How to create multiple gradient shapes with pencil tool

[Dukk_Dodgers]

I'm a high school art teacher who is trying to use Inkscape in my computer graphics class. I'm very new to Inkscape, but I've been searching my Inkscape book, Google, tutorials, and the forums for an answer to this question. I've had no luck.

I want to be able to draw shapes filled with gradients with the pencil tool. Every time I do this, my initial shape will not have a gradient. I can then go change it to a gradient, but I'm planning on making hundreds of shapes this way, and changing each one individually is unacceptable. Also, I could draw a ton of shapes, then change them all to gradients at the end. This is also unacceptable, as I would not have any idea how the image was looking until I transformed all the shapes to gradients at the end. I find it strange that I can create multiple shapes with whatever types of fill and stroke I want, as long as they're a solid color, but I cannot do the same with a gradient fill. I've noticed that it seems to save every gradient I create. I'm worried that this means what I want to have is impossible.

[u]The big question:[/u]
Is there any way to lock the 'fill' on the pencil tool so that it always creates a gradient? (Also, just for the record, I do not want any 'stroke'.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[brynn]

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

Hhm, interesting question! I can confirm that it can't be done, but I can't explain why.
It might have to do with how Inkscape with vector graphics creates the gradient, which if I'm not mistaken, is more of a pixel-/raster-related element?

Does each object use the same gradient? Or do they all need different gradients? I was thinking that if they all use the same gradient, you might be able to use Clones. But if you're drawing them with the Pencil, they probably are not identical shapes? You could enable gradient sharing (if it's not already) so that all the objects can share the same gradient. But that would still not allow you to have the gradient applied when you draw the object.

If you would care to share a little more about the effect you're trying to create, or the overall goal of the image, there might be another way to achieve it, and we might be able to offer suggestions. But it sounds like really have a pretty good understanding of Inkscape already, and know exactly where you're going. So it's just a thought

Yes, Inkscape does save every gradient you create, but only in that document. You can get rid of gradients that are no longer being used in the image, using File menu > Vacuum Defs.

I will be interested to learn why any tool's style can't include a gradient fill, though. Hopefully someone can explain?

[Dukk_Dodgers]

I'm including a link to an image I made in Al.chemy. It's basically a series of shapes with gradients, drawn over a monochromatic photo. After doing it, I was disappointed by the resolution. It occurred to me how cool it would look done in vector. Also, Al.chemy has no layers or undo function.

I really appreciate the feedback, though I'm bummed by your conclusion.

Here's the image.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... =3&theater

[Dukk_Dodgers]

I thought I posted this, but it's not here. Thanks so much for the help. I'm a bit bummed by the answer, but that's hardly your fault. The only way I can see the project to be feasible as I want to do it is if there's a way to make a gradient hot key. So, I could make the gradient shape, then hit a key to fill the gradient in the shape. Otherwise, I need to manually select gradient fill with the mouse after every shape. That would be too cumbersome. Here's a link to the image I did. It's basically gradient shapes over a monochromatically colored photograph.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 318&type=3

Thanks for all the help.

[brynn]

Yeah, since that was only your 2nd message, it had to be moderated. And I've been a little under the weather for the last couple of days, so I apologize for the delay. Now your messages will be displayed immediately.

Unfortunately, I can't see your image. I actually don't have a Facebook account. Well, I'm assuming that's the problem. This is the error message I'm getting:
"This content is currently unavailable
The page you requested cannot be displayed right now. It may be temporarily unavailable, the link you clicked on may have expired, or you may not have permission to view this page"
You could attach it to a message here, for convenience. Or maybe someone else can see it, and will be able to help?

Btw, I love Alchemy! I haven't played with it for awhile, so I should fire it up again soon (....argh -- gosh, I haven't even installed it on this computer yet -- I need to go download it right away....)

[druban]

The only way I can see the project to be feasible as I want to do it is if there's a way to make a gradient hot key. So, I could make the gradient shape, then hit a key to fill the gradient in the shape.

Ah, well, yes and no. if you copy an object with the gradient you want to use you can draw an object and then press shift -ctrl- v and paste the gradient. BUT! the nodes of the gradient will be on top of the old object still, so you will still have to select the gradient or node tool and drag the nodes to where you want them to be.
Anyway if all your shapes are not the same you would perhaps want to fine tune the gradient for each object anyway...

[Dukk_Dodgers]

Well, here's another link to my image. This one is public, so it should be easier to see.
http://www.wix.com/craig_huffman/craigh ... sketchbook

Unfortunately, there are several 100 shapes on this image. I think I might have to do this in another program than Inkscape. The only way I can see doing it now would be to make all the shapes, then fill them with gradients. (Which means I'd be working blind) Either that, or having it take a ridiculous amount of time.

