Inkscape

How do you vary path width / taper a path?

Asked by Shaved Wookie

Hi there,

Thank you all for creating such a fabulous free vector image program that is so easy to learn! I'm really enjoying getting the hang of it for the work I'm doing on Secret Maryo Chronicles (the GPL'd Mario Bros style game at secretmaryo.org). I am currently using 0.46+pre1.

What I'm wondering about, is how to vary line width along a path. I kind of expected something like "Right click path node -> Node width", or at least toggle the node between the full line width and 0 (which could be used for tapering).

Using the caligraphy tool, removes the minimal node, easy editability of a path as does "Stroke to path". On a long curvy path using either takes away the ease of changing the whole shape with just one or two nodes/handles instead needing me to manually move many nodes and handles while trying to recreate the correct line width by sight / hand.

The issue isn't just the number of nodes, but that it's no longer a path and thus easy to edit later.

Can anyone tell me where the option is to change the width of a path's node? Or am I missing something obvious?

Many thanks

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prkos
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Best prkos (prkos) said : 		#1

Inkscape doesn't yet have that feature, heres the reported request: bug 172158

I think you can accomplish what you want in 0.46 if you combine Calligraphy and Tweak tools.

Calligraphy tool is quite powerful, you can control line width with it (try reading here https://answers.launchpad.net/inkscape/+question/23068), you can even use left/right arrows while drawing to make the line thicker/thiner, try it with settings from the link, its very kewl :D

If you don't succeed with Calligraphy tool you can use Tweak to make the paths thinner/thicker with Shrink/Grow options. Its works very fast, no tedious node tweaking!

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Shaved Wookie (shavedwookie) said : 		#2

This was a useful answer that I'm very greatful for. Really what's needed to *solve* my problem is the implementation of the feature in bug 172158 (at least the width part of it). Still I'm marking this solved as someone's tried to help me and made me aware that this is just a current limitation of Inkscape.

Thanks Prkos for answering!

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Shaved Wookie (shavedwookie) said : 		#3

Thanks prkos, that solved my question.