image disappearing when saving and colour reverting

[larkhamasylum]

Hi all, hopefully someone can help.

I have a pretty basic document with one image import and text. When I save the file as a PNG or PDF the imported image disappears, but only sometimes. Beyond that, I have used the filter>color>color shift to change the shade of the imported image. Same thing happens, when I save the file as a PNG or PDF the image disappears. If I export as a PNG and change the 'export as' name, it saves as a PNG with the imported image there (which is great, and what I want) but I need both a PNG and a PDF.

Any guidance would be great. I have attached the original svg and the color shift edited svg. I should add that the only other editing I did to the imported image was clip mask.

I'm not a newb to inkscape but I do tend to just feel my way around, so I apologise if this is in the wrong place!

ta!

[Moini]

I can't reproduce this, the blue background exports just fine to pdf and png. I only tested once, though.

What's your Inkscape version?
Operating system?
How exactly do you go about exporting?
Can you share a screenshot of the export settings?

Can you share an exported pdf that doesn't contain the background?

And also, make sure you always select 'Page' for exporting, and disable the 'hide all except selected' check box, if it's enabled.

(btw. for the pdf, please turn text to path, else it will look different on other people's computers where the font is not installed)

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

The proper way to get a PNG with Inkscape, is using File menu > Export PNG.  You should not use File menu > Save As cairo png, unless you  specifically want that kind of file.  Save As cairo png does not support transparency.

I don't have any trouble saving those files as PDF.  Although for the blue one, I have to check "Rasterize filter effects" box, to preserve the blue filter.  I'm using Inkscape version 0.92.3.

I notice you report using version 0.91, and it's possible you're seeing a bug which has since been fixed.  Although I also notice you're a Mac user, which means you might not be able to upgrade.

When you say the image disappears, you mean in Inkscape, right?  Are you able to open the PDF file using a PDF viewer (such as Adobe Reader)?  Does the image appear there?

I seem to recall something about transparency and a bug with PDFs in Inkscape (in 0.91).  If just clicking Rasterize Filter Effects doesn't fix it, you could try putting a solid white rectangle, the same size as the page size, behind the image.

Beyond that, I can't think of anything that might be causing this problem.  But maybe someone else will have an idea.

(Oops, Moini posted while I was testing and typing)

[Moini]

Mac users can use Inkscape 0.92.2 - aside from that, I second all of Brynn's suggestions

[larkhamasylum]

Thanks both, going to try the suggested and see how I get on - starting with an update

Is there a better/another way to save as PDf that I am missing? Other than save as>PDF ?

Cheers guys

[Moini]

Save a Copy > PDF

Don't 'Save as...' to other formats than Inkscape SVG.
It's going to loose all that useful editor data that you might need if you ever want to edit the file again.

[brynn]

I advocate to always save an SVG file, even if what you need is another format, like PDF.  That way, if you ever need to edit the file again, you can use the SVG file.  If you only save a PDF, it might be harder to edit later, and maybe impossible to edit, depending on what's in the image.

You can use Save As PDF.  If you try to close the file after that, Inkscape will ask you if you want to save the file before you close it.  I have to say, that probably is confusing for a lot of users.  But it's asking if you want to save an SVG file.  Always choose yes, and save the SVG file, as well.

If you use Save a Copy to create a PDF file, it will be no benefit, if you don't save the SVG file as well.