All filters look awful when applied

[Echoa]

Im at a loss here, i cant find any reason that this should be happening. This is with a fresh install and nothing else changed, i just downloaded the 64bit version, installed it on windows 10, and started following some tutorials to accomplish what i use to in photoshop in inkscape

Im trying to accomplish something like pressed steel in this using the filters

http://www.littlewebhut.com/inkscape/graphics_filter_guide/images/bevels.gif

but instead i get this when i apply it
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aric8J3JmLAugflcI-84BQi_r3TTjQ

i dont know how or why, please help...im at the point i dont care to use inkscape anymore

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

As far as I understand, that Pressed Steel filter is pretty old.  (So is that Little Web Hut filter guide.  Inkscape now has hundreds of filters which are installed with the program, and hundreds more which can be installed "manually".)  In my opinion, that filter could be improved.  Hhm....not sure if Lazur has made any metal filters.....see this message for links to his collections:  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=329.msg2267#msg2267)

It's hard to know what might be causing the problems that you see, without being able to see your SVG file.  Actually, it might also help if you could descirbe what you see as the problem.

What I see is that the top edge is sort of "cut off".  That issue  is known, and there's probably a way to fix it on your canvas, using the Filter Editor.

I also see some strange lines in the horizontal edges, but I'm not sure if the object to which the filter is applied might be causing that.  If I make a similar object with Inkscape, I don't see exactly the same thing.  But I might not have drawn the rectangle the same way you did.

Another thing to consider is whether these problems are display issues with Inkscape, which you would not see using a different viewer.  For example, try exporting a PNG, and view with your system's default viewer.  Or save the SVG file, and view it using your browser.

Beyond that, I would urge you not to "throw the baby out with the bath water".  Just because you find one filter or one feature which isn't to your liking, doesn't mean the entire program is trash.  If your use of Inkscape is limited to filters....well, then you might be disappointed with some of those very old filters.  And if you're interested in creating your own filters, you'll really be disapppointed, since the current Filter Editor, is known to be in need of updating (indeed a process has already started to improve it).

But Inkscape is much more than just filters -- much, MUCH more!  Anyway, let us know what you find with using different viewers.  Also, if you want to share what type of graphics you typically like to draw, we might be able to suggest a more appropriate program, if it turns out Inkscape isn't the best for your needs.

Edit - Not that I'm speaking for Lazur.  But if he has time, he might agree to make a better pressed steel filter for you?

[Echoa]

Welcome to the forum!

As far as I understand, that Pressed Steel filter is pretty old.  (So is that Little Web Hut filter guide.  Inkscape now has hundreds of filters which are installed with the program, and hundreds more which can be installed "manually".)  In my opinion, that filter could be improved.  Hhm....not sure if Lazur has made any metal filters.....see this message for links to his collections:  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=329.msg2267#msg2267)

It's hard to know what might be causing the problems that you see, without being able to see your SVG file.  Actually, it might also help if you could descirbe what you see as the problem.

What I see is that the top edge is sort of "cut off".  That issue  is known, and there's probably a way to fix it on your canvas, using the Filter Editor.

Is there a certain way to draw this that im not doing? I made a rectangle then rounded the corners and stroked the outline.

I also see some strange lines in the horizontal edges, but I'm not sure if the object to which the filter is applied might be causing that.  If I make a similar object with Inkscape, I don't see exactly the same thing.  But I might not have drawn the rectangle the same way you did.

Another thing to consider is whether these problems are display issues with Inkscape, which you would not see using a different viewer.  For example, try exporting a PNG, and view with your system's default viewer.  Or save the SVG file, and view it using your browser.

Beyond that, I would urge you not to "throw the baby out with the bath water".  Just because you find one filter or one feature which isn't to your liking, doesn't mean the entire program is trash.  If your use of Inkscape is limited to filters....well, then you might be disappointed with some of those very old filters.  And if you're interested in creating your own filters, you'll really be disapppointed, since the current Filter Editor, is known to be in need of updating (indeed a process has already started to improve it).

But Inkscape is much more than just filters -- much, MUCH more!  Anyway, let us know what you find with using different viewers.  Also, if you want to share what type of graphics you typically like to draw, we might be able to suggest a more appropriate program, if it turns out Inkscape isn't the best for your needs.

Edit - Not that I'm speaking for Lazur.  But if he has time, he might agree to make a better pressed steel filter for you?

so my problem im having with it is the getting cut off at the top, and the rough texture that not just this filter but all of them seem to apply. Im trying to make it smooth and not have the rounded corners look like its pitted and scrunched. Every metallic filter results in a rough and pitted look, even ones supposed to be smooth and i played with every setting i could find but to to avail.

im just frustrated at watching the video and it looking so simple but when i repeat the steps my results are entirely different. I made a rectangle shape using the create rectangle tool and rounded the corners, then i stroked the outline and was trying to make it look metallic. Im not sure what im doing wrong?

edit: I tried exporting it and still looks the same in every viewer.

