I'm new to inkscape and have got a bit stuck trying to produce an effect similar to that seen in this link http://andrealikes.to/images/HospitalityIndex1.gif. I would like shapes with a grainy effect which have a different coloured centre that fades into another colour at the outside, with sharp edges as seen in the countries in the link.

I've had a play around with the air spray filter and various others but I can't seem to get anything looking similar. Does anyone have any tips?

Welcome aboard!


As far as my understanding goes that grain pattern looks all over the image.
Probably it was added in a raster editor -or in illustrator-, because svg's current blending modes can hardly get you to an exact match.

Here is something "similar":



If you add different grain touch to the different coloured parts you can get a much better look.
(As this one uses a black object over all the others. If it was matching more to the colour below, it would blend in much better.)
Can post an example for that if my description is confusing.

You could probably get an effect like that using Filters. I'm talking about the sprayed effect that's inset for each "country". For each "country" shape, use Path menu > Inset, to achieve the inner shape.

To the inner shape, try some different filters......(reminds me - I can never remember where I've seen a poster that shows how each filter looks - that I need to make one for myself, so I can refer folks to it). One filter that might work is Filters menu > Distort > Chalk and Sponge. You will need to Group that inner shape (yes, even though it is a group of 1) and then apply a simple blur. The simple blur can easily be applied from the Fill and Stroke dialog. There are some more complicated blurs in the Filters menu as well, if you have the patience to experiment. After you apply the blur, group it again (I know, yes, another group of 1, but is necessary). And there might be other filters that would work by itself, without needing the extra blur. I just can't point out which ones, that's why I want to make a poster showing the effect of each filter.

Oh wait -- Inkscape might already have something like that. I'll try to find....

I agree with Lazur that it looks like the grainy effect is on the whole poster, not just the inset pieces....except maybe not the text....I can't quite decide whether that grainy effect is intended, or just poor quality image. But you could try to find a filter like that....I'm pretty sure there is one, but it might not be packed with Inkscape. You might have to search around to find it. So after you finish everything, group everything, and apply this grainy filter to that group.

Edit
Ah-HA!! It's already in Inkscape. Go to the folder where you installed Inkscape. Inkscape/share/examples/filters.svg (I think it might be on the website somewhere, but I need more time to search. If I ever find it, I'll save the link )

brynn wrote:I agree with Lazur that it looks like the grainy effect is on the whole poster, not just the inset pieces....except maybe not the text....I can't quite decide whether that grainy effect is intended, or just poor quality image.

I think there is a noise layer on top of everything.


If i wanted to create the effect OP is trying to achieve, i would draw the map in Inkscape, then import into Gimp.

Then you have to choose between two option:

1.) Use layerfx and apply an Inner Glow from center with noise (see screenshot)

or

2.) Import the map, and import a second layer with the inset of the map.
Then apply Blur (say 30-40px depending on the canvas size) and Spread (again 30-40px)