-regions-map-vector-image/17281.html
As it displayed the Netherlands, ánd Belgium, ánd Luxembourg, it feels quite detailed. :-)
But the borders are not very detailed and have holes between them.
Hi Kirstie,
I need exactly five SVG files (5 continents), I have worked for the moment on the African continent but now I am looking for a solution to simplify it the number of nodes. I think I'll take your advices. It's going to take time, but I'll do it. 😵
Ah well, good luck with it l.mnu! Sometimes it is just hard work to get fine results.
🌍
I am really happy with this forum. I am French and I used a translator. I am often angry because people often make wrong answers because they don't understand the problem. Here on this forum you understood my problem and you tried to find a good solution for me.
Thank you very much for your help.
See you soon
For information and those who don't know, there is a site to reduce SVG:
https://jakearchibald.github.io/svgomg/