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There are many vector editing software's available but for the purposes of this article, we will be using Inkscape as it is free to download and open-source. The purpose of the article is to cover the basic Inkscape tools necessary for creating a laser cuttable vector design.

There are many vector editing software's available but for the purposes of this article, we will be using Inkscape as it is free to download and open-source. The purpose of the article is to cover the basic Inkscape tools necessary for creating a laser cuttable vector design.

==Setting up the page==

 

==[[Digital technologies/Laser cutting/Vector graphics- Beginner/Setting up the page|Setting up the page]]==

The Document Properties menu can be accessed from the File>Document Properties or the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+D. From here we can change our page size to either a standard size or a Custom size. Although not necessary, it is recommended that you set your page size to match either the dimensions of your material or the dimensions of the laser cutter so that you have a clearer understanding of your working area.  

The Document Properties menu can be accessed from the File>Document Properties or the keyboard shortcut Shift+Ctrl+D. From here we can change our page size to either a standard size or a Custom size. Although not necessary, it is recommended that you set your page size to match either the dimensions of your material or the dimensions of the laser cutter so that you have a clearer understanding of your working area.  

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[[File:DocumentProperties.png|thumb|Screenshot of the Document Properties menu|alt=|center]]

[[File:DocumentProperties.png|thumb|Screenshot of the Document Properties menu|alt=|center]]

[[File:ShapesToolbar.png|thumb|Screenshot of the Shapes Tools]]

[[File:ShapesToolbar.png|thumb|Screenshot of the Shapes Tools]]

==Creating Shapes==

===Creating Shapes===

The shapes toolbar can be accessed on the left hand side of your screen. The most commonly used shape tools for laser cutting would be the rectangle, circle, and polygon tools. Each shape you create using the tools will display one or more handles that will either affect the dimensions or shape of the created object (i.e. adding rounded edges to a rectangle, or making a semi-circle).  

The shapes toolbar can be accessed on the left hand side of your screen. The most commonly used shape tools for laser cutting would be the rectangle, circle, and polygon tools. Each shape you create using the tools will display one or more handles that will either affect the dimensions or shape of the created object (i.e. adding rounded edges to a rectangle, or making a semi-circle).  

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==Moving, Scaling, Rotating, and Skewing==

===Moving, Scaling, Rotating, and Skewing===

First click and select the desired object until the straight, eight arrow shaped handles appear:

First click and select the desired object until the straight, eight arrow shaped handles appear:

[[File:ScaleHandles.png|center|thumb|A rectangle object with handles that affect scale]]

[[File:ScaleHandles.png|center|thumb|A rectangle object with handles that affect scale]]

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==Multiple Selections and Grouping==

 

===Multiple Selections and Grouping===

Sometimes you may need to move or change multiple objects at once, this is where multiple selections may be useful. To select multiple objects simultaneously you may either hold shift while clicking your desired objects, or hold down left click to drag a selection box around all your desired objects (This is called rubber band selection). If multiple objects are selected at once, any transformations, scaling, or rotation will affect them all simultaneously.

Sometimes you may need to move or change multiple objects at once, this is where multiple selections may be useful. To select multiple objects simultaneously you may either hold shift while clicking your desired objects, or hold down left click to drag a selection box around all your desired objects (This is called rubber band selection). If multiple objects are selected at once, any transformations, scaling, or rotation will affect them all simultaneously.

[[File:FillandStroke.png|thumb|The Fill and Stroke menu]]

[[File:FillandStroke.png|thumb|The Fill and Stroke menu]]

==Fill and Stroke==

===Fill and Stroke===

The most important menu for vector design in the context of laser cutting, the Fill and Stroke menu allows you to edit the fill paint, stroke paint, and stroke style of a selected object. To access this menu select Object>Fill and Stroke or simply press Shift+Ctrl+F.

The most important menu for vector design in the context of laser cutting, the Fill and Stroke menu allows you to edit the fill paint, stroke paint, and stroke style of a selected object. To access this menu select Object>Fill and Stroke or simply press Shift+Ctrl+F.

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==Align and Distribute==

===Align and Distribute===

Unless you wish to place your objects completely randomly, chances are you want your objects placed in a way relative to one another (centered, leftmost, topmost, etc…), in which case the Align and Distribute menu may be useful. To access the Align and Distribute menu, go to Object>Align and Distribute or press Shift+Ctrl+A.  

Unless you wish to place your objects completely randomly, chances are you want your objects placed in a way relative to one another (centered, leftmost, topmost, etc…), in which case the Align and Distribute menu may be useful. To access the Align and Distribute menu, go to Object>Align and Distribute or press Shift+Ctrl+A.  

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[[File:AlignAndDistrubte.png|center|thumb|The Align and Distribute menu]]

[[File:AlignAndDistrubte.png|center|thumb|The Align and Distribute menu]]

[[File:StrokeStyle.png|thumb|Ensure that the stroke width is set to 0.001 inches if you intend for the lines to be cut]]

 

  [[File:StrokeStyle.png|thumb|Ensure that the stroke width is set to 0.001 inches if you intend for the lines to be cut]]Before saving your file, you must keep in mind which vectors you would like to be cut, and which ones you wish to be engraved. Lines that are meant to be cut must be defined at a stroke width of '''0.001 inches'''. Using the Fill and Stroke menu, ensure that the lines wished to be cut are at the correct width and are solid in opacity and black in colour. You’ll notice that these strokes may become difficult to see, so it is recommended to save this step for the very end.   

Before saving your file, you must keep in mind which vectors you would like to be cut, and which ones you wish to be engraved. Lines that are meant to be cut must be defined at a stroke width of 0.001 inches. Using the Fill and Stroke menu, ensure that the lines wished to be cut are at the correct width and are solid in opacity and black in colour. You’ll notice that these strokes may become difficult to see, so it is recommended to save this step for the very end.   

When you are ready to save your file for the laser cutter, click File>Save As, name your file something recognizable and select the file type as PDF. Another menu labeled “Portable Document File” will pop up, if you’re unsure what to set your Rasterization dpi to, set it to 600 and then hit Ok. You are now ready to bring the PDF design to the laser cutter!

When you are ready to save your file for the laser cutter, click File>Save As, name your file something recognizable and select the file type as PDF. Another menu labeled “Portable Document File” will pop up, if you’re unsure what to set your Rasterization dpi to, set it to '''600''' and then hit Ok. You are now ready to bring the PDF design to the laser cutter!

[[File:PDFMenu.png|center|thumb|The PDF export menu]]

[[File:PDFMenu.png|center|thumb|The PDF export menu]]

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