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SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
I just had fun with svg effects in Inkscape 0.47 Snapshot, and of course I would share them with anybody ! The best is opening the svg file in Inkscape, copying any object and pasting the style (Ctrl+Shift+V). Or trying to change settings in the Object/Filter Effects window, or in the XML Editor...!
I find Inkscape more and more useful as a companion tool for Xara. That's so easy to share files between the two applications : svg or png from Xtreme to Inkscape and png (or pdf if vectors) from Inkscape to Xtreme.
And I would say that I am in love with svg effects, even... and even because they need some exploration with trials and errors.
Enjoy them !
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
very good Ivan - still trying to find the time :o
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
A fusion glas effect also suitable for text.
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Here is an unicolor version for those wo want. Only change the outline color.
enjoy !
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Now an attempt at non turbulent gel effects. These ones are suitable for unfilled shapes (including unfilled text).
enjoy !
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Great effects, Ivan. And all of this is vector!
Knock, knock, Xara developers...
Remi
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
remi
Great effects, Ivan. And all of this is vector!
Knock, knock, Xara developers...
Remi
Thanks ! Yes, they all are vectors but I discovered yesterday that these filters can be applied to bitmaps too in Inkscape exactly like live effects can in XTreme. And the nice side of the raw svg is that it's open and the code can be easily changed even in the Notepad !
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
The unicolor gel effect (see the blue star above) applied on one of my Xara Brush design exported in png with alpha channel.
Just tune some filter settings (gaussian blur and specular light) to improve light effect.
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
More transparent gels for closed shapes. Another attempt through a different approach closer to my first steps to gel in this thread :
http://talkgraphics.com/showthread.php?t=10773
Updated with filter names and a "small objects ready version" for every filter + samples on 48 Pts text.
enjoy !
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Very pretty effects! Knock knock Xara developers indeed; it really is quite a shame Xara can't produce excellent effects like these. Oh wait...it can, and has for years now. I produced the effects below using the (apparently) invisible Live Effects tool. All objects are vectors. The great thing is, if you want to edit the effects, you don't need to delve into code--just change a slider instead. You do however need the effects installed though.
I tried to look for Inkscape's SVG filters, but I couldn't find anything in there. Please could someone point them out?
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
He He ! Nice works ! No, Live Effects aren't invisible for my eyes and Yes I have fun with them !
Simply, SVG Effects are another kind of beast. You can play with them without knowing any code programming.
To apply some presets to an object (which can be a vector drawing made in Xtreme and exported in SVG or converted into a bitmap PNG), select it and go to Effects/Filters and chose an effect in the list.
Afterwards if you want change any settings, go to Object/Filter Effects. The Filter Effects Window will open and you will have to select what is called a Primitive (like Gaussian Blur, Displacement Map, Turbulence, Color Matrix...) in the Effects area and change the settings below (there are sliders too, like in Live Effects).
I must admit that some changes give unpredictable results for the newbie I am, but this exploration is addictive.
Afterwards you can export your shape in png and import it into XTreme... and eventually add some Live Effect to it.
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Yes, I played around with Inkscape's filters. While I couldn't find the ones you used, I did play with the others. In typical Inkscape fashion, they are all somewhat good, but almost unusable due to the terribly low speed of things. Apply a fractalize path modification to a simple line. Inkscape almost crunches when you then do anything else in it. Useful Inkscape may be, but it's a good job it's free.
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
Apply a fractalize path modification to a simple line. Inkscape almost crunches when you then do anything else in it.
Did you try to work at lower quality display settings (File/Inkscape Preferences/Filters) ? I do it and don't zoom to close and it's much quicker !
And you can even disable displaying filters : View/Display Quality/No filters (I am not sure about appellations because I work with the French version).
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
A little bit closer to "Aqua"...
enjoy,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
A Textured Collection
enjoy,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
For Xara Brushes addicts, here are those I created with the individual samples of the above textures.
enjoy !
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
... it really is quite a shame Xara can't produce excellent effects like these. Oh wait...it can, and has for years now. I produced the effects below using the (apparently) invisible Live Effects tool ....
Which live effect is that Xhris?
I think the reason why the live effects tools are almost invisible is that most of us have no idea how to use them. I take that back - I - dont know how to use them to any effect and most of the descriptions don't give much of a clue as to what they can do ......
Any help or guidance would be appreciated.
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
I produced the effects below using the (apparently) invisible Live Effects tool. All objects are vectors. The great thing is, if you want to edit the effects, you don't need to delve into code--just change a slider instead. You do however need the effects installed though.
A bit cryptic indeed.
C'mon Xhris - elaborate pls ;)
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Huh, oh, I used two live effects. The first was to 'break' the shape up a bit into a bitty look; I used the Redfield Craquelure 3D one which I think comes with Xara. Then i just used the Alien Skin glass (bought) with various settings to give it the shiney 3D look. I didn't save the xar file as I thought people wouldn't have the LEs to play with it. It was just a quick job to show that the claim that Xara was deficient relative to Inkscape was in fact false.
