Create hatching in Inkscape?

Question

How can I create hatching in Inkscape? I want to create plain hatching like you would find in an engineering drawing. (I am not interested in "artistic" hatching like the "rough" hatching Inkscape has or other such effects.) So, for example, the drawing below shows hatching being used:

Answer 1

The hatching can be achieved by using pattern.Once you create a pattern,you can control the direction of hatching as required. Below are the steps to apply hatching to your drawing (I will apply this in a simple rectangle).

1. Create a closed path for which hatching is required(I have used a simple rectangle)

2. Now draw a line using pen tool and convert the line to pattern using Object-Pattern-Object to pattern.

3. Once converted open the fill & stroke dialog box. Select the closed path for which you want to apply the pattern created. Click on the pattern option in the fill dialog. Select the new pattern you have created in the option which fills the selected area.

4. Now to adjust the direction of hatching you need to select the object (line- which you later converted to pattern) and click the node tool. Select the closed path(rectangle) with the node tool. You can see a X-shaped handle, a square handle & a round handle around the object. Dragging the X-shaped handle moves the pattern in any direction. Dragging the square handle scales the pattern. Dragging the round handle rotates the pattern.

Included a gif image(for step 4)

Note that the pattern controls may appear anywhere in the document, including outside the viewport. You may have to zoom out and search for them.

Answer 2

Maybe not quite as versatile as the Pattern tool, but the Egg-Bot Extensions have a hatch fill tool.

Answer 3

Addition to chanduc's answer above

Something was changed since version 1.0 and here is the modification made this work:

• when the object going to be a pattern created, place it to coordinates 0,0
• after applying this newly created pattern, simple select the target closed object if not selected yet and only press Node Edit Tool
• now locate pattern editing handles somewhere on the canvas (the X-shaped handle should be at 0, 0)

Answer 4

I have had good results by creating hatching in Photoshop CS3.

1. Save as a png and use the File: Import command as in SU Layout.
2. As above, create a bounding box or space in a new document with transparent background that approximates the proportions of the space you want to hatch.
3. Use a brush to make a sketchy pattern (wood grain) or a line tool for something more distinct(steel, masonry).
4. Capture the pattern with the Marquee select tool, hit control J to set it on its own layer, make a new document by duplicating the layer and trim away all the surrounding transparency. Adjust the transparency to suit.

Save it in your work folder and import it as req'd. It will resize easily.