This will open a dialogue (usually on the right), select the Stroke Paint tab then press the X button on the top row of buttons. Now select the inner shape (the smaller one) and remove the border by going Object -> Fill and Stroke. Select the larger shape (the original one) and go Extensions->Colour->Darken and it'll make the colour darker (I do it again to get a better contrast). If you want the little darker borders around the main part of the polity? Well copy the section and paste in place (cntrl-alt-v) then use cntrl+( to inset the shape, do this again a couple of times to get the right thickness, (I use 3).So you have a semi working map now, with entities, keys and a cool looking coastline, but you want some of the fancy effects I have? Well here are a few nifty tricks for you.To fix overlapping borders move (using page up and down) the polities so the correct border is on top and showing, then copy the polity with the correct border and select both the errent and correct ones and use (path -> difference) to fix the lower one, and then use cntrl-alt-v to paste the other one in place.Copy your coast and then return to your borders layer, and then paste the coastline in place by using cntrl-alt-v, then select it and the errent polity, and go (path -> Intersection) and marvel as your polity takes the shape of the coast where it overlaps Gone into the sea? Open your coastal layer and select the coast you've overlapped.Creating borders is a bit different, you'll inevitably overlap borders, go outside your coast etc, now there are methods to counter these Ill go through these here:.Now you've finished with the names its time to start doing some borders: Lock and Hide your text layer and create a layer below (I find doing names first helps me build more of an accurate map as I have better references).If dots aren't your thing, then find something that you want to use, preferably in SVG format (a lot of the symbols and flags on WIKI are SVG, choose something like that, chess pieces are a good plan) (Every time you start a new name it'll default back to the original settings, change this by going Text -> Text and Font, and then choose what settings you want to default to and then select set as default), You can use Dots to denote where a town is by using the pencil tool and cntrl and left clicking on where you want your dots. Use the text tool (the A tool on the left) to copy any town names, country names and region names that you want. Hide the coast layer (the eye next to the padlock) and select your new layer, if your fancy map that your copying has town names this is your time to shine.Now your grey and old, and very bored and wondering why you got into cartography in the first place you should have a coastline, check how your coast line looks by giving it a fill colour (select your line and then click on a colour on the bottom colour chart, remove the colour by clicking on the box with a red X in it at the far left of the chart).lots, On the Heritage History maps I work at about 800 - 1000 % magnification, esp for the coasts (cntrl & scroll up or +), find your coast and start drawing a line, when you lift your mouse (to move the screen (hold in scroll button) etc), select your line your working on (the arrowhead at the top of the toolbox) and a seethrough box should be at either end of your line (your goal is to get round to the other end of the coastline and meet up the two ends of the line) use the pencil tool on the box (when you hover over it the box should turn red to continue the line) First I would recommend tracing the coastline, select the pencil icon from the toolkit and then zoom in.Create another new layer, you don't need to lock this one, you'll be using it.(Layer -> Move Selection to layer Below), select the new picture layer and lock it (padlock button next to the drop down list of layers) Load your image into inkscape, I would recommend creating a new layer (Layer -> new Layer) and then moving the picture from the 'Root' layer into your new one.
#Inkscape stroke to path alternative install
Download and Install Inkscape, its easy to use and FREE.A good map will be clear and easy to read, try and think how easy it'll be to differentiate between different things on the map Find a map to trace, there are gazillions out there, the Heritage History Website is my favourite source but look around (Google Maps is good if you have a specific area in mind).Decide the theme, time frame and printing date for your map, think what colours would suit, and think about what is actually going in the map, Its a lot harder in Inkscape to map on the fly as it were, have an idea, and go for it.Get rid of any significant other, or other distractions, for atleast 24 hours, permanantly is preferable but Murder is outlawed in 34 states soo.