Here: attached a quick xar file.
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
It was just a quick job to show that the claim that Xara was deficient relative to Inkscape was in fact false.
Where was that claim made then? I must have missed it :confused:
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
Huh, oh, I used two live effects. The first was to 'break' the shape up a bit into a bitty look; I used the Redfield Craquelure 3D one which I think comes with Xara. Then i just used the Alien Skin bevel with various settings to give it the shiney 3D look. I didn't save the xar file as I thought people wouldn't have the LEs to play with it. It was just a quick job to show that the claim that Xara was deficient relative to Inkscape was in fact false.
Xhris using those filters mean they are no longer Vectors.
While Craquelure comes with Xtreme, the Alien skin bevel does not (Bevel Boss does, but only as a demo)
I think the point Ivan is making, is that SVG is a vector throughout whereas applying Craquelure immediately creates a bitmap .
Edit: Oh, I see you changed your post while I was posting and checking Xtreme .
So yes, you need third party purchased plugins which again create Raster results.
So not 'apparently' invisible after all :rolleyes:
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
ah, in that sense 'deficient'.....
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
Huh, oh, I used two live effects. The first was to 'break' the shape up a bit into a bitty look; I used the Redfield Craquelure 3D one which I think comes with Xara. Then i just used the Alien Skin glass (bought) with various settings to give it the shiney 3D look.
Clever use of Redfield Craquelure 3D indeed ! And Yes I often use Alien Skin Glass.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Xhris
It was just a quick job to show that the claim that Xara was deficient relative to Inkscape was in fact false.
At the moment Inkscape is deficient relative to Xara in many many areas. And of course the 0.47 development version I use is very unstable, but at this stage it's a natural thing.
I am not recruiting for Inkscape. It's not my goal to denigrate Xara. All the composite pictures I post here are made in Xara with png pictures exported from Inkscape.
Thus if Xara doesn't develop an SVG filters editor and doesn't support them, that's not a big problem. I will continue to work like that. It's easy and friendly.
What I try to show is the possibility to use a free complementary tool (in fact Inkscape as a very capable and respectable SVG Editor) for this particular kind of work : texturising vector shapes (often drawn in Xara) with textures created nearly from scratch in Inkscape, assembling elements like every 3D texturiser do. Because Inkscape SVG Filters idea is much closer to 3D texturising techniques and it uses the same algorithms.
On the other hand the child I am much prefers creating from scratch and explorate and share freely what he find than working with proprietary filters and their reduced number of settings.
kindly
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
The underlying shapes on which the LEs are applied remain editable vector shapes for scriptable LEs (i.e. these). The resulting modification to the vector shape has the LE reapplied (hence the name) and is rasterised for screen output (like any object). Xara's website shows video of exactly this using LEs. The LE itself is neither a bitmap or vector, it's a process. The result of any operation is always rasterised for screen output. I define remaining as a vector meaning having properties like any standard vector shape as opposed to its bitmap copy which is uneditable except at the pixel level. I suppose that's how you define whether something's a vector or bitmap--whether edits can be made independently of direct pixel modification. Shapes with LEs applied, or extrudes, or bevels are not edited by changing their pixels directly and so are vectors. Even bitmaps are really vector objects with a bitmap fill. I suggest a new thread: what is a vector or something for continued discussions on this though.
I suppose one thing Inkscape has in favour is that these nice effective LEs are available for free. It's also a shame Alien Skin charges such an extortionate amount for their software.
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
I think the point Ivan is making, is that SVG is a vector throughout whereas applying Craquelure immediately creates a bitmap .
In fact SVG filters effects are resolution independent, like vectors are. However they don't create vector shapes. Simply they work on the pixels of your screen and can be changed to bitmaps afterwards. However if you zoom on these effects or if you scale strongly a shape whith effects applied you will reach the limits of the algorithm implementation or something like that and see unexpected textures appearing. At the moment they are also exigeant in system resources.
In Live Effect in Xara the vector shape remains underlying. You chose at which bitmap resolution they are applied and it's perhaps not so heavy for the system.
The two solutions are interesting because non destructive.
But I explained above which kind of pleasure I have with Inkscape solution.
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
While I was searching for feathering in SVG I found this strange "Petals" Effect.
At some settings it even can create gaps between the segments where they have an inner angular junction.
I add a Xara brush with the pictures below.
enjoy,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
On the beach : sand, water, algae and jellyfish...
enjoy,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
New cracked and waxy effects.
enjoy
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
You're creating some very wild & excellent brushes here Ivan. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Thanks Egg !
Knowing your taste for creating superb brushes and finely tuning their settings I am sure you could have a lot of fun at exchanging files and effects between Xara and Inkscape.
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Some goldpainting effects ...
enjoy,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
It's Fall...
Some colorizable leaves.
