Paint Paths in Steps plug-in

racer-x · **Joined:** Apr 15, 2017 **Posts:** 1837

According to this page, it will be integrated in version 1.0 of InkScape. I downloaded the alpha 1.0 version in an appimage, but it doesn't have it.

https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-centerline-trace

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 1:20 pm **(#32)**

racer-x wrote:

According to this page, it will be integrated in version 1.0 of InkScape. I downloaded the alpha 1.0 version in an appimage, but it doesn't have it.

https://github.com/fablabnbg/inkscape-centerline-trace

The center-line tracing of a font can be done in Gimp.
Although it's only a tracing,
it works just fine for my needs.

Those "stick fonts" linked to by Nidhogg look promising.

rich2005 · **Joined:** Mar 04, 2011 **Posts:** 2606

Wallace wrote:

I know some of the basics of Inkscape.
Is this center-line trace extension pre-installed?

This is the first time hearing of the command line application AutoTrace.
Don't know what it is, or how to install it,
or what to do with it once it's installed.
:hehe

Nidhoggs stick fonts probably ideal for your requirement, However, somebody might be interested.

Hershey text comes installed in Inkscape. Find it in Extensions -> Render -> Hershey Text
---------
Centerline-trace
This is a very new issue of autotrace: https://github.com/autotrace/autotrace/releases That installs in its own folder but what you need for Inkscape centerline trace is just the autotrace.exe file. That goes in the main Inkscape folder.

You also need centerline-trace.inx and centerline-trace.py These go in the inkscape profile extensions folder
C:\Users\"yourname"\AppData\Roaming\inkscape\extensions

Those three files attached:

It shows in the Extensions menu -> Images -> Centerline Trace.

A very rough rundown: Import the png image, make sure it is active (click on it), choose the embed option. Run the above, choose replace.
---------
Any ubuntu 18 / mint 19 users out there who find that autotrace is gone from the repo, I have a autotrace static that is easy enough to install, just ask.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 2:01 pm **(#34)**

rich2005 wrote:

Nidhoggs stick fonts probably ideal for your requirement, However, somebody might be interested.

Hershey text comes installed in Inkscape. Find it in Extensions -> Render -> Hershey Text
---------
Centerline-trace
This is a very new issue of autotrace: https://github.com/autotrace/autotrace/releases That installs in its own folder but what you need for Inkscape centerline trace is just the autotrace.exe file. That goes in the main Inkscape folder.

You also need centerline-trace.inx and centerline-trace.py These go in the inkscape profile extensions folder
C:\Users\"yourname"\AppData\Roaming\inkscape\extensions

Those three files attached:

It shows in the Extensions menu -> Images -> Centerline Trace.

A very rough rundown: Import the png image, make sure it is active (click on it), choose the embed option. Run the above, choose replace.
---------
Any ubuntu 18 / mint 19 users out there who find that autotrace is gone from the repo, I have a autotrace static that is easy enough to install, just ask.

Thanks rich2005.
I'll give it a go.
Wish me luck.
:bigthup

Nidhogg · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 2:33 pm **(#35)**

@rich yeah I knew the hershey in Inkscape.
Can you please upload the *buntu 18 version and instructions?
I tried it in the past, was pain in the butt. When I got the GUI ultimately show up and tried to trace the pop-up window said it was incompatible version.

Here are more true single-line fonts for anyone interested.
Machine tool includes Handwriting and Script fonts.

Code: Select all

http://www.imajeenyus.com/computer/20150110_single_line_fonts/

racer-x · **Joined:** Apr 15, 2017 **Posts:** 1837

Single line fonts work well enough for me.

Attachment:

text2.gif [ 241.07 KiB | Viewed 3678 times ]

racer-x · **Joined:** Apr 15, 2017 **Posts:** 1837

You can do it with any font via the track mask method, but it's hard to get it clean because of the two stroke paths.

Attachment:

text.gif [ 127.78 KiB | Viewed 3668 times ]

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:15 pm **(#38)**

racer-x wrote:

You can do it with any font via the track mask method, but it's hard to get it clean because of the two stroke paths.

