Fill not working properly

[bobettason]

Hi

I?m learning how to use Inkscape and am having problems filling an enclosed shape that I?ve created using the Bezier tool.  I?ve tried to find the answer in this forum and elsewhere online but nothing I?ve found solves my problem.

I?m a mac user using Inkscape 0.91 and OS X 10.9.5

1. I created a basic shape using the Bezier tool
2. I set the stroke to black, flat colour
3. I set the fill to a yellow, flat colour
4. Opacity is set to 100%


The problem I have is that there is no yellow fill showing, just the black stroke.  Screenshot attached.

If I remove the stroke then I can see that the shape has a yellow outline so it looks as though the fill setting is behaving as a stroke instead of a fill. 

Can anyone help me with this please?

Thanks.

[brynn]

Welcome to Inkscape Community!

First, thank you for providing such a thorough presentation of the problem! It looks like you have applied a path effect (LPE) to the path, called Power Stroke.  That changes how fill/stroke behaves.  If you zoom in, you may be able to see that the stroke really isn't like a regular stroke anymore.  It now has a yellow fill inside the stroke, and a black border, which yes, is also called a stroke.  I know it's confusing.

If you switch to the Node tool    you'll see 2 kinds of nodes - gray ones (the ones you set) and some new pink ones.  If you grab a pink one and drag it, you'll see that the "power stroke" can be made wider (or narrower).  If you make it wider, you'll be able to see the yellow fill much easier.

Did you have some reason for applying the power stroke path effect?  I don't think it's possible to apply it without realizing it....well I guess it is possible, if you're like I was as a newbie -- just clicking things to see what they do.  You may have applied the power stroke and thought it didn't do anything, and moved on.  But if you are trying to achieve some particular effect, let us know, and we'll be glad to try to help.

Just for future reference, here's a little article/tutorial I wrote, to help people with this kind of problem:  http://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=18.  At the moment, it doesn't cover this issue, so I'll plan on editing it asap, to include this problem.

[bobettason]

Thanks you so much for your help.  Problem fixed!

You're right that I must have applied power stroke without realising it when I was exploring Inkscape.  It now seems to be the default when I create new shapes but at least I know how to fix it. 

I find it odd that Inkscape uses your previous settings instead of reverting to a default each time you open a new document but maybe when I get more advanced I'll come to appreciate it.

On the plus side I've now discovered this forum and all of the tutorials on offer which I'm sure are going to help me.

Once again, thanks for your help.  It was driving me crazy!

[brynn]

You're welcome

That's what I was thinking, when I said it would be hard to accidentally apply the power stroke.  You're right about tools drawing the "next thing" in the same style as the "last thing you drew" with that tool.  I have another article/tutorial to address that:  Customize Your Inkscape Tools' Styles

But I don't think LPEs like the power stroke are passed on.....  Whoaaa!   Actually, there does seem to be a reason why you got that power stroke accidentally.  I'm asking for clarification on the mailing list, so I'll post back when I can explain with any degree of confidence.

I've said this before, but since it came up I'll say again.  I think that passing along of style attributes isn't appropriate for default behavior.  It gives most newbies fits, and is an obstacle to their learning how to use Inkscape.  I actually can't imagine any scenario where someone would actually find a use for that.  That's why I think it's so odd that it's default behavior.  Maybe I should say that "officially" via feature request to the project, one of these days?

[brynn]

Ok, what I found is that if you have the Pen/Bezier or Pencil/Freehand tool configured with a Shape option (on control bar) set to Triangle In or Triangle out, and the mode is anything except Spiro Spline mode (also set on the control bar), it automatically has the Power Stroke applied to it.

I don't think that's because you accidentally set the Power Stroke path effect, and it's carrying over to each new thing you draw.  It's because you probably left the Shape set on Triangle In or Out.  Once you switch that to None, you'll be in business with regular paths again.

At first I thought it might be a bug.  But now I think it's probably designed that way.  The manual has not been updated for version 0.91 yet (power stroke is a new feature), so I can't look it up.