Cut Polygon in Inkscape

Question

I am working on marquetry, where I use a laser cutter. I'd like to use Inkscape in a mode similar to ArcMap's cut polygon. In ArcMap, I can create property lines (think new subdivision) with an existing shape (property boundary) that gets cut using the Cut Polygon tool. Very simple, you select the larger shape, then use the Cut Polygon tool to draw lines for your new properties.

I can kinda do this in Inkscape using Division Path. I create separate objects, tracing over an existing drawing, and then overlay and knock out the common boundary. A bit clunky. Hoping to find a simpler way to do this.

I can give more detail, there's a number of steps I left out as I start with a drawing from my wife, but thought I'd start with this much to see if it sparks anyone.

Here's an example I am currently working on. The numbers are for each area, including the background. This is on tracing paper and was scanned in. I'd like to bring into Inkscape and trace over there with the pen tool.

Answer 1

After a bit of trial and error, I was able to do this in the *Inkscape 1.3 development version using the new Shape Builder tool. The software can be a little glitchy and it crashed on me a couple of times, so might not be quite ready for production work yet. However it does look very promising.

1. Basically you draw some closed shapes that overlap.

2. Select all the paths, and hit the Shape Builder tool in the toolbar. This will take you into shape builder mode which shows only the paths.

3. Click and drag over sections to unite them.

4. Hold down shift to delete pieces.

5. Click "Finish" in the controls bar to go back into normal editing mode.

Here's a screencapture of it working

*Note: I have no affiliation or connection with the Inkscape developers. Use this software at your own risk, since it's still a development version. It may not be entirely stable.

Answer 2

Inkscape doesn't have such a tool.

However there is a tool in development for Inkscape called the Shape Builder tool. This is very similar to the Shape Builder tool available in Adobe Illustrator. It will make jobs like this much easier. You can try the 1.3 development version which has this tool, although I am not going to use this for the following example, since development versions are often not stable enough for production. I tried, but it's not working properly for me. It may or may not work for you. You can read about this new tool here.

Anyway, this is the workaround using the current stable release Inkscape 1.2.1

1. Draw your paths using the Bézier tool. When you come to sections where the path will meet another path, make sure to place a node at that point. We will need these for snapping.

Here is an example showing one of the paths. Note the position of the nodes circled in red. The placement of these is crucial as they will help us snap the adjoining lines, and are necessary for the division boolean operation to work properly.

2. Enable snapping and make sure Snap to Cusp nodes is enabled.

3. Draw your next line, and when you come to a join, make sure that the node you place snaps to the node you placed in the first line

4. Repeat this process for the rest of the lines, until you have all the nodes in the correct position snapped to each other. All those circle in red are where you need the nodes to overlap.

5. Select all the paths and do Path > Combine - this will turn the drawing into a compound path which is necessary for the division to work.

6. Draw a rectangle and move it to the bottom of the stack using End(Lower to bottom).

7. Set a fill for the rectangle

8. Select both the rectangle and the compound path and do Path > Division

9. Select and delete the outer edge of the rectangle

Now you will have a design where all of the pieces butt up agaisnt each other like a jigsaw. Select and fill each piece, remove the stroke.