Hi!

I am using Inkscape 0.92.3 running under Windows 7 Pro, 64-bit, Service Pack 1.

To create a neon sign, I followed a YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE-gKcJC8M8

This is what I did:

(1) For visibility, I colored the canvas gray

(2) I created a text object and colored it red

(3) I duplicated the text object and colored it white

(4) I positioned the white text object above the red text object (w/ enough space in between)

(5) I shift-click each of the two text object to group them

(6) Then, I selected Extensions > Generate from path > Interpolate. The settings were:

Exponent 0.0
Interpolation steps 2
Interpolation method 2
Duplicate endpaths: Unchecked
Interpolate style: Checked
Use Z-order: Unchecked

(7) I clicked Apply and, contrary to the video, nothing happened!

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you!

Dr. T

Did you convert the text to path first? Object to path and then ungroup for each text object. (at the 2:35 mark on the video).

Lower status bar at the lower left should read "Path of xx nodes", no "group" or "text".

Uktrunie wrote:Did you coDearnvert the text to path first? ...

Dear Uktrunie,

Thank you for your reply.

No, I didn't. I thought the video's author only did it to change the text itself.

Here's what I did now:

After I positioned the two objects, for each object, (1) I selected the object, (2) clicked Path > Object to path (status showed 4 objects), (3) clicked Object > Ungroup, (4) Clicked Path > Union (status showed Path xxx nodes ...). I now have to separate objects.

Then, I did something that I do not recall and it worked!

So what do I do after Step 4 (above)?

Dr. T

1. you cannot interpolate between groups
2. union is not the same as group but you might be thinking that
3. only when your status bar says two paths can you use interpolate
4. use duplicate endpaths or your interpolated paths might be hidden behind especially for a low number

Dear Durban,

Thank you for your reply!

I tried again and it worked. Here’s what I did this time:

(1) After I positioned the two text objects, (a) I selected one of the text objects, (b) I clicked Path > Object to path (status showed 4 objects, which are the four letters of the word I used), (c) I clicked Object > Ungroup, (d) Clicked Path > Union (status showed Path xxx nodes ...).

Durban, I am using Union to combine the four letters of the word I used (Test).

(2) Then, I repeated the above steps for the other text object.

(3) Then, I selected one object and shift-clicked to select the other object. I now have two objects of type Path.

(4) Finally, I selected Extensions > Generate from path > Interpolate. The settings were:

Exponent 0.0
Interpolation steps 2
Interpolation method 2
Duplicate endpaths: Unchecked
Interpolate style: Checked
Use Z-order: Unchecked

Durban, note that -following the video referenced in my original post- I left the Duplicate endpaths unchecked.

(5) It worked!

I found out that, If, after Step 3, I saved the file, re-opened, and went on to Step 4, it doesn’t work (the system crashed). Is this a bug?

I will now go on following the video to create the neon sign.
Dr. T