Attachment:

text.gif

What's the trick for adding the drop-shadow?

racer-x · **Joined:** Apr 15, 2017 **Posts:** 1837

It was done in a video editor. I used the exported black and white gif file as a track mask for the text. I then added the drop shadow.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:24 pm **(#40)**

racer-x wrote:

It was done in a video editor. I used the exported black and white gif file as a track mask for the text. I then added the drop shadow.

That's quite a trick.

Too bad this can't be done in Gimp.

racer-x · **Joined:** Apr 15, 2017 **Posts:** 1837

Pretty sure it could be done in gimp, but no idea how to code it. Probably just as easy to make a bunch of duplicate frames and start erasing one at a time in reverse.

The principal I used is the same as using a layer mask.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 7:35 pm **(#42)**

racer-x wrote:

Pretty sure it could be done in gimp, but no idea how to code it. Probably just as easy to make a bunch of duplicate frames and start erasing one at a time in reverse.

The principal I used is the same as using a layer mask.

Right.
It's amazing how simple this concept is,
but how difficult it can be to reproduce in Gimp.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:00 pm **(#43)**

It can be done in GIMP...
1) The current script just use the active brush to paint a bit of the path at a time
2) then makes a layer from visible as a new frame at each step.
I just have to add a drop shadow between 1) and 2) and delete the shadow after 2) and voila.
Let me go and do that right now.

UPDATE: please check version 3.

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:32 pm **(#44)**

trandoductin wrote:

It can be done in GIMP...
1) The current script just use the active brush to paint a bit of the path at a time
2) then makes a layer from visible as a new frame at each step.
I just have to add a drop shadow between 1) and 2) and delete the shadow after 2) and voila.
Let me go and do that right now.

trandoductin · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:35 pm **(#45)**

Please check version 3!

Wallace · **Posted:** Wed Jun 05, 2019 8:38 pm **(#46)**

trandoductin wrote:

Please check version 3!

[ Image ]

Would I need to change the to "Normal Mode" with in the file,
to have it run in 2.8?

Edit

Never mind,
I already did it.

teapot · **Joined:** Dec 09, 2018 **Posts:** 735

That's so cool, thank you trandoductin :bigthup

teapot · **Joined:** Dec 09, 2018 **Posts:** 735

Nidhogg wrote:

drawing Goofy.
Exported the initial animation layers (Ofnuts ofn-export-layers.py: image{numUp1}.png naming to make sure they are in correct order)
Flattened the animation result, used path tool to create pencil zigzag over color area.
White layer above, merged down, changed foreground color and used the plug-in.
Last frame of each step (the work layer image can be also used) was changed to multiply mode and combined with next animation frames, using Saulgoode's combine/overlay script.

Love your shading, thank you for explaining how it's done, I've had a go.

rich2005 · **Joined:** Mar 04, 2011 **Posts:** 2606

Nidhogg wrote:

@rich yeah I knew the hershey in Inkscape.
Can you please upload the *buntu 18 version and instructions? ...snip...

@Nidhogg

The linux autotrace attached along with the inkscape centerline-trace extension (same as before).

There is a dependency, libpstoedit. Unzip the attachment, the permissions should already be set (but check anyway). From where that is, in a terminal copy autotrace to /usr/bin and install pstoedit which will pull in that dependency. Check that it works

Code: Select all

 sudo cp autotrace /usr/bin/
sudo apt install pstoedit 
autotrace --version

Another video demo showing it working in Inkscape and how I might prepare for that Gimp animation script.

https://youtu.be/XJg3HM-i_PY duration 4 and a half minutes.

Nidhogg · **Posted:** Thu Jun 06, 2019 6:18 am **(#50)**

Thank you so much for your help rich, you're the man :bigthup

Took a minute on MX Linux 18.3, works perfectly which means there won't be any problems on Xubuntu either.
There was one other dependency that had to be installed, python-pil.
If I remember correctly back with 0.48 on Windows that was the stumbling block for many people.