Enjoy
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Nice gold Ivan, it looks very expensive.
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
salaam
Nice gold Ivan, it looks very expensive.
Not so much ! It's a free effect ! :D
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Some more cracked textures evocating brick and stone walls, wallnuts, carrots, lukums, wasp nests...
All are settings from the same one derivated from one of the leaves filters above.
enjoy !
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Extrapolated from the previous ones, these ones can be directly applied to bitmaps to give them painterly effects.
enjoy,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
now why did I just know that was the direction you'd be heading in Ivan..:)
effective - I like :cool:
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
handrawn
now why did I just know that was the direction you'd be heading in Ivan..:)
effective - I like :cool:
And so simple ! Import a png into the file in Inkscape and keep it selected, open the Object/Filter Effect dialog, check the filter name in the list, look at the result and export it to png to open it again and play with it in XTreme.
And if you change settings in the Blend Primitive in Inkscape you can obtain more dramatic effects like this.
kindly,
ivan
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Hi Ivan,
Newbie here...May I ask how you apply a svg file to a Xara drawing or photo opened in Xara? The effects are interesting but I'm lost after downloading and unzipping them.
Can you provide instruction geared to a newbie?
Thanks,
mg
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Re: SVG effects for Inkscape as a companion for Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mg.architect
Hi Ivan,
Newbie here...May I ask how you apply a svg file to a Xara drawing or photo opened in Xara? The effects are interesting but I'm lost after downloading and unzipping them.
Can you provide instruction geared to a newbie?
Thanks,
mg
EDITED WITH NEW INTERESTING INFOS ABOUT INSTALLING AND LINKING PNG EXPORTED FROM XARA !
The filters are applied in Inkscape which is a free Open Source vector program. As indicated in this thread title I use it as a companion tool for Xara, importing and exporting from one to the other program.
But don't be afraid ! That's not so complicated.
1° Unzip a Win32 Inkscape Snapshot in its own directory at any place on your PC and create a shortcut to it. Nothing more to do ! They are available here : http://inkscape.modevia.com/win32/?M=D . The last snapshot which works well for me is this one : http://inkscape.modevia.com/win32/In...-0810191927.7z . It's compressed with 7z, a free zip program.
Be aware that these snapshots are beta programs and they have bugs. If you want you may report them here : https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape
2° Exporting from Xara
You have two possibilities :
- if your Xara drawing has no Xara filter, gradient, fractal fill, transparency effect, blur or shadow applied and is only pure vector, you can export it as SVG.
- if your drawing contains some effects or bitmaps, the best is exporting it as a PNG bitmap. If there are transparency effects and you don't want to include background, the best is exporting to 32 bits true color + alpha PNG, otherwise it's perfect to export as a 256 colors PNG
3° Importing in Inkscape
- Open in Inkscape snapshot the file which contains the filters (the zipped one at the bottom of my posts).
- If your Xara exported file is a svg vector, open it as a new file. That will open a second instance of Inkscape. Go back to the document with filters, copy the object with the filter you want and paste it anywhere in your SVG file imported from Xara.
- If your file is a PNG bitmap, create a new blank file, import this bitmap inside and paste the same way the shape containing effects in the same document.
INTERESTINGLY BY DEFAULT INKSCAPE DOESN'T EMBED THE BITMAP AND THUS IF YOU CHANGE IT IN XARA AND EXPORT IT AGAIN, IT'S AUTOMATICALLY ACTUALISED IN INKSCAPE ! But afterwards you may embed it if you want : only go to the Menu and do Effect/Image/Embed all images.
4° Applying filters
- select the vector or bitmap object you want apply the filter onto.
- go to the menu Object/Filter Effects. That opens a new dialog window where you see on top left the filter name(s). Check the little box and voilą !
5° Modifying filters settings
Then begins the most fascinating step... Sometimes hazardous of course, but at the moment my only little problem is sometimes beeing forced to kill Inkscape process when it stop to respond. But be patient, sometimes it needs some seconds. Inkscape isn't as fast as Xara is !
- to change the settings, click on one of the "primitives" on top right of the filters dialog window. The settings input boxes and sliders will change at the bottom of the windows ; that's where you can change anything.
It's discussed through Inkscape programmers community how to improve filters UI in the future to make it simpler without sacrifying it's powerfull capabilities.
6° Exporting from Inkscape to Xara
The best is exporting your transformed object as a PNG bitmap (at 300 DPI that's perfect) and importing it in Xara. Then you will benefit of all Xara compositing capabilities to manipulate your semi-transparent PNG.
7° Modifying filters and creating new ones
In fact at first I proceeded like a blind man and many many functions remains mysterious for me. I am an intuitive person and I must do many experiments before understanding what I do. At this early stage I couldn't write tutorials.
But you could find excellent online docs here : http://fedev.blogspot.com/search/lab...cts%20Tutorial and here : http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MAN...l/Filters.html
I hope that can help those ones who would try...
kindly,
ivan