Currently, only a single path can be placed along the path in a single instance of the effect.
Will either effect ever be able to place an object (with multiple paths) along a path? Perhaps even turned into a stroke style???
The reason I ask is that it would be very nice to be able to create brushes (objects with multiple paths) that could be placed along a path.
Here is an example of what I am talking about... http://soundnvision.homestead.com/files/brush_along_path.png
The steps required to make the various shades of my example brush follow a single path is very time consuming. After I trace the bitmap, I need to include a bounding rectangle with each object that makes up the different shades of the brush so that each element is placed relative to all other elements along the same path. Then, each element is placed along the path separately. You can't edit the original path and have ALL of the elements respond accordingly. Therefore, you must start the process all over again if you don't have the original path placed exactly as as you need based on your brush shape.
Best case scenario... this effect becomes a stroke style that can be applied to any object (i.e. rectangles, ellipses, text, spirals, etc.), not just path objects. The only other place I've ever seen this type of tool is in Microsoft Expression. Inkscape's path effect comes close, but doesn't quite hit the mark.
- Tony