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Notes For The Arrow - SCM Script-Fu GIMP Script

The script enables drawing arbitrary arrows in GIMP. It has adjustable parameters like wing length, line width, angle, filled or unfilled heads, notch, and double-headed option. To use it, create a path with two points for the head and tail. The modified version allows curved paths by dragging points and adjusting brush size and wing length for nicer curved arrows.

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Roberto de la Prieta
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121 views

Notes For The Arrow - SCM Script-Fu GIMP Script

The script enables drawing arbitrary arrows in GIMP. It has adjustable parameters like wing length, line width, angle, filled or unfilled heads, notch, and double-headed option. To use it, create a path with two points for the head and tail. The modified version allows curved paths by dragging points and adjusting brush size and wing length for nicer curved arrows.

Uploaded by

Roberto de la Prieta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Notes for the arrow.

scm Script-Fu GIMP Script

The script was originally written and posted in the GIMP Plugin Registry by B-Ranger. The
following section of the notes and the drawing are from the original posting:

This plugin enables GIMP to draw an arbitrary arrow into an image or a new layer. The plugin has
reasonable default values for every parameter but is freely adjustable to ones needs. Parameters are:
• wing length and line width freely adjustable (relative & absolute)
• angle between arrow tail and wing
• optional draw arrow in new layer
• optional filled or not filled head
• optional notch in arrow head
• optional delete used path
• optional draw double headed arrow

Usage:
Create a path with the head of the arrow (first anchor point) and the end of the tail (second anchor
point). Then call the script which adds itself to the "Tools" menu.

The following notes are from the GIMP Plugin Registry "Draw Curved or Straight Arrows"
(http://registry.gimp.org/node/28566):

The attached Script-fu file is a modified version of B-Ranger's arrow drawing script. This version
allows arrows to follow curved paths (splines) as well as maintaining the original scripts ability to
draw straight arrows. (See http://registry.gimp.org/node/20269 for the original script)
To use the script:
1. create a single path of two points (the first point will be the one at which, by default, a single
arrow head is drawn)
Select the Path tool and ensure that "Edit Mode" is set to "Design", left-click where the head of
the arrow is to be, left-click where the tail of the arrow is to be.
2. bend the path to the desired shape by using the left mouse button to drag a point on the path if a
curved arrow is to be drawn
3. run the script by selecting "Arrow..." from the "Tools" menu
4. adjust the settings as required and draw the arrow by clicking "OK"

If you wish to adjust the parameters and redraw the arrow just use Edit/Undo or press Ctrl-Z /
Command-Z - the path will not be shown (in GIMP V2.8.22 anyway) if the "Delete path after arrow
is drawn" option was selected - the path will still be there, although not shown, and repeating the
arrow script will draw the arrow again using the (modified) parameter settings.
I have found that with the default settings curved arrows look rather chunky - a setting of something
like 5 for the brush size and 100 for the length of the wings looks better - but that's how I see it -
adjust the settings until you get what you want.
Paths may have more than 2 points thereby allowing for more complicated curved arrows.
When a path with more than 2 points is used to draw a double-headed arrow the end and
penultimate points at each end of the path are used to position the arrow heads.
For longer paths, particularly those composed of more than 2 points the default settings for the
length of the wings (LoW) and brush thickness (BT) will need to be changed to use larger LoW and
BT settings or, alternative, changed to use values in pixels; otherwise the arrow will be too thick.

Whilst it is not possible at the moment to post files to a GIMP Plugin Registry I have posted the file
at the following address:
http://www.programmer97.talktalk.net/Files/arrow.zip

Last updated: 15/01/2018

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