Export as visible, with mask information discarded?

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conal2
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Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:30 pm

Export as visible, with mask information discarded?

Postby conal2 » Sun Sep 18, 2011 2:12 am

Hi, thanks to help on this forum I have designed my logo using inkscape and I'm very pleased. Now I need to make it 3D in blender. The problem is that I used clip/masks in the process. When Blender Imports the SVG it ignores these.

Is there a way to make inkscape export exactly what I can see, but with the clip/mask information discarded?

For example If I had a square with a circle cut out of it using the clip set function: What I want inkscape to export is a new shape, a single object the shape of a square-with-circle-cut-out rather than exporting the instruction for the square, and the instruction for the clip.

See what I mean?

Thanks

Conal

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brynn
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Re: Export as visible, with mask information discarded?

Postby brynn » Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:56 am

Hi Conal,
Hhm...I might not be able to answer your question, because I'm not familiar with Blender. But I wanted to try and clarify your process.
Are you saving as Inkscape SVG? Does saving as Plain SVG solve the problem? When you import the SVG into Blender, is there any dialog where you might specify your wishes?

If you were to use (in Inkscape) File menu > Export Bitmap, to create a PNG version, that would give you a file with exactly what you see. Could you use a PNG in Blender? Probably not, I'm guessing, you probably need the paths. But just a thought.

It sounds like you might need to draw the new shape rather than using clip to achieve it. But again, I've never used Blender, so I don't really know. (Although it might be time for me to finally install it, and start learning :D)

Also, I'll move your topic to Inkscape and Other. (I thought we had an Inkscape and Blender forum, but I guess not...?)

~suv
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Re: Export as visible, with mask information discarded?

Postby ~suv » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:10 am

brynn wrote:Also, I'll move your topic to Inkscape and Other. (I thought we had an Inkscape and Blender forum, but I guess not...?)

Not sure why you would do that: the question is not limited or directly related to importing Inkscape SVGs into Blender. It's about whether Inkscape does have a feature to 'flatten' clips or masks (it does not).

conal2 wrote:Is there a way to make inkscape export exactly what I can see, but with the clip/mask information discarded?
No.
The question might be why you use clip-paths like in the example:
conal2 wrote:For example If I had a square with a circle cut out of it using the clip set function: (…)
A path operation (Path > Difference) to subtract the circle from the larger square below will create precisely the path you need for importing / extruding in Blender [Edit: actually - that's what you did to create the clip-path for such a clip in the first place].

conal2
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Aug 29, 2011 7:30 pm

Re: Export as visible, with mask information discarded?

Postby conal2 » Tue Sep 20, 2011 8:01 pm

Thanks suv, I'll go back and try using the Path > Difference function, and Brynn - I tried exporting in every format I could think of - Plain SVG, PDF, EPS etc. All the vector foramats had the clip mask embedded, and I couldn't find a way to use the raster formats for what I want to do.

Very grateful to you both for the input!

EDIT: Might just do a 'trace bitmap' on an exported raster graphic then rexport as svg for blender. I'll let you know what works best!

Weertolon
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:49 pm

Re: Export as visible, with mask information discarded?

Postby Weertolon » Tue Oct 11, 2011 3:06 am

Hi conal2
Have 'trace bitmap' helped you? I'm trying to do something like you (I want to export export only half of the shape) so your results might be useful for me.


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