Secrets to Inkscape for CNC - Text to Path Tricks and Shortcuts (PART 1)

I share my greatest secrets to designing text in Inkscape and converting it into a vector path that you can actually cut on your plasma table, vinyl cutter water jet or even laser. I show you all the tricks and shortcuts that I use every day to fill my shop full of cut ready designs that can be turned into metal signs, vinyl stickers or laser cut parts. It took me a long time to learn all these keystrokes and how to use this software. I hope this helps you become more efficient in your shop!

1:33 Positive Space Text
6:04 Cursive Text
8:29 Negative Space Text
11:22 Converting to Bitmap (removing background)

#inkscape #inkscapetutorial #inkscapetextpath

[AndyNicholson-ijpz]

I have really started to like tutorils for simpletons tons of simple! I used to find it annoying but when you are stressed it realy helps you focus and find simple things that you are missing! lets all keep learing! This is an all rounded complement keep improving, God made a whole heaven to improve! Go figure

[whistleman]

Thanks for taking the time to put this video up. it is very helpful. I would have never figured this all out on my own. Thanks again!!

[walkerdb]

Thank you!! Worked perfectly, I was able to create text and move to sheet cam successfully in just a minute or two!! I typed the basic instructions and printed them off for reference until it becomes habit. Good luck on your business!

[dannythurman]

I am new table coming in 4 weeks. This is by for the best video I have found. Thank you

[theJonnymac]

glad to see makers talking about opensource software!

[coryj]

Thank you for the great video. Just getting back into cnc plasma cutting and all this info is greatly appreciated.

[staceyswelding]

Great video I’m just getting into this and I’m completely lost with computers so big learning curve

[maxdavis]

Thanks for the video, helped me out with a sign I'm making!

[ocAToccd]

Nice tutorial man!

Just some additional advises:
- you don't need to "ctrl shift K" after turning your text into an object, what you got is a group so you can't use that command... "ctrl shift K" could be usefull on an "i" to separate the dot from the bar and to bring the dot as a whole... or with you cursive T to separate the top from the bottom, but be carefull with hollow letters as the holes will turn black...
- for the negative sign, instead of making a raster then vectorise it (which could lose some details depemding on the settings), you could "ctrl -" the text from the base rectangle then "ctrl +" the links with the sign...

Hope this help 😉

[Woodyer]

Great Video, bought a plasma cutter and an ArcDroid CNC machine the challenge for me is Im using a iMack, might have to get myself a cheap laptop with Windows, any comments are appreciated? Thanks

[gregrock]

When creating a negative, I find it easier to draw my rectangles and place them exactly like you did, but then use path> difference to remove the part of text. Thoughts?

[Joebus]

Ctrl+Shift scaling will scale proportional from center.

[ashleymae]

I feel like every video I’ve seen says you don’t want a lot of nodes for it to cut clean lines. Is this true? I’m new to this and I’m trying to just cut basic names/words and they are kinda wonky. Dxf files I buy are fine so it’s obviously something I’m doing wrong lol.

[sunnybrowne]

I'm new to this so it may be a dumb question. But, do more nodes on a image make the cut choppier or not as smooth? Thanks.

[theweldor]

I can't believe how complicated this is compared to my torchmate 3 ! Right out the gate inkscape on my laptop dont look nothing like the youtube videos ive watched . STV has NO owners manual ! No lit at all . All i got out of STV was find someone on face book in your area that might be able to help you . Really . Thats the best support you have at stv . Wouldnt recommend one a these to my enemy's !

[montourpg]

Do you have a video on lowercase negative letters?

[robertbrown]

When tracing bitmap all I get is a solid black rectangle?

[weldorworx]

Seems WAY more complicated than my torchmate 3 !

[rockyblankenship]

Thanks for the video. Using Inkscape 1.0.1 . I can't get the text to turn to a path. I get (No object to convert to path in the bottom of the screen). I can convert boxes and circle to path. For some reason, can't get it to work with text. It show the text as a group. I ungroup the text and tried just one letter, same results. Has to be something I am doing wrong. Any ideal?