...forwarding this to the devel list...
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Pam B. <pamely@...329...> Date: Thu, Feb 14, 2008 at 2:26 PM Subject: Programming for Inkscape. To: buliabyak@...400...
Hi, I have been told to contact you by Bibi Morris. I understand that in the past some wonderful people have made changes in Inkscape that made it an incredibly useful program for owners of Wishblade and CraftRobo personal media cutters.
I have now been provided a tip that would allow users of Linux to drive their machines directly from Inkscape. The "tip" suggested that Windows users might be able to do the same if someone was able to do something with the windows binary for Inkscape. As is probably already obvious, I know nothing about Operating Systems, nor do I know anything about coding and software programming.
Actually, I no longer even own a Wishblade, (I have moved on to a bigger machine.) but I do run a support group for over 1,000 personal cutter owners. This has the potential of being a very powerful tool to owners of these types of cutters and could save them hundreds of dollars in software upgrades. Would you please check into this and see if it is something that can be done for us?
Thank you, Pam Beard and the 1,000+ in the yahoo group: EasyWishbladers
The "tip" is pasted below:
If the words Linux, RedHat, Debian, Inkscape and / or Python mean anything to you read on (warning, getting technical here...). How would you like to cut from inkscape? all in Linux?
I have been lurking in Linux Printer Driver land and was very happy to find an early copy of a Python script designed to provide the necessary "linkage" between Inkscape and a craftrobo cutter. With a little change to the code, we verified it works with a wishblade as well. But you might have to wait until there is support in the down loadable python script.
Basically, you print from Inkscape "using PostScript operators" (not as a bitmap). And, instead of sending the output to a printer, you "pipe" it to the python application. This operation is actually described in the Inkscape print popup menu. When you click on print, the python GUI pops up giving you more options. This GUI interface is *much* simpler than the actual graphtec software. Most anything to do with the image needs to be done in Inkscape. The only real control on the GUI are the paper size, the cutting speed and the cutting pressure.
I suppose this can also be done in windows. My *assumptions* are that there is a windows binary for inkscape as well as python and python related software. If that's the case, then you may be able to skip setting up a Linux box.
I know I am hitting only about 1% of you, but if you want to try the script you can get it here: http://vidar.gimp.org/graphtecprint/ ....I am sure feed back at this stage of development would influence what features are fixed, enhanced and / or added.