Inkscape for Origami Diagrammers: Tips and Tricks Inkscape is a free program, and can be downloaded from www.inkscape.org www.inkscape.org.. I am currently using Inkscape version 0.46 on Mac OS 10.5; however, however, I've also used Inkscape on Windows XP with no problems. I recommend that you read the inkscape tutorials, which can be found in the help menu; they cover the basics of vector-drawing programs, and also cover most of the common features of inkscape itself. The tools and methods I'm presenting are mostly advanced functions and time-saving processes time-saving processes that I've found to be useful when drawing diagrams, and so I'll assume that you can perform basic functions. The most frequent problem I've seen is that new users expect inkscape to work like Photoshop, MS Paint, or other drawing programs. Inkscape is a completely different thing; instead of editing pixels, you're editing nodes. This means that there's no eraser; to delete an object, you select it and press the delete key. These objects are layered, so visualize each step as a stack of polygons instead of as a set of lines and shading, as you would draw it by hand. Every polygon or line you draw (Inkscape refers to these as "paths") is editable and customizable, so it's a completely different mindset than most people are used to. Here's a short list of tricks I use: 1. Make sure sure the model really really works works well well before before you diagram diagram it! Two or three three times I've gotten halfway thorough drawing, then realized that I had no way to explain part of the folding sequence, and had to go back and redraw a page or more.
2. Learn to use the "Fill and Stroke" dialog (under the object menu). There are so many options there for the origami diagrammer. In particular, dotted and dashed lines are created automatically (look under the "stroke" tab) 3. Most origami models are symmetrical. Use the Flip functions to take advantage of this, so you don't have to draw the same thing twice! H flips the selected object horizontally, and V flips vertically. 4. Again, to keep from having to redraw the same thing, use the rotate function a lot! Once you've selected an object, click on it again to rotate it. 5. Use gradients during three-dimensional steps, even if the paper surface doesn't curve very much. Gradients are located in the "Fill and Stroke" dialog, under the "Object" menu. They're very easy to use, and they make diagrams look a whole lot better! 6. While you're drawing your first few diagrams, copy objects that you use often (arrows, repeat symbols, etc) into a separate document, so you can reuse them easily, and keep a consistent diagramming style. 7. Before you draw each step, take a moment to figure out the easiest way to do it. For example, often times I can draw a step just by modifying an earlier step in the diagrams. 8. When drawing a three-dimensional step, take a photo of the model and import it (under the "File" menu). Then trace over the photo to get more realistic perspective, and delete the photo when you're done. 9. Make sure to work on each step at a variety of zoom levels; first concentrate on the overall shape of the step, then zoom in to fine-tune the nodes and make sure that everything lines up properly. 10. Resize the diagram when the model gets smaller. Everyone is annoyed when you start out with a giant first couple of steps, and end up too small to see properly by step 30. --Andrew Hudson Also Andrew has posted a short video showing a quick bit of diagramming in Inkscape.
Challenge Please keep those pentagon challenge submissions coming! We are looking forward to judging your entries!
Photo of the Week
This week’s featured photo comes from Jang Yong Ik . His Samurai Helmet Beetle is the most detailed I’ve ever seen, and it is very well folded. But I have chosen this photo purely for photography. It’s a close-up on the head of the beetle, like a portrait. The rest is all background, and out-of-focus. Honorable Mention: 飛竜 for his rendition of Quentin Trollip’s Wolf. I
really like how he simply captured the familiar scene of a wolf howling at the moon. The light paper for the wolf and dark paper for the background provide a nice contrast, illuminating the wolf. Great fold too. --Jared
Puzzles A few more color-change puzzles. Can you figure out how to do them seamlessly too?
Flickr Group We have a Flickr group set up for you to submit any of your Origami Weekly related folds, including puzzles and challenge entries. http://www.flickr.com/ groups/origamiweekly
Contact Feel free to contact us about any Origami Weekly stuff at
[email protected]
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