Inkscape

0.47 Inkscape will not save gradient as .eps

Asked by Daf Hobson

I have many text layers with a .png background and one layer of gradient - with 3.0 of blur.
Thus the blur is larger than the .png background image.
All layers and background save to .eps OK - except the gradient.
Have I understood that 0.47 does not support gradients to .eps ?

If I save in .pdf the gradient is saved as an ugly hard line with an added fine green bounding edge - and reopens that way, so can not be used.

The solution I used was to create the background image with the gradient already on it as a .png - and Import it into Inkscape.
Are the sophisticated gradients in Inkscape unavailable to .eps and .pdf?

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vwanweb (vwanweb) said : 		#1

from what I have seen / researched .eps and .pdf generally have problems with supporting gradients. These problems with .eps and .pdf gradient support are not specific to inkscape, even commercial programs like illustrator have problems with .eps and .pdf and gradients.

Try using inkscape's >extension >generate from path >interpolate feature as a nice work-around.

http://www.inkscape.org/doc/interpolate/tutorial-interpolate.en.html

if the gradient effect (interpolate) goes from/to neighbouring hue (HSL tab of the Fill and Stroke (Shift+Ctrl+F) Menu) values (colors), like red to yellow, than you will see a nice color transistion... If the gradient effect goes from/to Hue values that are far apart, like blue to yellow, the interpolate feature in inkscape uses Saturation (Gray) to perform the color value interpolation..

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su_v (suv-lp) said : 		#2

> Have I understood that 0.47 does not support gradients to .eps ?

No. The problem with gradients in EPS is transparency: the default gradients in Inkscape go from solid to transparency - EPS on the other hand does not support transparency: the exporter in Inkscape 0.47 creates a fallback raster image embedded into the EPS file for these objects.

> If I save in .pdf the gradient is saved as an ugly
> hard line with an added fine green bounding edge

Not sure what the issue is here - the resolution of the rasterized blur can be controlled in the export options (dpi). If increasing the dpi does not improve the rendering of the PDF file (compare different PDF viewers!) it might be worthwhile to search the bug tracker for related reports or make the file available here to investigate (unfortunately you cannot attach files to comments in the 'Answers' section of Launchpad, but you could use an external service like <http://imgh.us/> which accepts and serves SVG files).

From the release notes of Inkscape 0.47:

PDF, PostScript, and EPS export
- transparency is always rasterized in PS or EPS but not PDF, as PDF supports vector transparency;
- filters, such as blur, are by default rasterized in all three formats (PS, EPS, PDF). (…)
- The resolution for rasterizing the filters can be set in the UI in the "Resolution for rasterization (dpi)" parameter (…)
<http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Release_notes/0.47#PDF.2C_PostScript.2C_and_EPS_export>

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Daf Hobson (daf-dafhobson) said : 		#3

Many thanks both. I find Inkscape very very hard to understand. Your answers give me excellent clues... will research.

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