Inkscape Wiki - User contributions [en]

BlueprintCutterControl

2010-03-23T01:42:42Z

Cohort: /* What available solutions exist */

= Synopsis =

One of often requested features is ability to print to cutting plotters or create files for them.

Right now this page is a collection of ideas to to solve the issue in a sane and crossplatform way.

= How it usually works =

# Client brings a EPS/AI file.
# Printing service imports it to an application like.
# Then the operator runs conversion and looks at preview.
# If it's OK, the file goes to cutter.

''Example: JPEG --> Cutter (Linux platform):''
# ''GIMP: Clean and edit image. Converts JPEG --> PPM.''
# ''AUTOTRACE: Converts PPM --> SVG.''
# ''INKSCAPE: Clean and edit image. Print --> Vidar's GRAPHTECPRINT --> Cutter''

= What available solutions exist =

# There is a DXF exporter for CraftRobo bundled with Inkscape.
# There is a half-standalone project called [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint].
# There is a "scrapbook" project by Aaron Spike called [http://code.google.com/p/cuft/ cuft].
# There is a testing version of an HPGL exporter written by Aaron Spike.
# There is a script at http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller using Linux.
# There is a "plot manager" script at http://www.securetech-ns.ca/camm-linux.html for linux. Possibly not open-source.

''I'm about to adapt the INX file from the HPGL exporter and commit the extension to SVN''--[[User:Prokoudine|Prokoudine]] 14:19, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

''The cuft project aims to collect information about the GSD format. Currently there is no externally useful code.''--[[User:Acspike|Acspike]] 15:38, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

= What should be done =

== For direct cutting ==

We probably do not want to distribute cutter drivers with Inkscape, but at the same time we want cutters to be available for users on all platforms.

What we could do is:

# Split functionality between Inkscape and actual printing backend.
# Find an upstream project like CUPS to ship the drivers with it.
# Make sure we can still use cutter driver on Windows where CUPS is not that widely used.
# Create a [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/MakingLivePathEffects live path effect] (LPE) for creating polylines from Bezier curves (using [http://lib2geom.sourceforge.net/ lib2geom])

Device dependent options (cutting speed, cutting force, knife position fine-tuning etc.) should go to Print dialog (Advanced tab or the like). It looks like Cairo backend would be the only correct way to pass polylines to a cutter.

''A very useful option in commercial cutter management software is the creation of 'weed borders' (basically, a variable-distance bounding box) around objects'' --[[User:Cohort|Cohort]] 12:16, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

== For just exporting ==

# Use available LPE for previewing
# Create as many exporters as required (see below)

= File formats =

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! File extension
! Full name
! Devices
! Exporter
|-
| DXF
|
|
| Available in current stable version of Inkscape
|-
| [[GSD]]
|
|
| Available from [http://code.google.com/p/cuft/ cuft]'s SVN
|-
| HPGL
|
|
| Part of 0.47/SVN
|}

= Cutters =

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Device
! Protocol
! Linux drivers
! Windows drivers
! Mac OS drivers
|-
| ANAgraph - ANA Express Elite Cutter AE60E = http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec FC7000Mk2
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec CE5000
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec CC200-20
|
| [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade)
| *
| *
|-
| Graphtec CE5000-120AP
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec Craft ROBO
| based on Graphtec CC200-20 (?same as CC200-20?) (identifies it's self as:"Graphtec")
|[http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade)
| *
| *
|-
| Graphtec FC2250
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec FC4200
|
| [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade) + mods described by Ulisses on graphtecprint page.
| *
| *
|-
| Graphtec CE5000-120
| HPGL converted from .ps
|[http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller/ hpgl-distiller]
|
|
|-
| QuicKutz Silhouette
| based on Graphtec CC200-20
|
|
|
|-
| (Blue) Xyron Wishblade
| based on Graphtec CC200-20 (identifies it's self as:"Whisblade Inc.")
| [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade) + mods described by Ulisses on graphtecprint page.
| *
| *
|-
| (Pink) Xyron Wishblade
|
|
|
|
|-
| Roland CAMM1 PNC-1100 (Manufactured c.1992)
| HPGL converted from .ps
|[http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller/ hpgl-distiller]
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=103&type=1 Roland CAMM-1 Pro GX-300 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=106&type=1 Roland CAMM-1 Pro GX-500 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=95&type=1 Roland STIKA SV-8 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=96&type=1 Roland STIKA SV-12 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=101&type=1 Roland STIKA SV-15 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=17&type=1 Roland CAMM-1 GX-24 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=20&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM SP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=20&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM SP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=21&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM SP-540 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=112&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM VP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=113&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM VP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=83&type=1 Roland SolJet Pro III XC-540 Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|}

(*) If python and glade are available on these platforms, a modified version of Vidar's graphtecprint scripts should work. The main difference would probably be how to detect and access the USB connected cutters.

