Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Post questions on how to use or achieve an effect in Inkscape.
Jan E.
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:13 pm

Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby Jan E. » Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:10 pm

I'm almost finished with my first work in Inkscape, so just a noob.
But I have difficulty to make a Northern light on the logo under. The id is that the light starts smal upper left, and getting bigger towards the right. And some sort of turn in the middel like the Lillehammer logo. And it must be as simple as possible. So it's possible to make out on smal stickers etc.

Image

The effekt I'm after is something like this:

Image
Image

User avatar
loonquawl
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 7:57 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby loonquawl » Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:47 pm

One possibility : Make a Rectangle :tool_rectangle: , do path:object to path, make a bezier curve, that does what the aurora is supposed to do (some kind of S shape, possibly) Select the rectangle, :tool_node: , make it a little less "rectangly". :tool_selector: make it the uppermost Object. Select both the bezier and the rectangle, then do Effects:GenerateFromPath:Pattern along Path , and set the attributes to "Repeated" and "Ribbon"
After the effect is done, select all the new rectangles, and do SHift+Ctrl+K (Break Apart). Now you can slightly wiggle the rectangles, or paint them different colors.

Enjoy

Jan E.
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:13 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby Jan E. » Sat Oct 18, 2008 2:29 am

Not sure if I get it right. I only end up with only 1 or 2 new shapes (a new distorted form of the rectangle.)
I tried some different things. But basically ends up with only new distorted rectangles.
And If I do a new "Effects:GenerateFromPath:Pattern along Path" I end up with multiple distorted rectangles, and seems with no logical shape to them.


I'm looking for more like a string of vertical rods that can be manipulated like a snake. And individually height and spacing between them.

Maybe some sort of text full of the letter l (lllllllllllllllllll) that is connected, and can be shaped like an S and screw?

User avatar
loonquawl
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 7:57 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby loonquawl » Sat Oct 18, 2008 2:55 am

There is definitely something wrong. you should end up with something very much like the lillehammer thing.
Make the rectangle a slim rectangle, stnding upright, like an 'l'.

Make the Bezier curve at least four times as high as the rectangle.
Make the 'S' very broad.
In the dialog of Pattern alon Path, mark 'Live Preview' 'Duplicate before deformation'
Unmark 'Pattern is vertical'
Space between copies: 20
Normal offset 0
Tangential offset 0
Deformation Type : Ribbon (very Important!, otherwise the rectangle gets deformed)
Copies of pattern: repeated (also very important)

With the live preview marked, you can play around with the attributes, rest assured that you will find Lillehammer :)

Jan E.
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:13 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby Jan E. » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:44 am

Great, thanks.
There it was 8-)

Seems like a simple line instead of the rectangle gives a result closer to the black/white drawing.

Jan E.
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:13 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby Jan E. » Thu Oct 23, 2008 6:28 pm

I still got a problem with this:

I get the rectangular or straight line to duplicate along the Bezier curve.
But if I make the rectangular with FILL to: radial gradient (to blur the edges). The rectangular won't duplicate over to the Bezier curve (At least it won't show.)
The same if I use a straight line and use "radial gradient" on it.

User avatar
loonquawl
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu May 15, 2008 7:57 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby loonquawl » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:06 pm

Currently, the gradient is applied to the resultant object (all the paths as one)

- After breaking the path apart into mutliple paths, simply mark them all, and give them a radial gradient. Now the gradient will be applied to the individual forms. (if they already have a radial gradient, switch to full, then back to gradient, and it will be there.

Jan E.
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 6:13 pm

Re: Northern light (Aurora Borealis) effekt.

Postby Jan E. » Fri Oct 24, 2008 5:05 am

Yes, that was what I ended up doing. But it would make things a lot easier if it was possible with "live preview" in the "Pattern along Path" menu.


Return to “Help with using Inkscape”