I want to to compound an object out of several paths. For a smooth transition on the edges, it would be helpful to have the information of the angle at the beginning/end of
the path, so I can already rotate the other path to connect for a best match. I have checked if I can find something in the xml files or if there are any settings that can display additional
node info aside x/y position.
So I would be thankful for any tips on that question (hope I described it understandable)
If there are other suggestions on how to best prepare single paths to connect with others, would be helpful. In my case the highest priority is "smoothness" of the object,
so I already had a lock at the spiro path, that provides that smoothness.
Thanks in advance
Thanks a lot this is a very useful approach. I was not aware of tangentially snap, which is really helpful. I will check it out this evening.
Aside from that, I think it would be a very helpful feature, if inkscape would provide node endpoint information eg in form of eg a vector, that
shows direction and angle (additional to the position coordinates). Also this would not help to smooth curves on compound paths - it would be a helpful step in the right direction.
Thanks a lot again for your help - this was very useful.
I´m not sure if this "info" is needed nor anywhere else available - as long as you allow to snap your end-points to end-points Inkscape will maintain the angles while joining the segments. While in Tyler´s video the guide tries to snap to the angle of the invisible handle direction it´s not as precise as it looks: could be a rounding error in calculation.
There don´t seem to be a setting to let nodes snap to handles.
The OP is interested in using the node data for moving/rotating the entire path to align co-linear/tangental, without changing the shape of the path(s).
As we see in the image, not all endnodes have curve data, even if the segment is curved.
Ah I see, I can snap the rotation point to the corner node, and rotate at the common node, but Inkscape will not snap at the other corner node when rotating.
As I seen in alpha preview, Inkscape 1.2 inaugurates tangential path snapping oh yeah !). But it does the opposite you try here : if there's already a point defined, it will snap the second point so it will trace a line that tangentially intersect an existing path. Maybe the case described above is a good candidate for a feature request ?
Beyond the Basics node angle / smooth path connect
Inkscape.org
This is not trivial, as sometimes the endpoint node might not have curve data (cusp/corner node).
Maybe adding a tangential segment at the end of each path will provide an alignment feature that can be removed after orienting paths.
The precision of tangential snapping to an end-node is improved by zooming in closely before snapping to the end-node.
See attached video.
Thanks a lot this is a very useful approach. I was not aware of tangentially snap, which is really helpful. I will check it out this evening.
Aside from that, I think it would be a very helpful feature, if inkscape would provide node endpoint information eg in form of eg a vector, that
shows direction and angle (additional to the position coordinates). Also this would not help to smooth curves on compound paths - it would be a helpful step in the right direction.
Thanks a lot again for your help - this was very useful.
I´m not sure if this "info" is needed nor anywhere else available - as long as you allow to snap your end-points to end-points Inkscape will maintain the angles while joining the segments. While in Tyler´s video the guide tries to snap to the angle of the invisible handle direction it´s not as precise as it looks: could be a rounding error in calculation.
There don´t seem to be a setting to let nodes snap to handles.
Not so much a rounding error as the snap grabbing the guide at a point in the arc before reaching the endpoint.
CAD is designed/optimized for these operations, and free versions are abundant... maybe bounce between CAD and Inkscape to create the design.
Here's my proposal.
Even simpler: Draw a guide through the common node. Rotate it to the desired angle. Drag both the red and green node handles to the guide.
The OP is interested in using the node data for moving/rotating the entire path to align co-linear/tangental, without changing the shape of the path(s).
As we see in the image, not all endnodes have curve data, even if the segment is curved.
Rotate and align the pink path from this:
To this:
That makes it easier.
But what if the original paths must be retained, e.g. for CNC/Laser?
I moved, rotated and aligned the red path tangentially to the green, creating a continuous smooth curve from the original shapes.
Ah I see, I can snap the rotation point to the corner node, and rotate at the common node, but Inkscape will not snap at the other corner node when rotating.
As I seen in alpha preview, Inkscape 1.2 inaugurates tangential path snapping oh yeah !). But it does the opposite you try here : if there's already a point defined, it will snap the second point so it will trace a line that tangentially intersect an existing path. Maybe the case described above is a good candidate for a feature request ?
I changed the second step in #9 above. Creating guides makes rotational snapping easier.
Excellent solution.
👍