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I'm trying to cut out sections of a circle / circumference.
The way that I've been doing it is by creating new nodes on the path and then cutting the path at that point. However, to make the cuts I then have to drag the circle freehand and it moves out of shape. How can I get around that?
Ideally, what I'm looking for is a circle with vertical cuts in it. Then I want to put shapes in the gaps, like so:
Create a circle.
Convert Object to Path.
Extensions → Modify Path → Add Nodes… Select by number of segments. In the example I chose five segments; you will likely want to choose a higher number.
Create a symmetric trapezium.
Select the trapezium and your circle and apply Extensions → Modify Path → Perspective.
Remove trapezium.
In the Nodes tool, your circle should look like this (note how the nodes are not placed equidistantly):
Duplicate the circle an appropriate number of times.
Move one duplicate upwards.
Select all duplicates and use some vertical distribution tool from the alignment tools, e.g., Distribute centres equidistantly vertically.
Remove unneeded duplicates.
Use Path → Combine on the remaining ones.
Remove some segments by selecting the appropriate nodes and using Delete segment between two non-endpoint nodes.
Add some segments by selecting the appropriate nodes and using Join selected endnotes with a new segment.
Repeat as desired.
Use Path → Break Apart.
Remove spurios path segments.
You can replace steps 4 to 6 by just distorting the circle to an ellipsis, but I assumed that the above is closer to what you desire. Also, you can get a more accurate perspective by placing step 8 before step 4 and applying steps 4 to 6 seperately to every circle (with different trapeziums).
