Problem with Inkscape or my distro?

[superkev]

Hi all,

Posted my hello in the appropriate forum so now the question I have been trying to find an answer to for more than a week. For reference, I am using PCLOS v2010.

I have 3 things in Inkscape that have NEVER worked on my machine and darned if I can figure out why-- One of them is something I REALLY need to get working to complete a project. When Inkscape works it is a joy and very easy to get the effect you are shooting for so I want to say that up front.

1- Text to path: Quite simply this has never worked, followed several tutorials step for step and no matter what I do, text will simply not go to a path, pattern or any other such thing.

2- I'm drawing a blank on the terminology here but, popular web 2.0 glossy effect for buttons or on text has never worked as I have seen in say, Heathenx's videos. Example, I create a button and then use the bezier tool to create a shiny/gloss layer on top, when I want to exclude the section of that gloss layer that lies outside the rest of the button or text, nothing happens, I have tried difference, intersection and nothing simply excludes and deletes the unwanted excess.

3- And this is the biggie for me right now, adding a pattern to text. Should be dead simple, type text, set to path, import pattern .jpg, set, clip. Nada. If my text is black to begin, the pattern will show through but not in color, if text is white, the jpg and the text just disappear. I have no idea what is happening there.

I know these things could probably be done in GIMP but it doesn't give me the same flexibility as Inkscape to move, resize, change text or font etc. Like I said when it works it's great, it's just frustrating to see something done in a tutorial that just will not work on my machine. Especially something I really need to work to finish a project.

Any ideas or tips will be greatly appreciated.

[kmrs75]

1- Text to path: Quite simply this has never worked, followed several tutorials step for step and no matter what I do, text will simply not go to a path, pattern or any other such thing.

i have to union before doing text to path

[Jaws]

Hi Kev,

I’ll assume you’re using Inkscape version 0.47, and also assuming the distro doesn’t make a difference. A lot of assumptions, so I hope I don’t make an a$$ out of myself. So let’s tackle your problems in reverse order. Example images below...

Question #3
-- Type your text. See below Image 001.
-- Using the Import button on the tool bar, import your jpg. In this case I imported an arbitrary jpg wallpaper I had. I made the jpg shorter so it will show in the text better. Image 002.
-- Select your jpg and click on --> Object --> Pattern --> Objects to Pattern.
-- Delete the jpg.
-- Select your text and in the Fill and Stroke dialog --> Fill, select the 4th button over. Image 003.

If everything went as planned you should see the text filled with the image. Image 004.

You can also set more than one pattern and select between them. Last 2 images below.

I’ll follow up with your other question in a new post in a little while.

BTW, welcome to LGU

Cheers ~ Ed

[Jaws]

?1- Text to path: Quite simply this has never worked, followed several tutorials step for step and no matter what I do, text will simply not go to a path, pattern or any other such thing.

For this I’ll assume you want to put text on a path. What I didn’t mention in my previous post is don’t convert your text, which is considered an object in Inkscape, to a path in this or the previous post. Text must stay as text. If you’re not sure if you are working with an object, text, or a path, keep an eye on the status bar: image 001 below.

I also drew a horizontal line with the pen (bezier) tool, image 002, but you can use an ellipse too.

Using the node tool I grabbed the middle of the pen tool path to make an arc. 003.

Select both the text and line and click--> Text --> Put on Path, 004.

Select the line path and in the Fill and Stroke dialog --> Stroke, set the stroke paint to No Paint, 005 to make the line invisible.

Pull a guide line down from the top ruler, double click on your text to step into the text to edit it and using the arrow keys you can move the text cursor in front of the “S” to level the text, 006.

Use the Alt and left, right arrow keys to kern the text, 007.

2- I'm drawing a blank on the terminology here but, popular web 2.0 glossy effect for buttons or on text has never worked as I have seen in say, Heathenx's videos. Example, I create a button and then use the bezier tool to create a shiny/gloss layer on top, when I want to exclude the section of that gloss layer that lies outside the rest of the button or text, nothing happens, I have tried difference, intersection and nothing simply excludes and deletes the unwanted excess.

Instead of duplicating an already fine tutorial, check out Richard’s screencast:

http://screencasters.heathenx.org/episode-017/

But pay particular attention that when he’s making the glossy effect that he duplicates the original object first. Creates the pen tool (bezier) outline and selects the pen tool outline and shift clicks the duplicated object so both are selected and does  a --> Path --> Intersection. Also make sure you close the pen tool outline by setting the last node on top of the first node. You’ll know you’re on top of the first node when that node turns red. The shape will be filled with color with the last click.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Cheers ~ Ed