= Vendors =

* Graphtec - We have been in discussion with people from Graphtec, initially about [[CraftROBO | support for the Craft ROBO]].

BlueprintCutterControl

2010-03-22T12:16:26Z

Cohort: /* For direct cutting */

= Synopsis =

One of often requested features is ability to print to cutting plotters or create files for them.

Right now this page is a collection of ideas to to solve the issue in a sane and crossplatform way.

= How it usually works =

# Client brings a EPS/AI file.
# Printing service imports it to an application like.
# Then the operator runs conversion and looks at preview.
# If it's OK, the file goes to cutter.

''Example: JPEG --> Cutter (Linux platform):''
# ''GIMP: Clean and edit image. Converts JPEG --> PPM.''
# ''AUTOTRACE: Converts PPM --> SVG.''
# ''INKSCAPE: Clean and edit image. Print --> Vidar's GRAPHTECPRINT --> Cutter''

= What available solutions exist =

# There is a DXF exporter for CraftRobo bundled with Inkscape.
# There is a half-standalone project called [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint].
# There is a "scrapbook" project by Aaron Spike called [http://code.google.com/p/cuft/ cuft].
# There is a testing version of an HPGL exporter written by Aaron Spike.
# There is a script at http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller using Linux.

''I'm about to adapt the INX file from the HPGL exporter and commit the extension to SVN''--[[User:Prokoudine|Prokoudine]] 14:19, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

''The cuft project aims to collect information about the GSD format. Currently there is no externally useful code.''--[[User:Acspike|Acspike]] 15:38, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

= What should be done =

== For direct cutting ==

We probably do not want to distribute cutter drivers with Inkscape, but at the same time we want cutters to be available for users on all platforms.

What we could do is:

# Split functionality between Inkscape and actual printing backend.
# Find an upstream project like CUPS to ship the drivers with it.
# Make sure we can still use cutter driver on Windows where CUPS is not that widely used.
# Create a [http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/MakingLivePathEffects live path effect] (LPE) for creating polylines from Bezier curves (using [http://lib2geom.sourceforge.net/ lib2geom])

Device dependent options (cutting speed, cutting force, knife position fine-tuning etc.) should go to Print dialog (Advanced tab or the like). It looks like Cairo backend would be the only correct way to pass polylines to a cutter.

''A very useful option in commercial cutter management software is the creation of 'weed borders' (basically, a variable-distance bounding box) around objects'' --[[User:Cohort|Cohort]] 12:16, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

== For just exporting ==

# Use available LPE for previewing
# Create as many exporters as required (see below)

= File formats =

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! File extension
! Full name
! Devices
! Exporter
|-
| DXF
|
|
| Available in current stable version of Inkscape
|-
| [[GSD]]
|
|
| Available from [http://code.google.com/p/cuft/ cuft]'s SVN
|-
| HPGL
|
|
| Part of 0.47/SVN
|}

= Cutters =

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Device
! Protocol
! Linux drivers
! Windows drivers
! Mac OS drivers
|-
| ANAgraph - ANA Express Elite Cutter AE60E = http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec FC7000Mk2
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec CE5000
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec CC200-20
|
| [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade)
| *
| *
|-
| Graphtec CE5000-120AP
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec Craft ROBO
| based on Graphtec CC200-20 (?same as CC200-20?) (identifies it's self as:"Graphtec")
|[http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade)
| *
| *
|-
| Graphtec FC2250
|
|
|
|
|-
| Graphtec FC4200
|
| [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade) + mods described by Ulisses on graphtecprint page.
| *
| *
|-
| Graphtec CE5000-120
| HPGL converted from .ps
|[http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller/ hpgl-distiller]
|
|
|-
| QuicKutz Silhouette
| based on Graphtec CC200-20
|
|
|
|-
| (Blue) Xyron Wishblade
| based on Graphtec CC200-20 (identifies it's self as:"Whisblade Inc.")
| [http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ graphtecprint] (requires python & glade) + mods described by Ulisses on graphtecprint page.
| *
| *
|-
| (Pink) Xyron Wishblade
|
|
|
|
|-
| Roland CAMM1 PNC-1100 (Manufactured c.1992)
| HPGL converted from .ps
|[http://pldaniels.com/hpgl-distiller/ hpgl-distiller]
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=103&type=1 Roland CAMM-1 Pro GX-300 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=106&type=1 Roland CAMM-1 Pro GX-500 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=95&type=1 Roland STIKA SV-8 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=96&type=1 Roland STIKA SV-12 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=101&type=1 Roland STIKA SV-15 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=17&type=1 Roland CAMM-1 GX-24 Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=20&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM SP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=20&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM SP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=21&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM SP-540 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=112&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM VP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=113&type=1 Roland VersaCAMM VP-300 V Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|-
| [http://www.rolanddg.co.uk/public/portfolio/details.aspx?id=83&type=1 Roland SolJet Pro III XC-540 Printer/Cutter]
|
|
|
|
|}

