I've learnt to cut stuff (great!), BUT I'm obviously doing something wrong and/or I don't know the correct terminology to look for a solution within the controls of IS.
I have a complicated set of vector lines grouped together that make a graphic (all good). Now I want to cut out just a section of that whole group. I know that I have to make a separate 'path in the shape that I want the final cut out section to be', put it on top, then Cut, Yes, got that.
So... I am now left with a visible cut out section taken from the original grouped vector graphic. All fine, but here is what I don't understand. The original paths from my original grouped vector graphic are still there - sort of ghosted in the background and appear ever so often depending on when my cursor passes over them.
So in effect, I am correct to assume that the cut-out portion that I created isn't actually cut and separated from the original grouped-vector paths? The cut-out portion is more like simply just showing me the part of the paths that were selected in the 'cut', rather than actually now being totally separate from the original?
How can I make my chosen cut area to actually separate/cut those lines (so that I can deal with them separately)?
I´m not sure why you´re using "group" instead of proper welding/joining and "Path->Combine". Please check the Status Bar for tricks&hints on your selection regularly. Can you provide a more step by step instruction set? Or a screenshot or example file?
OK thank you, I think I have the inkscape terminology wrong, I mean CLIP not cut. Too many programs/different terms that are easily interchangeable if one does not have enough of the proper Inkscape-jargon-lingo 😂.
You asked why I am using 'group' instead of path-combine. This is why. My different separate vector lines/paths are 'grouped together', simply because I need to move them all together to another location to do some other work. Or more basically described as, they are grouped merely so that one path stays in the same place relative to another path. Any 'group' of my paths are themselves made up of various different paths that are combined if they need be. The individual paths, although they form an overall pattern, must still remain separate and importantly, be editable on their own later. Combining the different paths within a group does not fit my overall work flow. Hence overall I do not want them to be combined in any form.
All I want to do is take a section of the overall pattern (that is collectively made up of different grouped paths as described) and have that CLIPPED-out section be totally separated from the rest. I would like the paths that meet at the 'clipped-edge' to then be separated from all rest...then I want to be able to edit from those new edges. As it is at the moment, the clipped-out section looks fine, BUT the actual paths are still there connected in the 'background'.
So my question, should really be rewritten as ... can a real cut of the actual paths ever preformed with a clip? OR is there even a tool in IS that I can do that?
ATM, my current work-around is to zoom in to sub-millimeter level and try and cut the paths individually nearest the edge of the shape that I want to make the clipped out group become. This is tedious and not always accurate enough because I'm often wanting to work and match paths on angles later... mess.
More senior Unkscapers can answer deeper but i know you can make a clip of a clip, etc. - multiple clips in succession... if you wish. That way you do no destroy any work involved in the clip. You can also duplicate your starting work and on the duplicates experiment with different clipped areas. It is worth experimenting with ... to see what suits your needs.
Also, you can make a fill path(s) using the same background color to "hide" portions of your work. For example if your background color is white, create white paths that conceal what you do not want seen.
Beginners' Questions Cutting paths (again!)
Inkscape.org
I'm a newbie (still!)
I've learnt to cut stuff (great!), BUT I'm obviously doing something wrong and/or I don't know the correct terminology to look for a solution within the controls of IS.
I have a complicated set of vector lines grouped together that make a graphic (all good). Now I want to cut out just a section of that whole group. I know that I have to make a separate 'path in the shape that I want the final cut out section to be', put it on top, then Cut, Yes, got that.
So... I am now left with a visible cut out section taken from the original grouped vector graphic. All fine, but here is what I don't understand. The original paths from my original grouped vector graphic are still there - sort of ghosted in the background and appear ever so often depending on when my cursor passes over them.
So in effect, I am correct to assume that the cut-out portion that I created isn't actually cut and separated from the original grouped-vector paths? The cut-out portion is more like simply just showing me the part of the paths that were selected in the 'cut', rather than actually now being totally separate from the original?
How can I make my chosen cut area to actually separate/cut those lines (so that I can deal with them separately)?
....or have I missed a step somewhere...
Many thanks in advance if anyone can help me. B
I´m not sure why you´re using "group" instead of proper welding/joining and "Path->Combine". Please check the Status Bar for tricks&hints on your selection regularly. Can you provide a more step by step instruction set? Or a screenshot or example file?
OK thank you, I think I have the inkscape terminology wrong, I mean CLIP not cut. Too many programs/different terms that are easily interchangeable if one does not have enough of the proper Inkscape-jargon-lingo 😂.
You asked why I am using 'group' instead of path-combine. This is why. My different separate vector lines/paths are 'grouped together', simply because I need to move them all together to another location to do some other work. Or more basically described as, they are grouped merely so that one path stays in the same place relative to another path. Any 'group' of my paths are themselves made up of various different paths that are combined if they need be. The individual paths, although they form an overall pattern, must still remain separate and importantly, be editable on their own later. Combining the different paths within a group does not fit my overall work flow. Hence overall I do not want them to be combined in any form.
All I want to do is take a section of the overall pattern (that is collectively made up of different grouped paths as described) and have that CLIPPED-out section be totally separated from the rest. I would like the paths that meet at the 'clipped-edge' to then be separated from all rest...then I want to be able to edit from those new edges. As it is at the moment, the clipped-out section looks fine, BUT the actual paths are still there connected in the 'background'.
So my question, should really be rewritten as ... can a real cut of the actual paths ever preformed with a clip? OR is there even a tool in IS that I can do that?
ATM, my current work-around is to zoom in to sub-millimeter level and try and cut the paths individually nearest the edge of the shape that I want to make the clipped out group become. This is tedious and not always accurate enough because I'm often wanting to work and match paths on angles later... mess.
More senior Unkscapers can answer deeper but i know you can make a clip of a clip, etc. - multiple clips in succession... if you wish. That way you do no destroy any work involved in the clip. You can also duplicate your starting work and on the duplicates experiment with different clipped areas. It is worth experimenting with ... to see what suits your needs.
Also, you can make a fill path(s) using the same background color to "hide" portions of your work. For example if your background color is white, create white paths that conceal what you do not want seen.
@pdukm21941, the methods depend on what the nature of the paths is/are (open/closed, filled, stroked, etc).
If you can provide a simplified example as an Inkscape svg file, it will be easier to provide a solution.