Members Chris777 Posted June 26 Members Report Posted June 26 I use Inkscape to create my patterns. I’m doing my first project larger than 8.5x11 and I’m finding Inkscape doesn’t have a way to print on multiple pages. There is a work-around but it’s VERY clunky. So, I’m looking for recommendations. Preferably something that is open source or very cheap. Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted June 26 CFM Report Posted June 26 A ruler, a compass, a pencil, a protractor, and a brain. I gave up computer drawing when I retired and haven't missed the constant updates, planned obsolescence, or wasting money a bit. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
Members BlackDragon Posted June 26 Members Report Posted June 26 I also use Inkscape to make patterns. I export the pattern as a png file and open it with a LibreOffice Calc (It's free). I run a Linux system so I don't use MS products but you may be able to use any spreadsheet program. Make sure you add a measurement block in your pattern so you can adjust your printing size correctly (I do a 1"x1" square). Quote
Members Chris777 Posted June 26 Author Members Report Posted June 26 @BlackDragon I use Libre office so I will try that. Thanks for the tip. Quote
Members BlackDragon Posted June 26 Members Report Posted June 26 Something I just remembered, while in Inkscape be sure your page size is as large as you need to fit your whole pattern. Inkscape will only export whats within the page boundaries Quote
Digit Posted June 27 Report Posted June 27 What I usually do when stuff gets spread over pages or when software doesn't want to spread over pages is to print everything to a huge, single-page PDF and then print that PDF; either scaling it down to one physical page or poster-print to multiple pages. Depending on how Inkscape prints, you may even keep the PDF vectorized so you can scale as much as you want afterwards without losing precision. Quote
AEBL Posted Thursday at 12:58 PM Report Posted Thursday at 12:58 PM Inkscape 1.2 apparently has a "multipage" feature that I have not tried. I'm using Inkscape 1.1 now (it's what Debian has in the repo I guess) but I could see if I could download Inkscape 1.2 at some point (or do the lazy thing and wait for it). https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Multipage Quote
Members BlackDragon Posted Thursday at 01:59 PM Members Report Posted Thursday at 01:59 PM 46 minutes ago, AEBL said: Inkscape 1.2 apparently has a "multipage" feature that I have not tried. I'm using Inkscape 1.1 now (it's what Debian has in the repo I guess) but I could see if I could download Inkscape 1.2 at some point (or do the lazy thing and wait for it). https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Multipage Thanks for this! I just updated to version 1.4.2 and it looks a lot cleaner than the 1.1 version I've been running! I run Pop! OS which is based on Ubuntu If you want to update your's open your terminal and paste this into it. You'll need to enter your password, then it'll ask you to confirm a few times. sudo add-apt-repository universe sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable sudo apt update sudo apt install inkscape To verify the update inkscape --version I haven't tried printing multiple pages yet but hopefully I'll get around to it soon. Quote
AEBL Posted Thursday at 02:56 PM Report Posted Thursday at 02:56 PM (edited) I also run PopOS ... I'm very happy with it! Do you have a System76 computer also? Thanks for the script, I might like the new version. You can also use the "snap" pacakge. I was against the idea of "snap"s in the past, but I am warming up to them. https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-1.2/gnulinux/snap/ Edited Thursday at 02:57 PM by AEBL Quote
Members BlackDragon Posted Thursday at 04:06 PM Members Report Posted Thursday at 04:06 PM 1 hour ago, AEBL said: I also run PopOS ... I'm very happy with it! Do you have a System76 computer also? Thanks for the script, I might like the new version. You can also use the "snap" pacakge. I was against the idea of "snap"s in the past, but I am warming up to them. https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-1.2/gnulinux/snap/ Yeah I'm using a System76 Gazelle 17" laptop. Works great and plenty of power to do anything I need. I tend not to use Snap because I've been told it slows things down. I do like that it auto updates though. Quote
Members Cumberland Highpower Posted Thursday at 06:58 PM Members Report Posted Thursday at 06:58 PM (edited) On 6/26/2025 at 9:24 AM, chuck123wapati said: A ruler, a compass, a pencil, a protractor, and a brain. I gave up computer drawing when I retired and haven't missed the constant updates, planned obsolescence, or wasting money a bit. I like that answer. Sometimes my die maker is amazed by all the residual pencil marks, arcs, curves, lines and intersects he finds all over the cardstock. I tried to learn Fusion 360 and partly have, but I'd just as soon use an old way of doing something than to sit for hour/s doing that. Edited Thursday at 06:59 PM by Cumberland Highpower Quote
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