Hep me Inkscape for my decals

[Ben Lyman]

I'm trying to learn how to make my first pedal decal with Inkscape and ran into a problem.
I made a cool looking design and the measurements are all good, next I want to copy it about 5 or six times and arrange them all for printing on an 8.5"x11" clear decal paper.

The original design looks fine, it's a bunch of layers and I still haven't figured out how to lock them altogether for moving around but I'm not concerned with that yet.
The problem is when I select it, copy and paste it, the copies are all degraded.

It was a time consuming design but I could just start over and make it again and again and again... but isn't there a better way to copy and paste it without losing quality?

[thermionix]

Hep me, Lawd, hep me!


(Sorry)

[Ben Lyman]

ya, it was a typo and I saw it but decided to leave it 

[KarenColumbo]

*loading inkscape*

[stringsthings]

I've found that if you export to PDF, the results are sometimes more reliable.
Not sure what's causing that degradation.  Inkscape has a high learning curve, but it is free.
I've been using it for a couple of years now, and I still run into weird situations now and then.

[KarenColumbo]

Well i just tried it.

Made 3 Layers (in the same place). Drew something on each of them.

1- There is no "merge all" or "flatten" like in Photoshop. So you have to envoke the "Layers" window (in the "Layers" menu right at the bottom)
2- In the "Layers" window (upper right of the workplace) you select the LAST of the layers (in my case Layer 3).
3- Select the arrow tool and make a selection rectangle over the whole area.
4- Shift + PgUp
5- The content is transported (cut and pasted) into the next layer up (Layer 2)
6- Select Layer 2 in the Layers window.
7- Repeat steps 3, 4
8- You now have everything in Layer 1 (in my case)

Now you can create a new document, make it A4 or something

Select everything from the layer doc. Copy it (strg + c), select new doc and paste it (strg + v). You can move the copied content around now with your mouse.
Repeat this as often as possible.

Export as PDF or print as usual

[deadastronaut]

select your design, then object/group it.

then you can copy n paste it...



i use inkscape everytime i design a pedal,

i export to pdf using 300dpi rendering (the rendering tab will appear when exporting to pdf)
..comes out sharp.
as it has to be when etching..

[KarenColumbo]

Ah - overlooked the grouping function Well, 10 minutes in and the first mistake already

[Ben Lyman]

Awesome, thanks everyone! I'll give it a go later today and see if I can figure it out 

[Ben Lyman]

KarenColumbo and DA-
both your ways work for locking the layers together but copy and paste still doesn't look good.
What am I doing wrong?

left is original (locked 3 layers) right is copy

[Passaloutre]

Hmmm... I can't reproduce the problem you're having. I use inkscape a lot.

Here I made the box, rounded it, added the text, selected both items (no layer locking or grouping necessary, both items are in the same layer), CRTL+C, CTRL+V, export as png.



Can you describe your order of operations?

[Ben Lyman]

Thanks Passaloutre. btw, I am on a MAC and using XQuartz to make it work on my computer.
Here's what I do:

1) Make design
2) click selection arrow at top of left column
3) select design
4) go to "edit" at the top left (toolbar?)
5) choose copy
6) choose paste

[Passaloutre]

And how did you export the image above?

I know nothing about OSX or XQuartz, but I cannot reproduce your problem using Inkscape in Linux or Windows.

Could you elaborate a bit more on your Step 1? What tools/options are you using to make your design?

[Ben Lyman]

OK, so step one. I use the various buttons on my left column, i.e.: make a square, make a polygon, make a text box, etc.
then I drag them around, resize, etc.

then I have one pedal decal all designed.
I have an 8.5"x11" paper to print on.
I can fit 6 decals on that paper.
I copy the design and paste it 5 times.
arrange the designs so they fit the paper.
then I print, no exporting or anything else.
Every step is done in inkscape

The problem is not because I am not exporting.
The problem is with the very first copy/paste.
the degradation is clear to see immediately when doing this step.
Thanks!

[Ben Lyman]

WHOAA!!! I just found the "duplicate" option on the 'EDIT' drop down, seems to be the way.

edit:
Ya, working great. Thanks everyone, I will probably revive this thread soon with more questions

[bloxstompboxes]

WHOAA!!! I just found the "duplicate" option on the 'EDIT' drop down, seems to be the way.

And now, so too, have I. At least, when I get home on my personal pc, I will.

[stringsthings]

Good find on that "duplicate"!  I'll have to use this in the future.

[Ben Lyman]

Ya, it duplicates it right on top of the original.
I select the item, hit duplicate (Cntrl+D) 5 times in a row, then click & drag, click & drag, click & drag, etc...

[Passaloutre]

Here's a useful article describing the differences between Duplicate, Copy/Paste, and Clone on Inkscape: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/quick-tip-duplicate-clone-or-copy-and-paste--cms-19969

Glad you figured it out!

[Ben Lyman]

Thanks Passaloutre! That explains a little bit to me but I'm not much of a computer guy.
It says something about copy/paste changing gradient, so maybe that's what was happening to me.
Now I also see the difference between duplicate and clone, this could be very useful.