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6 PnPInk User Manual

6.1 Introduction

PnPInk is a free, open-source, and cross-platform toolkit designed to create high-quality print-and-play materials for board games -- cards, boards, tokens, player aids, and more -- directly inside Inkscape.

Unlike other generators, PnPInk is not a separate application but a native extension suite that transforms Inkscape into a complete publishing environment -- capable of accompanying creators from the very first prototype designs to the final, fully professional print composition.

6.2 What PnPInk Does

PnPInk automates the creation of:

  • Card decks of any size or format.

  • Boards and punchboards, including hexagonal or square grids.

  • Player sheets, tiles, counters, and rule inserts.

It combines data-driven generation (from Google Sheets or CSV files) with Inkscape's full graphic power -- gradients, filters, clipping masks, paths, symbols, and layers -- to produce editable, print-ready layouts with pixel-perfect precision.

6.3 Key Principles

Principle Description
Open Source PnPInk is released under an open license. All files remain accessible, editable, and transparent.
Cross-Platform Works wherever Inkscape runs: Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Non-Destructive Everything you generate stays as pure SVG -- fully editable afterwards.
Professional Output Exports PDFs with CMYK color, ICC profiles, and print standards (FOGRA, PDF/X).
Accessible & Visual No programming required -- all actions are done through menus, dialogs, and clear visual feedback.

6.4 Power of Inkscape Integration

Because PnPInk is built inside Inkscape, it inherits all of its advanced features:

  • Full vector control: Bezier paths, shapes, and text on path.

  • Complex styling: gradients, blurs, blend modes, and filters.

  • Image management: linked or embedded images, with live previews.

  • Multi-page support: each layout can produce complete, paginated projects.

  • Universal format compatibility: SVG, PDF, PNG, EPS, DXF, and more.

This makes PnPInk suitable for both quick prototypes and professional offset printing.

6.5 Intelligent Data and Automation

PnPInk can read structured data directly from:

  • Google Sheets (live connection with authentication), or

  • CSV files exported from any spreadsheet program.

Each row in the data corresponds to a card, tile, or component.\ PnPInk replaces variables automatically -- names, values, icons, or images -- to generate all items in a single command.

You can also control elements through short, intuitive syntax rules:

  • define page size and margins ({A4 b=[5 4]}),

  • define the grid (.L{p=3x3 g=2}),

  • position elements with anchors (ID~i8 or ID.Fit{a=8}).

This nomenclature is compact, logical, and extremely powerful, allowing advanced layouts without complex scripting.

6.6 Extensible by Design

PnPInk includes an internal Python engine that lets power users create custom behaviors, filters, or generation logic.\ At the same time, the system remains compatible with external programming through Google Sheets formulas, scripts, and data manipulation -- perfect for dynamic prototypes or large datasets.

Together, these layers make PnPInk both simple for beginners and limitless for experts.

6.7 Output Quality and Professional Printing

All final projects can be exported as:

  • Editable SVG files for on-screen review.

  • Print-ready PDFs with CMYK color conversion and bleeds, margins, and crop marks.

  • Optional PDF/X compliance for professional pre-press workflows.

This ensures consistent color reproduction and compatibility with professional printers and services.

6.8 Typical Use Cases

  • Design and print your own card game in minutes.

  • Generate hundreds of cards from a single Google Sheet.

  • Build modular or hexagonal boards with automatic alignment.

  • Create color-managed PDFs for offset printing.

  • Share open, editable project files with collaborators worldwide.

6.9 Why PnPInk

PnPInk bridges the gap between creativity and production.\ It combines the artistic freedom of Inkscape with the precision and automation of modern data tools -- delivering a unique environment where design, logic, and craft meet.

6.10 PnPInk Basic Workflow (User Guide)

6.10.1 What you need

  • Inkscape (Windows, macOS, or Linux).

  • PnPInk extension installed.\ After installing, new menus appear in Inkscape under Extensions > PnPInk DEV (e.g. DeckMaker v0.24dev).

6.10.2 Your first project: the quick overview

  1. Design the template in Inkscape\ Create a single "master" card (or board). This can be a full finished design, or a generic frame with placeholders (title, number, icon, art frame, background, etc.). This will be your TEMPLATE.

  2. Name things clearly** Give each element a meaningful ID (e.g., title, cost, icon, art, bg). IDs let PnPInk know what to replace** later.

  3. Prepare your data** Use Google Sheets or a CSV file. Each row represents one card (and can include "copies" or quantity). Add columns that match your IDs--plus any other properties you want to control (texts, colors, styles, images, counts, etc.). There's no limit** to how many you define.

  4. Choose a layout** Tell PnPInk how to arrange cards on pages (paper size, grid, margins, gaps). Layouts are written with a short, intuitive notation** (e.g., {A4 b=[5 4]} with .L{p=3x3 g=2}).

  5. Generate** PnPInk clones the template for each row, replaces variables, positions/adjusts elements with Anchor & Fit, arranges them into multi-page documents, and prepares print-ready PDFs (including CMYK/ICC** for professional printing).

