This tutorial moves on from snapping bounding boxes in Part 1, to snapping paths, nodes, and grids. While this is beginner material on the subject of snapping, users should already be familiar with drawing paths using the Pen and Pencil tools, creating paths from shapes, and editing paths with the Node tool. To learn about configuring a custom grid, you can read Lesson 15.2 Grids, of Inkscape for Artists – Step by Step. However, for this tutorial, you can use any of Inkscape’s default grids.
We will learn that snapping applies not just to objects which have already been drawn, but also to snapping nodes “on the fly” while you are drawing something. If you need precision in your drawing, you will love it!
Since snapping is best demonstrated with animation or video, there will be a few in this tutorial. Be sure to use full screen or picture-in-picture mode, to see the smaller details better. Pay attention to the Snap Indicator, which is the text that pops up at the moment of snapping. It will help you understand not only what is being demonstrated in the video, but also what is happening on your own canvas while you’re working.
Snap to Paths and Path Intersections
This first video, on the right, shows Snapping to Paths and Snapping to Path Intersection. Note that snapping to path intersection really means the intersection of a path and anything else — other paths, shapes, guides, etc. — as long as the option is enabled for whatever it is. In this video, it is the intersection of a path and a guide.
Also note that even though we are only snapping cusp/corner nodes, both cusp/corner and smooth node options must be enabled in the snap control bar. For some reason (which we do not know), both types of nodes need to be enabled, to be able to snap any nodes.
Snap to Midpoints and Rotation Centers
The video below demonstrates Snapping to midpoints of lines, and Snapping middles of objects. Snapping to midpoints of lines allows snapping of nodes during the drawing of new paths, or snapping objects or guides, to the midpoint of existing lines/paths. This option works on 2-node paths/lines, or any straight, 2-node segment of a path, no matter how many nodes are in the entire path. It does not seem to work on curved paths or segments.
There are 2 options involved in snapping the middles of objects. They are: Snap object midpoints, and Snap rotation centers. Most of the time, object midpoints and rotation centers are either in the same place, or they are very close. On extremely irregularly shaped objects, they may be in 2 different spots on or near the object. But most of the time, we find that both options must be enabled.
Note that if you are snapping the midpoint or rotation center of one object, to anything else, that object (the object being snapped) must have a non-transparent fill. If you are snapping some other part of that object (not the midpoint or rotation center) it does not matter whether it is filled.
Snap to Grids
The video on the right demonstrates snapping to grids. A special grid was made with extra wide lines, so the grid intersections can be seen more clearly.
As you can see, most of the time snapping is made to the intersection of the grid lines. But if you watch the snap indicators closely, you can see that it is possible to snap to the grid lines as well. With more typical grids, it’s really tricky to snap to a grid line, because the lines are so close together.
Finally, notice how you can snap nodes to the grid as you draw paths. This is an especially helpful feature for drawing either very precise paths, or perfectly symmetrical objects.
If you have any questions or comments about this tutorial, please feel free to post them in our forum. Or you’re welcome to share your Inkscape images with us, or just stop by and say Hello! To learn much more about Inkscape, you might want to look at Inkscape for Artists – Step by Step.
Introduction to Snapping — Part 2, Paths, Nodes, and Grids © 2025 by J Brynn is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0