This group of effects creates new objects from one or more existing paths.
Renamed to Inside/Outside Halo in v0.45 so as not to be confused with blurring using filters.
New in v0.46.
Adds «CAD» style dimension arrows to an object. Only works on paths. It uses an object's quadro delimitatore to determine placement of arrows. The arrows and original object are placed inside a Gruppo.
Simulates motion. Draws a copy of the selected object behind the original and then connects corresponding nodes with lines to form a group of closed paths. The direction and offset of the copied object can be specified. The new objects inherit the attributes of the original but can be edited as a group.
One can also use this effect to simulate perspective by reducing the size of the copy along with the associated nodes. The steps are:
This effect produces a blurred image of the selected object(s). It works by making multiple copies of the object(s) and insetting or offsetting the path of each copy by a different small amount. The opacity of each copy is set to a small value based on the number of copies made. The copies are embedded in a group that is left above the original object(s).
Why would you want to use this effect when Inkscape now supports filters? Well, Filter support in Web Browsers is still in its infancy. Your SVG drawings are more likely to be properly rendered using this effect. The look of the blur is also a bit different.
This effect only works on paths! Convert regular shapes and text to paths before using (Shift+Ctrl+C)).
→ (Draws a series of lines that interpolate the space between two paths. The options include setting the number of Interpolation Steps (in-between lines), an Exponent factor that controls the spacing between interpolated paths (zero for even spacing), specifying if the original paths should be duplicated (Duplicate Endpaths), and specifying that the path style should also be interpolated. Objects need to be converted to paths prior to invoking the effect.
The beginning of the path of one object is matched to the beginning of the other path. This can lead to unexpected effects. The starting point of a path can be found by selecting the path with the Node Tool and then using the Tab key. If no node is already selected, the first node in the path will be selected.
The interpolation effect can also be used to simulate gradients of different symmetries. When calling the effect, the smaller path should be selected first.
This effect places a pattern along one or more target paths. The pattern can be a single object or a Gruppo of objects. See also la sezione chiamata «Live Path Effects (LPE) » for an alternative way of putting patterns along paths.
To put a pattern on a path:
Select the pattern: The pattern can be a single object or a Gruppo. In some cases, you may have better results if you explicitly convert all objects (e.g., forme) in the pattern to paths.
Select the target path or paths: Called the Skeleton path by the effect author.
Call the effect: A dialog will open up where various parameters can be selected. After the effect is applied there will be a new path for each object in the pattern. For example, the 18 stars on the red line in the above figure are formed by one path.
The quadro delimitatore of the pattern is used for placing the pattern along the path, with the quadro delimitatore of one pattern copy touching the quadro delimitatore of the next copy (if no additional spacing is specified).
When the effect is called up, the following dialog is shown:
This dialog has many options that can be set (see figures below for examples of use):
Copies of the pattern: You can choose to have a Single copy of the pattern placed on the path or multiple copies Repeated along the path. The pattern can be stretched so that the left edge of the first pattern copy lines up with the start of the Skeleton path and the right edge of the last pattern copy lines up with the end of the Skeleton path.
Deformation type: Two options are available:
Snake: The pattern is rotated and deformed to follow the path such that all points with the same horizontal (x) position in the pattern will be on the same normal to the path, and all points with the same vertical (y) position in the pattern will be placed the same distance from the path. If the Pattern is vertical box is checked, then the pattern is rotated 90 degrees first.
Wave: The pattern is deformed only in either the vertical or horizontal direction to conform to the path. The direction of the deformation is controlled by the Pattern is vertical check box described below.
Space between copies: You can add (or subtract) space between copies of the pattern. The unit is pixel.
Normal offset: The normal offset moves the pattern perpendicular relative to the path. Positive values move the pattern to the left relative to the direction of the path.
Tangential offset: The tangential offset moves the pattern in the direction of the tangent line to the path.
Pattern is vertical: Checking this box rotates the orientation of the pattern by 90 degrees.
Duplicate the pattern before deformation: With this box checked, the original pattern is left in place. Otherwise, it disappears.
The Pattern along Path is a very useful effect but it does have a few quirks. One is that if the pattern is moved before use, the results may be less than ideal. Another is that different parts of the pattern can be distorted in different ways as seen below.
The following example shows a pattern placed on both straight and curved paths. If the radius of curvature is too small, the pattern may be grossly distorted.
A pattern can be used to create a fancy border as shown below. Care must be taken that the pattern lines up at the corners. This can be done by making the distance between the corner nodes multiples of the pattern width or by breaking the path into disconnected pieces at the corners (use the Break Path at Selected Nodes ( ) option in the Strumento Nodo Controlli Strumento) and using the Repeated, stretched option.
Going one step further, a pattern can be applied to a circle. In the following figure, the pattern on the right was applied to a circle (of larger diameter than the solid yellow circle). The resulting path was filled with a radial gradient.
One use of the Single, stretched option is to put text on a path. The text must be converted to a path first ( → (Shift+Ctrl+C)).
Another use of the Single, stretched option is to create flourishes. The steps are:
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