6.10.3 IDs: how elements are matched to data

  • What they are: IDs are the "names" of objects in your template (texts, shapes, groups, images).

  • How to use them: If your CSV/Sheet has a column title, and your template has a text object with ID title, PnPInk will insert that row's text there.

  • *Best practices:*

  • Keep IDs short and descriptive (title, subtitle, icon, art, frame, bg).

  • One purpose per ID (avoid duplicates unless you intend to repeat the same value).

  • Use groups with an ID when multiple items belong together (e.g., a framed art block).

6.10.4 Layouts & pagination (short notation)

  • What layouts do: They control paper size, card size/quantity per page, margins, and gaps.

  • *Notation examples:*

  • {A4} with .L{p=3x3} -> A4 paper, 3 columns x 3 rows.

  • {A4 b=[5 4]} with .L{p=3x3 g=2} -> margins and gaps.

  • Orientation toggles and presets let you switch between portrait/landscape and standard card formats.

  • Why it matters: One template can produce hundreds of cards, arranged automatically into clean, paginated sheets--ready for cutting or die-cut.

6.10.5 Anchor & Fit (precise placement without manual nudging)

  • Anchor = where the element aligns inside its target area (e.g., 8 = top-center, 5 = center, 3 = bottom-right).

  • Fit = how it scales to fill or respect the frame:

  • none (no scaling),

  • contain (keep ratio, fit inside),

  • cover (keep ratio, fill completely, may crop),

  • stretchXY (scale independently).

  • Margins and bleed: You can add margins or negative margins (e.g., [2] = 2mm padding on all sides; [-1] = extend 1mm beyond for bleed).

  • Result: Titles center perfectly, icons snap to corners, images fill art frames, and backgrounds expand to edges--consistently across every card.

6.10.6 Inline icons (type the name, get the icon)

  • What it is: Write icon names directly in text (e.g., :sword:, :lightning:) and PnPInk replaces them with vector icons--styled to match your fonts and colors.

  • Scale & style: Icons live inside the text flow, so they line up with your typography and inherit styles.

  • Big libraries: PnPInk can connect to large online icon sets (200k+ icons) that you can call by name. No manual importing--just type the name.

  • Use cases: Resource symbols, status icons, action markers, rarity pips--instantly consistent across the whole project.

6.10.7 Snippets & variables (write once, reuse everywhere)

  • Variables: In text fields, you can insert placeholders tied to your data (names, numbers, colors, costs, etc.). When you generate, they're replaced automatically.

  • Snippets: Think of them as reusable text chunks or micro-templates. Example use cases:

  • A standardized rules block you reuse on multiple cards.

  • A cost line that composes icons + numbers based on data.

  • Language variants or conditional content (e.g., add a keyword only if a value exists).

  • Benefit: You keep your template clean and consistent, even for complex sets.

6.10.8 Asset sources (images, art, symbols)

PnPInk can pull artwork and symbols from multiple places:

  • Local files you link in your data (e.g., art=images/dragon_03.png).

  • Document symbols (shared elements duplicated across cards).

  • Sprite sheets or multi-page packs (see "wrappers" below).

  • Online icon/name catalogs (call by name, automatically resolved).

Tip: Always keep a simple asset folder structure; name files clearly to match your rows.

6.10.9 Spritesheets and virtual sources (advanced, optional)

  • Spritesheets let you cut a bitmap into a grid and reference frames by index.
  • Virtual sources let you reference web catalogs (Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay, Openclipart) using wkmc://, pxby://, or oclp://, including File: and Category: modes on Wikimedia plus size targets like large, 1000, or 1000x1000.
  • This is ideal for large libraries or external packs where manual importing would be tedious.

6.10.10 Style control without limits

  • Because everything happens inside Inkscape, you have the full power of:

  • Gradients, filters, blends, masks,

  • Layers and symbols,

  • Precise vector paths and text styling.

  • PnPInk simply automates the boring part; you keep artistic control at all times.

6.10.11 Professional output (CMYK & print standards)

  • Export PDFs with CMYK color, ICC profiles, and optional PDF/X compliance for offset printing.

  • Add bleed, crop marks, and safe margins automatically.

  • Keep the editable SVGs for future updates, translations, or expansions.

6.10.12 Typical end-to-end flow (checklist)

  1. Open Inkscape -> confirm PnPInk menus are visible.

  2. Create your template (card/board) and assign clear IDs.

  3. Prepare your Google Sheet or CSV:

  4. One row per card (or copies).

  5. Columns named after your IDs + any extra properties (e.g., icon, art, rarity, color, bg, copies, layout, etc.).

  6. Choose a layout (paper size, grid, margins).

  7. Use Anchor & Fit for placement and scaling.

  8. Write inline icons right inside text by name.

  9. Use snippets/variables for reusable blocks and smart content.

  10. (Optional) Connect to online icon libraries and wrappers for multi-page asset packs.

  11. Generate -> review pages -> export PDF (CMYK) for print.