Endurance Line Shading Extension (plugin) for an Inkscape software

Overview of the Endurance Line Shading Extension for Inkscape (plugin). Create a g-code for laser engraving.
An alternative way to create greyscale (halftone laser engraving)

Inkscape plugin description

The Endurance Line Shading extension enables to convert a raster image into waves. This extension can be used to get an art effect that goes perfectly with laser engraving. The image is divided into a certain number of lines. The pixel brightness in every line modulates the frequency and amplitude of the basic wave. Examples of the plugin work are given below:

Parameters: Waveform = Sinusoidal, Number of lines = 70, Min period = 0,15, Max period = 2, Min amplitude = 0, Max amplitude = 1, Gamma = 2.2.

Parameters: Waveform = Sinusoidal, Number of lines = 100, Min period = 0,20, Max period = 2, Min amplitude = 0, Max amplitude = 1, Gamma = 3.

Parameters: Waveform = Sinusoidal, Number of lines = 60, Min period = 0,10, Max period = 2, Min amplitude = 0, Max amplitude = 1, Gamma = 2.

This art effect gives the best result when working with photos with large details and middle contrast but is not good for outline drawings.

Using this plugin you can generate various abstract patterns:

Parameters: Waveform = Sinusoidal, Number of lines = 30, Min period = 0,1, Max period = 10, Min amplitude = 0,8, Max amplitude = 0,8, Gamma = 1.

Parameters: Waveform = Square wave, Number of lines = 10, Min period = 0,2, Max period = 2, Min amplitude = 0,8, Max amplitude = 0,8, Gamma = 3.

With this plugin and Endurance laser engravers, you can create interesting art objects.

Installation

To use this plugin you need to install Inkscape. We tested the work of the plugin with Inkscape 0.92.
To install the plugin, copy all the archive files to the Inkscape “extensions” folder.
• Windows: “C:\…\Inkscape\share\extensions”
• Linux: “/usr/share/inkscape/extensions”
• Mac: “/Applications/Inkscape.app/Contents/Resources/extensions”
The installation is over.

Use of the plugin

1. To start with, import the image to Inkscape. To do so drag over the image file to the Inkscape temporary field or choose in the menu file > import. When the import parameter window opens set the parameters as shown in the picture below.

2. Select the image and run the “Endurance Line Shading” extension. Go to the menu Extension > Endurance Laser G-code > Endurance Line Shading.

3. Then set the parameters. To activate live preview check the corresponding box. See the picture below.

Waveform: three basic waveforms are available: sinusoidal, triangle (saw-shaped), square (meander).
Number of lines
Min period of the wave (maximal frequency corresponds to the black color).
Max period of the wave (minimal frequency corresponds to the white color).
If you set the same values for the max. and min. periods only the amplitude modulation will be used. The waves period at that will correspond to the given one. If you make the minimal period bigger than the maximal one, the colors in the picture will get inverted.

Min amplitude: of the wave (corresponds to the white color).
Max amplitude: of the wave (corresponds to the black color).
If you set the same values for the max. and min. amplitudes only the frequency modulation will be used. The wave’s amplitude at that will correspond to the given one. If you make the minimal amplitude bigger than the maximal one, the colors in the picture will get inverted.

Gamma: gamma correction coefficient. The parameter increment makes middle tones of the picture darker; the parameter decrement makes them lighter. The brightness of the middle tones corresponds to the initial at 2,2 value of this parameter.
Line width.
Remove image.

4. Click Apply to create waves.

5. To engrave the obtained image using a CNC machine you will need the G-code. To generate it use the Endurance Laser G-code extension.

Download a plugin for an Inkscape

Endurance Lasers line shading plugin for InkScape

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