I'm trying to make some vector images for desktop wallpapers, but I can't seem to be able to get the images in the right order after I'm done tracing. Is there any way to perform these actions? I'm fairly new to Inkscape, coming from using the trial version of Adobe Illustrator. In that program, you could right click the shape and simply click "send to back" or "bring to front" and the shape would promptly do so.

Also, I've tried to save colors to the swatches panel without any success. Is this even an option? Or are we limited to the existing swatches? Currently, I'm tracing an image, and it would be easier if I could make it colorless whilst I trace other parts of the image, and fill it in with ease afterwards by way of swatches.

If anybody can help me with these difficulties I'm experiencing, it would be much appreciated!

Welcome aboard!

To change object's z order, press End/Home/PgUp/PgDown when selected.

For swatches, search the forum; Ragnar contributed alot to that part.
Like here:
http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13996

I tried this after adding a gradient fill to a square, but the square won't come forward in front of a solid square.

Are your objects part of a group? Are they placed in different layers? Send to back would not cause any object to move to another layer.

Why not uploading your svg file?

Inkscape is not free Adobe Illustrator. They are 2 different programs. They work differently and use different terminology. So you can't expect to learn one, and be able to use the other, without re-learning some things.

When you say you traced something, how did you trace it? Did you use Path menu > Trace Bitmap? If so, and if you used a multiple scan option, you'll find all your multiple scans are in a Group. You'll need to Ungroup before you manipulate them individually. If you traced them "manually" using either the Pen or Pencil tool, and you can't change the z-order, you must have done something else to the objects, that is preventing them from moving individually.

For most of Inkscape, commands are found in buttons and/or menu items, as well as key shortcuts. (Although some exist in only 1 form.) Lazur gave you the key shortcuts for moving objects in the z-order. I usually use the buttons on the Selection tool control bar, but they are also found in the Object menu.

You tried to save colors as swatches without knowing if it's possible to do so? You must have made a guess at how that's supposed to work -- or tried it the same way it works in AI? There are 2 ways to make a custom palette with Inkscape. You can do it from within Inskcape in a couple of ways. Or you can do it with the GIMP (raster graphics editor) and import the GPL palette.

In Inkscape, you first need to draw something and use Object menu > Fill and Stroke to set the color you want (or use another palette to choose from). When the object has the color you want to save, click this button in the F/S dialog . After you have saved at least 1 color, you can access your new custom palette in a couple of ways. Either View menu > Swatches, to open the swatches dialog; or change the palette to Auto (a tiny triangle at the right end of the current palette will open a menu of all the palettes that are installed with Inkscape, including the Auto palette).

Oh wait! I was answering the older message. I guess ianv01 posted his question in someone else's message

If you want the gradient to move separately from the square, you need to disengage a button on the Selection tool control bar. The tool tip for that button is "Move gradients (in fill or stroke) along with objects". It looks like this I was always curious why anyone would want to use that option. Would you mind explaining why you want the gradient to be separate from the object it's filling?

The more appropriate technique for what I'm guessing you want to do, is to duplicate the square. The square on the bottom (original) will have the gradient fill and no stroke, while the square on top will have a stroke, but no fill. The Group them together, so they will function as 1 object. (Object menu > Group, or button on command bar or key shortcut)

[i]Probably[/i] that's a better solution. Although maybe you do have some good reason why you want the gradient to be separate from the square?