As a final bid, what I meant by using a hot key was setting up a key which would effectively 'click' the gradient tab in the fill screen. That way, I could make the shape with my mouse hand, then click the gradient fill choice on the keyboard. Sort of a 1-2 combo for each stroke. Is this possible?

Thanks for all the help, either way.

[brynn]

I'm sorry to be so dense, but which is the one we should look at? Only one of them looks like it could be hundreds of small shapes filled with gradients - EvilInfancy? Or at the very top of the page, is a grayish square, which could be made of hundreds of really tiny objects? Or maybe you mistakenly provided the wrong address?

That said though, it sounds like there probably is not going to be a faster way than drawing the object and then adding the gradient. I'm just so curious about a project where this takes too long....or where you couldn't use a solid color while you're working, in order to see how it's looking as you work, and then adding the gradients at the end. I suspect it must be a very ambitious project And if it is, you may encounter slowdowns, eventually, due to the large number of gradients (even if it is the same gradient).

Inkscape has a new renderer being built currently, and expected sometime this year, which should resolve many of the slowdowns we now experience. But my guess would be towards the end of the year. So it may well be better to use something else besides Inkscape, unless you want to wait.

[Dukk_Dodgers]

The digital painting of the trapeze artist in red and blue. I did this in Alchemy. The entire painting is done in gradient shapes. I'm not sure what EvilInfancy is. Hmmm...

[brynn]

Oh wow, that looks awesome, even so tiny as it is there. How big will it be finished? I never did understand whether the pencil drawn objects are all the same, or whether the gradients were all the same. I guess they wouldn't be, now that I can see a little bit of what you're doing. In some areas, I think you could use cloning, and that would certainly speed things up. However that probably couldn't account for more that 1/4th of the whole. You could also enable gradient sharing, and duplicate the pencil drawn objects together with gradient. But again, it doesn't look like it would help all that much.

I misread the title, but I thought it might be the very last one on the page, which actually starts with "EvilInInfancy....jpg".

Well anyway, I really hesitate to suggest other options now, because I can see that you have a kind of a style, or a certain look that you want to achieve. It might work to Combine some larger areas of small pencil drawn objects, and then apply one gradient to that compound path. But I think you'd lose the sort of faux pointilism effect (if I'm remembering the proper term from grade school, lol).

For some reason, I can't get Alchemy to work on this computer, and waiting for reply in their forum. I don't remember from when I played with it a year or 2 ago, anything like what you're describing. But my other computer might have an older version, lacking whatever features you used. I thought if I could semi-replicate your process, I might think of something that would work in Inkscape. But I'm thinking that's really a long shot at this point.

Arrggh, I'm so frustrated that we can't come up with something to help you use Inkscape for this . Aside from clones or gradient sharing, you pretty much have to draw an object, then apply the gradient. I guess if you're really motivated or inspired to do this creation, you wouldn't mind if it took a long time. I know that most of my projects are long term (several months usually). But I can't really call myself an artist. I like the process of creation, but have few inherent skills. I can understand that some artists might need to get the elements drawn while they're "on a roll".

Anyway, good luck with it. I hope you do find something that will work - perhaps a raster graphics program like The GIMP, or Paint.NET? I'm really not very familiar with them, so have no idea whether they would be any better. All best

[flamingolady]

well, while I don't have 'the' answer, what I do when I want to use the same gradient over and over is to make a tinee rectangle (or any object) and fill it with my desired gradient. I save it in a file in with my other folders and folders of svgs in a file called gradients. When I want to use it, I open the file and duplicate it, cut and paste it to my new file. Then, once I've done my drawing, I can now choose the gradient from the drop down menu in the Fill and stroke box, and I don't have to keep re-creating the gradient (then I delete the tinee object of course because I no longer need it). Sometimes I do this with solid colors too, especially when creating the 'gold' colors, it's so much easier to use something you've already created.

[Dukk_Dodgers]

Thanks for the help, everyone. Good news: I did find out that you can export from Alchemy in SVG or PDF, so I can get it in a vector graphic. I'd still love to have layers and the ability to undo, but I've worked it out enough for my students to do this as a project. They'll just have to paint over any mistakes. The problem with cloning any gradients is that you need to be able to see how the work is progressing; just like a painting. Putting in a bunch of shapes, then going back to turn them all into gradients just wouldn't do it. You would lose all the subtlety involved in the process. Now, if they'll just make a mod of Alchemy with layers and undo...

[brynn]

Thanks for the update

[Dukk_Dodgers]

Thanks again for the help, everyone. Just for the record:Two of my students got their projects done in time for the biggest high school art show of the year. One of them got theirs in, and we're waiting to see how far it will go. It looks like the project has a lot of potential! I thought you might like to know.