[brynn]

What video?  Could be the tutorial is outdated too?

Fwiw, I keep a curated list of links to what I consider to be worthwhile tutorials on this site.  Look at the Home tab.  I do not include tutorials from proprietary sites like Little Web Hut, because their sites usually disallow linking (and I don't have time for legal wrangling).

To be honest, I've never liked a lot of those filters in the Bevel sub-menu.  They just don't look like what they're said to be.  Sometimes they look great on a large object, but crappy on a small or thin object.  Or vice versa. 

But let's have a look at the video, and we might find a better way to achieve what you want.

[Echoa]

What video?  Could be the tutorial is outdated too?

Fwiw, I keep a curated list of links to what I consider to be worthwhile tutorials on this site.  Look at the Home tab.  I do not include tutorials from proprietary sites like Little Web Hut, because their sites usually disallow linking (and I don't have time for legal wrangling).

To be honest, I've never liked a lot of those filters in the Bevel sub-menu.  They just don't look like what they're said to be.  But let's have a look at the video, and we might find a better way to achieve what you want.

this is the video right here


he just too his simple shape, and applied the filter no problem.

[brynn]

Ok, for the example with Pressed Steel, the object he applies it to in the videao, is all round.  Try using it on something round.  I mean, we see the problems with your rounded rectangle are only on the straight edges.  So I suspect this filter just can't handle the staight edges.

And there's another factor, which helps the filter to look good in the video.  Notice how he didn't just draw a spiral, and apply the filter to the fixed width stroke.  He made the spiral so that it's fatter in the middle, and tapers out to a point.  So I think that helps it look good in the video.

I edited my previous message, but I'm not sure if you saw it.  A lot of those older filters look great on large objects, but if you apply them to something small, like text, they look awful.  Or vice versa -- look great on thin or small objects, but on a large object, look like crap.

Probably (with developers) we should discuss removing these older filters, and maybe even replace with better ones.

Anyway, if you really need specifically this particular filter for a project, I suspect Lazur might be able to make a better one for you.  But if you're just learning about filters, you should know that this is an area of Inkscape which need some attention from developers, and not all filters really look like  their name.  For example, I once use one called....I think it was called Blue Cheese.  But I used for an engraved leather look (with a couple of tweaks).  Not sure if it's still included in Inkscape.

This is a little different, but there's a pattern in Inkscape which I think is called Sand.  But I used it for a pretty successful texture on a cupcake!  So I think the moral of this story might be - don't take the name of a filter or pattern or maybe even extension, to mean that's the only way you can use it.  For example, maybe you might need a pitted steel texture for something....right?

[Echoa]

Ok, for the example with Pressed Steel, the object he applies it to in the videao, is all round.  Try using it on something round.  I mean, we see the problems with your rounded rectangle are only on the straight edges.  So I suspect this filter just can't handle the staight edges.

And there's another factor, which helps the filter to look good in the video.  Notice how he didn't just draw a spiral, and apply the filter to the fixed width stroke.  He made the spiral so that it's fatter in the middle, and tapers out to a point.  So I think that helps it look good in the video.

I edited my previous message, but I'm not sure if you saw it.  A lot of those older filters look great on large objects, but if you apply them to something small, like text, they look awful.  Or vice versa -- look great on thin or small objects, but on a large object, look like crap.

Probably (with developers) we should discuss removing these older filters, and maybe even replace with better ones.

Anyway, if you really need specifically this particular filter for a project, I suspect Lazur might be able to make a better one for you.  But if you're just learning about filters, you should know that this is an area of Inkscape which need some attention from developers, and not all filters really look like  their name.  For example, I once use one called....I think it was called Blue Cheese.  But I used for an engraved leather look (with a couple of tweaks).  Not sure if it's still included in Inkscape.

This is a little different, but there's a pattern in Inkscape which I think is called Sand.  But I used it for a pretty successful texture on a cupcake!  So I think the moral of this story might be - don't take the name of a filter or pattern or maybe even extension, to mean that's the only way you can use it.  For example, maybe you might need a pitted steel texture for something....right?

ok..i was hoping to make things a bit quicker but i guess ill have to learn to do things manually, im new to inskcape as i moved away from adobe because of subscription model. Thanks for the help, ill look into other ways to accomplish things without these filters

[Lazur]

A few notes:
-the video didn't zoom in as much as you did with the screenshot, the banding problem was present before as well
-since then there is another renderer in use.

About the cutoff, the default filtered area might be set too small for the amount of blurring. In general, an object with a more square-like bounding box proportion is "safer" from that issue.
Bounding box can be reset in simple steps.


The banding, however is a hard-wired issue of the svg-s. The "bumpmap" the diffuse lighting filter primitive using is of the small "bit-depth" input of the alpha channel. There are only 256 levels thus the transition is not smooth -you need to blur the result a bit and maybe add some dithering too.

[brynn]

How do you add dithering?

[Lazur]

With a displacement map filter primitive, using a fractal noise as an input.