(*) If python and glade are available on these platforms, a modified version of Vidar's graphtecprint scripts should work. The main difference would probably be how to detect and access the USB connected cutters.

= Vendors =

* Graphtec - We have been in discussion with people from Graphtec, initially about [[CraftROBO | support for the Craft ROBO]].

Swatch Book

2009-12-25T05:06:25Z

Cohort: added use case

= Overview =

This page is for discussing the concepts around swatch books, for Inkscape and any other programs, and what things users might want.

Feel free to contribute here, on the mailing lists, or in our Jabber/IRC chat rooms.

== What is a Swatch Book? ==

Basically a "Swatch Book" is a collection of swatches that an artist or designer might put together for reference during a project.

Although a large number of people are familiar with various commercial spot color books, a swatch book is not limited to just colors. Decorators, designers and others often have books with more than simple color chips. That leads into the question of just what is a 'swatch' - [[JonCruz]]

== What is a "Swatch"? ==

In general artistic design work, I normally hit a different
definition of "swatch". It's not just a color, it's a "sample" or
"material". It could be a simple solid ink color, or it could be a
heavy plaid cloth. Moving into software, "Gold" is another good
example. "Gold" is a texture, not a color (just ask the Blender
artists out there). From an artist/designer's viewpoint, they tend to
think in terms of a swatch book as "a collection of things I've
pulled together to use for this project". I *think* some of the
problem comes from saying "Pantone swatch book" and such but not
keeping in mind that it is just a subset of general "swatch books".
That is, it is a "swatch book but with only solid paint swatches".
Then again... I have used foil Pantone books, so those definitely
fall into the "material, not just color" category. - [[JonCruz]]

Some examples I've seen in swatch books are
* Fabric
* Ribbon
* Paint
* Spot color samples (Pantone, Trumatch, Focoltone, Toyo, etc)
* Paper
* Wood
* Flooring
* Tile
* Counter material

The key here might be to think "material" instead of just "color". Although one might work with just colors, others might want to extend to a bit more.

== Why OpenSwatchBook? ==

I have seen a need come up many times for shared collections of disparate resources such as colors, textures, patterns, etc. Others on some different projects think it might be nice in the long run, but that they're not looking at jumping in themselves in the immediate timeframe. Some discussion has been done involving the people in [http://create.freedesktop.org/wiki/Main_Page CREATE], but the [http://create.freedesktop.org/wiki/Swatches_-_colour_file_format colour file format] is as far as the common interests go at the moment.

Once the format has been roughed out and some working prototypes are in place, we'll see other projects revisiting for collaboration. So first we just need to collect up general use cases and implement a rough draft.

= Use Cases =

And think of the use case. Say a comic artist is working on a
project. He would probably want a "swatch book" for each of his
characters, and perhaps one combining them. Then he might also want
to add a book per character per lighting condition ("daytime",
"nighttime", etc). When he went to use it, he might like to just
select "Fred's skin" and apply it to an area. Then "Fred's shirt" for
another. Those might just be simple RGB colors, or the skin might be
a simple gradient and the shirt might be a checked pattern.

However... the artist most definitely would benefit from being able
to define those books once and then just reference them from each of
the programs he uses to create things. - [[JonCruz]]

I think it would also be good if we could educate the comic artists on SVG Blend modes work, this way there would be no need to have separate color swatches for time of day. You could easily overlay a colored/gradiated rectangle within a frame and use multiply or another blend mode. Then again, that's also a preference of workflow.- [[ScislaC]]

= Swatches in SVG/Inkscape =

For SVG work, we'd probably like to be able to include gradients and
patterns also. "Brushes" might also be nice... but I think those are
something a bit different. For the apps I've seen that differentiate
brushes from patterns, brushes get to be more of blobs of complex
procedural code. - [[JonCruz]]

