A Better Way To Make Dashed & Dotted Lines In Inkscape

When making dashed and dotted lines in Inkscape, you would typically use the Dashes setting in the Fill & Stroke menu. The problem with this approach is that it produces dashes that are often asymmetrical relative to the object they're being applied to. Using the Dashes path effect instead is a better option because it provides more granular control over the dashes, allowing you to produce a more refined dashed or dotted line.

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[SuperWolfkin]

Every time you show something with path effects it seems like it's extremely powerful. I can't wait till I'm at the level where I can start playing with them randomly

[graphosxp]

I love that you have the mouse cursor highlighted so it's easy to see, and do zoom in's\zoom out's to show everything so *clearly* !⭐⭐⭐⭐🌟

[richardstewart]

I've used various vector programmes for over 30 years and have always felt that the dashes around corners weren't "right" in all of them. This looks so much better!

[GeekIWG]

I've been using Inkscape for over a decade and yet I'm constantly learning new things about it from this channel. Thank you so much for these videos!

[Kaycii.Austine]

Nick you so amazing at what you do. Each I time I watch your videos, I know for sure I am in to learn something new. And indeed you never disappoints. God bless you Nick.

[marcfruchtman]

This result is so much better than regular dashes. Great info.
I think one problem with path effects menu, is that it doesn't show any effects initially in the menu. The lack of any actual effects makes one think that the menu is broken or just not working the right way. Inkscape might want to expand that menu automatically, instead of making it so that the end user has to click the triangle in order to see ANY options.

[sr.antipiro]

Thank you, Master, for I can always come back to my teachings

[owendriscoll]

i was having issues with my dashes and went to youtube then i saw you just posted this video! what a coincidence! thank you so much!

[janfussel]

So simple and easy! I have to try this by myselfe. Thanks for this video!

[Bob-of-Zoid]

WOW! That's groovy! Thanks Nick!

[erik-benz]

Thank you Nick. This Trick helps and save life.👻

[geoffphil]

Wow! The inconsistent dashes issue has plagued me for years! I would experiment with a setting in the stroke dialog that changed where dashes started from, or in some cases just create lots of individual tiny line segments and group these in a neater pattern. Your path effect solution is exactly what I needed and will now use. One improvement would be if the path effect menu had a box where one could specify the dash length in mm or px (which would then grey out the gap size).

[madmaxofspokane]

I wish I had known this years ago.
It's been such a pain in the ass with my flat pack mailers to get everything to break apart cleanly, and here's the solution right under my nose the whole time.

[bgrainger]

Thank you!!! This is so much better looking!! 👍🏼👏🏼

[wireinet]

Great! Don't know about this. Please more about stroke effects!

[pibbyt]

1:29 for anybody wanting to get to the answer quickly

[lua_programmer]

Never really played with the path effects as much.
Didn't know about dashed line LPE either.

Love the new quick style tutorials though.

[smuecke]

Haven't tried this yet, but won't it look weird having the same number of dashes on all sides when you have a rectangle (a non-square, that is), because the spacing is different?

[SV-ffvc]

Better should replace worse, so the 2nd method presented with LPE Dashed Stroke should be the default in Inkscape. BTW: Another great guide on this channel! 👋

[UnitSeen]

One more menu item I've never even looked at but wish I had.