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tutorials:inkscape_for_laser [2020/10/02 21:01] – Jeff Johnsontutorials:inkscape_for_laser [2021/01/23 14:53] (current) – Jeff Johnson
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 === Set Geometric Bounding Box === === Set Geometric Bounding Box ===
-This setting is pretty critical.  You will find that you want to change the height and width of your shapes with the inputs in the top bar.  However, this size will include the thickness of the line.  In the above example, changing the stroke size changes the size!  This is not what you want when you are working with exacting standards for laser cutting.{{ :tutorials:inkscape_stroke_issue.png?400|}}+This setting is pretty critical.  You will find that you want to change the height and width of your shapes with the inputs in the top bar.  However, this size will include the thickness of the line.  In the above example, changing the stroke size changes the size!  This is not what you want when you are working with exacting standards for laser cutting.  In the example below, note the W/H values.  From 10mm to 13.076.  This is NOT what you want.  Note, that the physical coordinates won't change, but if you are looking at those sizes to figure out how much to add, or use as a guide, your calculations can be off.  But there is a fix. 
 + 
 +{{ :tutorials:inkscape_stroke_issue.png?400|}} 
 + 
 +The simplest solution to this is to go to Edit>Preferences>Tools and set your bounding box to "Geometric bounding box".  This will let you change your stroke without seeing any changes in your sizes. 
 +{{ :tutorials:inkscape_geometric_bounding_box.png?400|}}
  
 === Quicker view changes shortcut (optional) === === Quicker view changes shortcut (optional) ===
 Jumping between "Normal" (pixels) and "Outline" (vector) can be painful when going through the menu, especially since you will find that when building SVG's for laser (or vinyl cutter and CNC) that you bounce between these two views quite frequently.  {{ :tutorials:inkscape_shortcut.png?400|}}.  Alternatively, you can use Control-5 to cycle through the 3 options of Normal, Outline, and Hairline.  If you do this shortcut as prescribed, you will lose the shortcut for "New" file, or "Open" a file, options which are fairly infrequent. Jumping between "Normal" (pixels) and "Outline" (vector) can be painful when going through the menu, especially since you will find that when building SVG's for laser (or vinyl cutter and CNC) that you bounce between these two views quite frequently.  {{ :tutorials:inkscape_shortcut.png?400|}}.  Alternatively, you can use Control-5 to cycle through the 3 options of Normal, Outline, and Hairline.  If you do this shortcut as prescribed, you will lose the shortcut for "New" file, or "Open" a file, options which are fairly infrequent.
 +
 +==== Recommended Extensions. ====
 +Extensions are user created contributions that give additional functionalities to Inkscape.  Here are the list that are highly recommended:
 +  * [[https://inkscape.org/~Neon22/%E2%98%85lasercut-tabbed-box|Tabbed Box Maker]] - To create laser cut box designs including dividers.
 +  * [[https://inkscape.org/~drphonon/%E2%98%85living-hinge-creator|Living Hinge]] - This allows you to make a rectangle with slits to allow it to bend.
 +  * [[https://github.com/BvdP/elliptical-box-maker/blob/master/README.md|Elliptical Box Maker]] - An extension that helps you create beautiful elliptical boxes.
 +===Extension Installation===
 +You can google the source files for these extensions and download them manually, or you can do the following to install all recommended extensions:
 +  - Download the Chattlab extension pack {{ :tutorials:extensionpack.zip|HERE}}.  Note, these extensions are for Inkscape version 1.0.
 +  - Locate your extension folder by going to Edit>Preferences -- System and find the User Extensions location.  You can see an example of this dialog [[https://wiki.chattlab.org/_detail/tutorials/inkscape_extension_location.png?id=tutorials%3Ainkscape_for_laser|HERE]].
 +  - Unzip the downloaded file, and put the files in the extensions folder.  Note, we have included a bat script in the zip file that should do this for you.  It's called ExtensionInstall.bat.
 +  - Restart inkscape.
 +
 +=== References ===
 +{{ :tutorials:cheat_sheet_inkscape.pdf |Inkscape Cheat Sheet}}