Visualize

Simulator

Select the objects you wish to see in a simulated preview. If you want to watch your whole design being simulated, select everything (Ctrl+A) or nothing.

Then run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Visualize and Export > Simulator and enjoy.

Simulator

Buttons and Shortcut Keys

Button Effect Shortcut Keys  
Controls      
  Go back to previous command Page down
  Go back one stitch ←
  Go forward one stitch →
  Go to next command Page up
  Switch animation direction  
  start/pause animation space / p
  restart r
Speed      
  render slower ↓
  render faster ↑
Show      
  Needle penetration point o
  Jumps  
  Trims  
  Stops  
  Color Changes  
Info      
  Design Information  
Settings      
  Change background color  
  Show crosshair  
  Show page  
  Open setting dialog to set speed, line width and needle point size  

It is also possible to zoom and pan the simulation with the mouse.

Stitch Plan Preview

The stitch plan preview inserts a stitch plan onto the canvas. Depending on your settings, the stitch plan preview will be placed on top of the design or on the right side of the canvas (option: move stitch plan beside the canvas).

To access the stitch plan preview run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Visualize and Export > Stitch Plan Preview....

Options

simple and realistic render modes

From left to right: 1. Render mode simple, 2. Render mode simple with needle points, 3. Render mode realistic
Image source: Pixabay

  • Design layer visibility defines the visibility of the original design layer.
    • unchanged leave it as is
    • hidden hide the original design
    • lower opacity display original design with lower opacity
  • Render Mode
    • Simple: simple line drawing
    • Realistic: Realistic preview output as png image into the canvas (8-bit)
    • Realistic High Quality Realistic preview output as png image into the canvas (16-bit)

    • Realistic vector (slow) Vector output with realistic filters

      Slow means, that it has the capability to slow down Inkscape after the rendering process and even may make it freeze. So use with care on complex designs and save your design before you render the stitch plan.

  • Move stitch plan beside the canvas Displays the preview on the right side of the canvas. If not enabled,the stitch plan will be placed on top of your design. In that case you may want to update your design visibility to eather hidden or lower opacity.
  • Needle points displays needle points if enabled
  • Lock make stitch plan insensitive to mouse interactions (makes it easier to work on the actual design while the stitch plan is active)
  • Display command symbols

  • Render jump stitches

  • Add ignore layer command
  • Overide last stitch plan If checked the new stitch plan will replace the previous one, uncheck if you wish to keep the previous stitch plan

Design workflow with shortcut keys

Set shortcut keys for both, stitch plan preview and Undo stitch plan (see below) and it will greatfully support your designing workflow.

  • We recommend to set the shortcut key to the no preference method in the shortcut key menu. The extension will then run directly (without the settings window) with the last applied settings.
  • Enable the lock option, so you can still acceess every path without interference with the stitch plan element(s).
  • Ensure that the Override last stitch plan option is enabled, otherwise you will end up with multiple stitch plans on canvas.

Undo Stitch Plan

Using a stitch plan overlay with hidden or lower density elements helps to get a visual idea of how the design will look in the end. Sometimes it can be helpful to keep the stitch plan as a visual help while working on new elements. But for the export or for changes at existing elements during the workflow you will need the original elements back. Delete the stitch plan, unhide original elements or reset the opacity to normal isn’t a lot of fun. This extension is meant to help with this workflow.

Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Visualize and Export > Undo Stitch Plan Preview

Density Map

  • Select objects if you want the density map only for some objects, otherwise run without any selection
  • Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Visualize and Export > Density Map
  • Set color ranges and apply
  • Inspect (zoom in)
  • Undo with Ctrl + Z

This will display red, yellow and green dots on top of your elements so you can identify areas of high density easily.

Options

  • Red / yellow markers

    Define up from many stitches in which radius should dots should be colored red or yellow

  • Design layer visibility

    Define if Ink/Stitch should leave the design layer unchanged, hide id or lower opacity

  • Indicator size

    Define the size of the dots in document units

Display stacking order

This extension inserts numbered labels for selected elements into the document to visualize the stitch order.

  • Run Extensions > Ink/Stitch > Visualize and Export > Display stacking order....
  • Choose font size
  • Click on apply

Display stacking order

Information about the print pdf preview are collected in another section: more info about the pdf export