This involves more than just the swatches, but I found the brush weight profiles in Xara X[1|treme] quite intuitive. Basically it's now doable in 0.46 with LPE and an auxiliary shape that defines the variable brush weight, but Xara's simple dropdown of pre-defined profiles worked quite well. Just a thought. - [[jegHegy]]

I think all mentioned uses of swatches are applicable. As for brushes, yes, I think those would be great as well. If we can have a standard cross-application compatible way to include those and then leave it up to the applications to implement how they want to utilize them, that would be optimal. In addition to brushes, having a symbols library implemented in a swatch book would also be greatly helpful. - [[ScislaC]]

Artists sending their work to a screen printer need to work in spot colors for easy separation, so they can avoid additional "artwork fees" by the provider. Usually, the provider also has a set of standard colors that they use, charging more for custom mixing. --[[User:Cohort|Cohort]] 05:06, 25 December 2009 (UTC)

= Mockups =

TBD

= Software Support =

== Chart ==
The purpose of this table is first of all to find what apps support each feature, so that we can then look into each of those to make sure that we support everything that each app needs to be sharable in a swatchbook.

Please note that the features across the top will probably change as we gain more information. Also what gets entered into each cell will change once we have a better idea what's going on.

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! App
! Color
! Gradient
! Gradient
Application
! Pattern
! Filter
! Brush
! Symbol
! Line Marker
|-
| [http://www.inkscape.org/ Inkscape]
| yes, rich
| yes
| limited
| yes, vector
| Yes, as of 0.46+Dev
| not really
| ?
| yes
|-
| [http://www.blender.org/ Blender]
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
|-
| [http://www.cinepaint.org/ CinePaint]
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
|-
| [http://www.gimp.org/ GIMP]
| yes
| yes
| yes, rich
| yes, bitmap
| ?
| yes
| ?
| ?
|-
| [http://kolourpaint.org/ KolourPaint]
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
|-
| [http://www.koffice.org/krita/ Krita]
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
| ?
|-
| [http://www.scribus.net/ Scribus]
| yes
| no
| yes
| yes, bitmap and vector
| no
| no
| no
| limited
|}

== Feature Details ==
=== Color ===

The intent is to exchange color in the [http://create.freedesktop.org/wiki/index.php/Swatches_-_colour_file_format/Propositions format worked out by CREATE]

A few additions might be made, but only in a manner that won't break use of that spec.

=== Gradient ===

Gradients in SVG can be expressed as a subset of those supported by GIMP once shape/coordinates are separated. That is, pulling off linear, radial, etc.

In the GIMP UI there is a "blend" tool, and one of the inputs is "Gradient". "Shape" is a different input.

General Characteristics
{| border="1"
! aspect
! SVG
! GIMP
|-
|Multi-segment
|Y
|Y
|-
|Segment end can differ from next segment start
|N
|Y
|-
|Adjustable segment midpoint
|N
|Y
|-
|Fixed color stop
|Y
|Y
|-
|FG color stop
|N
|Y
|-
|FG+A color stop
|N
|Y
|-
|BG color stop
|N
|Y
|-
|BG+A color stop
|N
|Y
|-
|Blend linear
|Y
|Y
|-
|Blend sinusoidal
|N
|Y
|-
|Blend spherical +
|N
|Y
|-
|Blend spherical -
|N
|Y
|-
|Color mode RGB
|Y
|Y
|-
|Color mode HSV cw
|N
|Y
|-
|Color mode HSV ccw
|N
|Y
|}

So a GIMP format gradient is SVG compatible if:
* the end stop for each segment matches the begin stop for the next segment
* the midpoint of each segment is centered
* the color chosen is proper (need some work here)
* the blend is limited to only linear
* the coloring mode is limited to only RGB

=== Gradient Application ===

{| border="1"
! Type
! SVG
! GIMP
|-
|Linear
|Y
|Y
|-
|Bi-linear
|?
|Y
|-
|Radial
|Y
|Y
|-
|Square
|N
|Y
|-
|Conical (sym)
|N
|Y
|-
|Conical (asym)
|N
|Y
|-
|Shaped (angular)
|N
|Y
|-
|Shaped (spherical)
|N
|Y
|-
|Shaped (dimpled)
|N
|Y
|-
|Spiral (cw)
|N
|Y
|-
|Spiral (ccw)
|N
|Y

|}

=== Pattern ===
=== Filter ===
=== Brush ===
=== Symbol ===
=== Line Marker ===

= References =

* [http://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/create/2007-September/000994.html My post] to the CREATE list on Sep 27, 2007.