Episode 102 – More Realistic Texturing

by Richard Querin

In this episode, I demonstrate how to apply a more realistic looking texture to an object using Inkscape 0.46.

Using typography as an example, and with the help of The Gimp’s Render Cloud tool, I show how to turn a ho-hum texture into something a little more natural looking. While I show an example with text, you could use this sort of treatment with any sort of object you’d like to apply a texture to. Even more generally, using a cloudy mask like this is only one solution. You could generate all kinds of other masks in something like the Gimp (or your bitmap editor of choice) and other sorts of effects to your textures.

I also show how to create a faked spotlighting effect using simple ellipses, gradients and blurs, which can make the drop shadows a little more convincing but it all depends on what you’re after.

The font I used for this episode is called League Gothic and can be found at The League of Moveable Type. And of course, for the cloud mask you can download the Gimp at gimp.org or install it from your repository if you don’t already have it.

Hopefully over the next little while I can get more up to speed on Inkscape 0.47 and all it’s new features. For now though, 0.46 will do.

I hope everyone has a great holiday season and we will undoubtedly see you in 2010!

Episode 098 – A Few Simple Text Treatments

by Richard Querin

In this episode, I demonstrate a few simple text treatments using Inkscape 0.46.

Nothing too technically challenging here, just a few treatments I’ve done on text in the past that I find valuable. Hopefully it will help spur people to use typography more in their designs.

At the start of this screencast I point to a great web site called The League of Moveable Type. While they only have a few fonts on there at the moment, they are committed to providing a collection of high-quality open source fonts. I commend them for that. Thanks to Troy for pointing me to that site. I’ve already found a couple of fonts there that I’ve used in some of my projects.

Episode 041 – 3D Text Using Interpolation

by heathenx

In this screencast I will demonstrate how to make three-dimensional text with the interpolate effect in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 040 – Dripping Blood Text

by heathenx

Continuing with my Halloween theme of tutorials, in this screencast i will demonstrate how to make dripping blood text in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 030 – Create Chrome Text

by heathenx

In this tutorial I will demonstrate how to create chrome text in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 028 – Create a Ribbon over Logo Text

by heathenx

In this tutorial I will illustrate how to draw a ribbon over logo text in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 024 – Neon Sign Effect

by Richard Querin

This tutorial demonstrates a quick method of simulating a neon sign effect.

Episode 015 – Perspective

by Richard Querin

A screencast demonstrating how to use the perspective effect in Inkscape.

[UPDATE: Kudos to Don Waters for pointing out the fact that in Inkscape 0.46, you have to choose the shape to be transformed first and then the perspective path shape - the opposite of 0.45 it seems.]

Episode 014 – Place Text Around a Circle

by heathenx

This tutorial illustrates the steps needed to place text around a circle in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 013 – Funkified Text

by Richard Querin

This screencast describes a way to ‘funkify’ some text using Inkscape.

Episode 012 – Manual Text Kerning

by heathenx

This tutorial illustrates the use of manual text kerning in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 010 – Create a Reminder Note

by heathenx

This tutorial illustrates the steps needed to create a reminder note with Scotch tape in Inkscape v0.45.

Episode 005 – Reflected Text

by Richard Querin

Here’s a quick and dirty demonstration of creating mirrored text using Inkscape. The sound should be better since I’m using the Logitech headset I just bought.