: Combine multiple spray clones into one single object in Inkscape I am doing something quite basic, "spreading" (aka cloning) a circle shape multiple times with the spray tool in Inkscape. My

@Moriarity648

When you use the Spray tool in Inkscape, it doesn't generate clones by default, merely copies. I think that may be your problem.

Clones are a completely different thing from a copy in Inkscape. A clone is like a symbol - it's paths are defined only once in the SVG code, in essence it's a single object. When you spray it, you spray instances of the clone. However, if you spray copies (not clones), each path's code is repeated again and again in the SVG. If the copied graphic is complex, the more you copy the more paths are generated in the SVG. You could end up with thousands of paths, which will result in a slow down in rendering.

Anyhoo, here's how you can spray actual clones:


Create your initial graphic, group it, and clone it using Edit > Clone > Create Clone.
Move the clone to the side.
Select the clone before you hit the Spray Tool. Then when you spray, you merely spray clones, not copies.




You can check these are actual clones, by editing the clone source, in this example, I moved the inner circle in the clone source, and all the clones are updated instantly.

Vote Up Vote Down

@Berumen635

Select the objects you want to combine (the cloned circles) and do Object -> Group on the menu (Ctrl + G, on Windows). After the grouping operation is complete you can save the file as an svg and freely move and copy the unified object.

If all you have in your svg are the cloned circles, use Edit -> Select All (Ctrl + A, on Windows) to select the circles.

Vote Up Vote Down