Perhaps this is already known when using the Calligraphy Tool. I did not know about this until a few hours ago while playing with the Calligraphy Tool.

When using this tool ... if you have the fill set ... no matter what preset is selected, AND press the Alt key while using it ... it acts as an ERASER (Remover) to the prior drawn object.

And not only when when laying down stroke after stroke while having the Calligraphy Tool active.

But also, if previously you drew a curved line with The Pencil Tool. Or, a rectangle, ellipse, a spiral, or a shape formed by using the Create Stars and Polgons tool.

See the animated gif files below.

When using a NON Calligraphy Tool - such as a curvy line, ellipse, spiral star/polygon - the steps are:

1 - Create the object. Do not turn it into a path.

2 - While that object is still selected, immediately click on the Calligraphy Tool (by pressing Shift and F6, or the letter C).

3 - Holding down the Alt key, start drawing while using the Calligraphy Tool, and then release the Alt key. The object you laid down on top of your first object will "slice away" (remove, erase) areas that overlap.

The result may seem a little wonky because of using the Calligraphy Tool. But it also may  lead to some interesting and useful outcome shapes.

(It is nice to know more goodies await under Inkscape's hood that we did not know about previously.)

Check out the animated gif files and happy creating.

This series of steps also works with text objects (not converted to a path). The Calligraphy Tool (with the Alt key used) will remove/erase/slice away on the underling text object.

I am using Windows 10, and tested this on Inkscape versions 0.92.4, 1.12, and 1.20. This "method" as spelled out above, works the same on each Inkscape version.

This is a very interesting finding! I'll add it to the guide i'm working on:

https://juliomtneto.gitbook.io/o-manual-do-inkscape-pt-br/ferramentas/borracha (google translate does a pretty good job)

The eraser tool does a good job but it's limited to a simple circle shape. Theres's also a hiden eraser functionality under the sprayer tool. It will only be useful if you have something like a wall of tiles as it only deletes entire objects.

I am happy you find it interesting, julioneto.

I like sharing what I find.

(Could you share more about the sprayer tool and the erasing you mentioned?)

For those who may be further interested ...

Since posting the above, I have further experimented. In the gif file, I only show a few examples of using this "method" with basic shapes (ellipse, rectangle, etc.). But it can also be applied to more complex sbapes, as long as they have  not been converted to paths. 

The same steps apply:

Go from clicking on the starter shape (the bottom one)

Then press C to get to the Calligraphy Tool.

Use the Alt key as you lay down the Calligraphy strokes.

Release.

And obviously, the many settings that are part of the Calligraphy Tool can be changed. Which results in different outputs once the "erasing" (removal) is done.

Ken, I just noticed this eraser functionality only works with sprayed objects! I think it would be also interesting to have the possibility to use this eraser functionality for regular objects, with further improvements.

Also, if you want a little charade, try to figure out what exactly this 'color selector' button is expected to do. It's the last under the pulverizer tool. 

Clicking upon it opens the tiles clone window, but it's not clear what it expects the user to do. Maybe it's just a bug or something under the hood necessary to create it's effect. Anyway, I described what the other buttons do, it's at the bottom of the page.

https://juliomtneto.gitbook.io/o-manual-do-inkscape-pt-br/ferramentas/pulverizador

Julioneto, thanks for sharing.

Your manual looks great and is very informative. I think many people will benefit in using it. Thanj you for putting this together.

Thanks @ken10001000  Fantastic. I didn't know about this. I used it in the last entry of the challenge to add some details 😋

Thank you, Marcos.

@ken10001000 O wow, thta might actually come in handy! Thanks for sharing.
Always fun to discover new things

FYI ... the above "erasing" (removal) process works also with clipped objects.