Tools: Satin

Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin include a number of useful helpers, making it easy to work with satin columns.

Example:

Create a path with the help of the bezier curves tool (B)
Run Convert Line to Satin
Use the Params dialog to set an underlay
Run Auto-Route Satin to recieve nicely routed satin columns

Tip: For faster access set shortcuts on specific satin tools.

Auto-Route Satin Columns…

This tool will replace your satins with a new set of satin columns in logical stitching order. Under-pathing and jump-stitches will be added as necessary and satins will be broken to facilitate jumps. The resulting satins will retain all of the parameters you had set on the original satins, including underlay, zig-zag spacing, etc.

Usage

Tip: By default, it will choose the left-most extreme as the starting point and the right-most extreme as the ending point (even if these occur partway through a satin such as the left edge of a letter “o”). You can override this by attaching the “Auto-route satin stitch starting/ending position” commands.

Select satin columns (prepared with underlay, etc.)
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Satin Tools > Auto-Route Satin Columns...
Enable desired options and click apply

Options

Enable Trim jump stitches to use trims instead of jump stitches. Any jump stitch over 1mm is trimmed. Trim commands are added to the SVG, so you can modify/delete as you see fit.
If you prefer to keep your previous order (which might be the case if you have overlaying satins), enable the option Preserve order of Satin Columns.
This feature will be part of an upcoming Ink/Stitch release. It is not yet integrated in Ink/Stitch.

Keep original paths will indicate if the original elements will be removed or kept.

Convert Line to Satin

This extension will convert a stroke into a satin column with a specified width. After the conversion you will see the two rails and (possibly) lots of rungs, depending on the shape of your line.

Usage

Draw a bezier curve (B)
Set the stroke width in the “Fill and Stroke” panel (“Stroke style” tab), which you can access with Shift+Ctrl+F
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Convert Line to Satin

Cut Satin Column

Split a satin column at a specified point. The split happens at a stitch boundary to ensure that the two resulting satins sew just like the original. All parameters set on the original satin remain on the two new satins, and all rungs are retained. If one of the satins would have no rungs left, a new rung is added.

Usage

Select a satin column (simple satin doesn’t work)
Attach the “Satin split point” command using Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Commands > Attach Commands to Selected Objects.
Move the symbol (or just the connector line’s endpoint) to point to the exact spot you want the satin to be split at.
Select the satin column again.
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Split Satin Column.
The split point command and connector line disappear, and nothing else appears to have happened. Select your satin and you’ll see that it’s been split.

Fill to Satin

This feature will be part of an upcoming Ink/Stitch release. It is not yet integrated in Ink/Stitch.

Fill to satin can be used to convert a fill into a satin. It is a semi-automatic function and requires a little manual work.

Usage

Prepare your fill objects. It can be necessary that you need to split up your fill to simpler shapes with the shape builder tool or with other path editing tools in Inkscape.
Make sure the fill has only a fill and not a stroke color
Create rungs with a stroke color (and no fill color). Rungs help define how the fill shape is going to be converted.

Make sure to add a sufficient number of rungs. Especially when you want to enable the option start/end at rung which will remove a portion from the open ends.
Select fill and rungs
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Fill to Satin...
Enable desired options
Click Apply

Options

Option	Descprition
Start / end at rung	When enabled open end sections will be removed from the satin. Please note, that you need to define a sufficient number of rungs or you will see missing parts. This option is useful, as in most cases you want your satin to cut short as it pushes out towards the ends when you stitch it out.
Center-walk underlay	Adds a default center-walk underlay to the satin(s)
Contour underlay	Adds a default contour underlay to the satin(s)
Zig-zag underlay	Adds a default zig-zag underlay to the satin(s)
Keep original paths	Keep or remove selected paths

Intersections

Use bridges at intersections to inform Ink/Stitch how to connect the satin columns. Unbridged intersections simply leave a gap.

Convert to satin with and without bridge

Sample file

Download the fill to satin playground file

Flip Satin Column Rails

This is a little tool to help you to plan your stitch path precisely. E.g. flip satin columns to shorten connections between two sections.

A satin column which originally starts on the left rail and ends on the right, will start on the right rail and end on the left.

Flip Satin Columns

Usage

Select one or more satin column(s)
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Flip Satin Columns

Multicolor Satin

This extension creates copies of selected satins to mimic a multicolor satin

Multicolor Satin

If you want to understand how this extension works internally, read this.

Usage

Select one or more satin column
Open Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Multicolor Satin
Set your prefered options and colors in the colorize tab
Apply

Options

Equidistant colors

Choose if the colors are equidistant or not.

If checked the color width and margins are defined for all colors by the monochrome color width value.

If unchecked you are able to independantly chose width and margins for each color.
Add a left overflow (percent)

Adds a jagged edge to the left side of the satin
Add a right overflow (percent)

Adds a jagged edge to the right side of the satin
Add more colors

Width values are given in percentages. Make sure all numbers for all colors add up to 100%.

Please note that the first input field in each color definition sets the width of the area with only one color. The second input box defines the margin to the next color. This is the width of the area with the “color transition”. When equidistant colors colors is checked, reduce the value for monochrome color width to receive a wider field of bicolor sections.

Stroke to Live Path Effect Satin

Converts a stroke into a satin using a live path effect. This makes it more adaptable in width and shape as a normal satin column.

Usage

Select a Stroke or a Live Path Effect Satin
Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Stroke to Live Path Effect Satin...
Set the approximate sizes that you wish your satin to be
Click on apply

Options

Pattern		Choice of the pattern to be applied repeatedly to the satin column
Min Width (mm)		Pattern width at the narrowest point
Max Width (mm)		Pattern width at the widest point
Pattern Length (mm)		Length of the pattern
Stretched		If checked the pattern will be stretched so that its pattern repeats occupy exactly the length of the line, otherwise there may be a gap at the end of the line
Add rungs		Since the patterns (usually) all have the same number of nodes on both rails, the rungs are optional.
Path specific		If checked, the satin column has its own pattern. A modification of any option only influences this column. Otherwise, the pattern is common to all satin columns using this effect and pattern. Modifying the pattern for one of them modifies it for all of them.

Update and change the pattern

Now you can change the pattern in the following ways.

Update the path as every other path in inkscape with the node tool
Change pattern by opening the path effects dialog (Path > Path Effects).
- Make the satin wider or thinner by manipulating the width setting.
- Change the pattern element, by clicking Edit on-canvas in the pattern source setting.
Change the pattern by running this tool again
Convert it to a normal path (Shift + Ctrl + C) and refine the path manually (it will then lose the path effect functionality)

Apply path effect

Use Path > Object to path to convert this to a standard satin column.

Zigzag Line to Satin

When you trace a pattern manually this tool can be helpful to do it all in one run. Instead of drawing first the two rails and then several rungs, this tool allows to draw a square- or zigzag line which then can be converted into the satin column style.

Usage

Draw you shape with your prefered pattern style.
Select the shape and run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Tools: Satin > Zigzag Line to Satin
- Select your path style (pattern)
- Chose wether the resulting path should be smoothed out or straight lines
- Chose if rungs should be inserted or not. The resulting path will always have the same amount of nodes on both rails.

Pattern styles

All patterns start and end with a rung.
For square (1) and sawtooth (2) style pattern draw one rung after the other.
The zigzag (3) style creates rungs from each peak on each rail to the midpoint between the peaks of the other rail.

Zigzag Line to Satin Patterns