Inkscape

Erasing one overlaying object from the underlaying object

Asked by RQDriftnet

Hi Fellow users,

I am a beginner with Inkscape (1st time) and would like some pointers please.

I wish to draw an ark that represents the path of a satellite orbiting earth.

I have draw one larger ellipse (green) for the outer ark and then duplicated it to make the 2nd (inner pink) ark. Both the ellipses are layered on top of each other.

I have tried to erase the overlay inner ellipse and I would like it to also erase the surface it was overlaying ...leaving just the section of the ark that would represent the orbit path of my satellite.

That appears a simple thing to achieve ...but I do not have the skills and am struggling to achieve this or understand how I can from the tutorials.

I would appreciate a few pointers please.

Q

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RQDriftnet
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Brynn (brynn4inks-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#1

I don't completely understand the state of your canvas, although I think I get the general idea. I could suggest 2 different approaches.

1 - Path menu > Object to Path
2 - Edit paths

or

The Ellipse tool can draw arcs, so that you wouldn't have to edit paths. (A lot of people like to avoid editing paths -- think it's messy.) Check out the manual (Help menu > Inkscape Manual (with internet connection) to learn how to use that tool to draw arcs.

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RQDriftnet (quentinlawrence) said : 		#2

Hi Brynn,

Sorry for the delay of this reply ...but more importantly ....thank you for taking the time to reply to my call for assistance.

I have been using Inkscape for Logos and photo modification for my company website ...so I have been multi-tasking and I simply didn't see this support from you until today.

Over the period between posting the SOS and you coming back to me ....good old necessity (mother nature of invention) saw me playing around and I finally working it out for myself via the exact technique you have recommended in point 1. = Path Menu> Union, Difference Intersections, Exclusion and Division and so on.

I think I had tried all of those tools beforehand ....but being a newbaby to Inkscape (and it a great tool) ...I don't think I was using the "Select" and "Select All" functions in conjunction with "Path Tools" correctly.

I have to say ...if I had waited and/or seen your reply ...I would have save me lots of time.

However, I have also learned over the years ...the best teacher of lessons is when you struggle, cost yourself time and one has to make an effort on the way to working something out by trial and error to come to an answer ...and that's actually what force the solution no me. That said ...you also nailed that for me ...and even though I too got there in the end ....I appreciate the effort you made to help me out.

 It's a shame I can't show you the end result by adding the final product (logo) to this post in an attachment, ...so I will make it my mugshot!

Thank you again Brynn.

RQDriftnet.

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Brynn (brynn4inks-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#3

No worries, I only replied yesterday!

Yeah, regular bulletin board style forums are better for detailed and/or extended support. Also, quicker response time!

But it looks nice -- it would make a good logo!