I'll try to keep this simple. It will be in rough shape for a while, but I want to get something out quickly.
Let's say you want to use an image as a pattern fill... e.g. wood.
After importing the image into the workspace, I'd open the object properties and change the label to something descriptive. You can also make a note.
Click the Set button at the bottom.
Then I'd use menu: Object>Pattern>Objects to Pattern. Note that the pattern is given a random number.
We want to use the XML editor to change the name of the pattern, in the non-visible document area called "defs".
We can find the original random number and other properties to identify the item to rename.
In the lower section of the XML editor, is where a new "id" (name) can be entered. e.g. Wood1
After renaming the pattern in the defs, the original object will have no fill, because it's "looking" for the original pattern number. The Fill/Stroke dialog will also not be updated yet.
This is where we open menu: Objects>Paint Servers and select Current Document from the dropdown menu.
When hover over the new pattern the new name should appear and when we click it, the object will fill with the newly named pattern and the Fill/Stroke dialog should update.
We can repeat this process for any number of images or groups of vector objects.
Before we save the final document, we will set the Title in the Document Properties:
The final file is placed into the user Paint Servers directory, easily found by clicking the open button in the Preferences>System dialog.
After the file is saved and in the user Paint Servers directory, we can close and restart Inkscape.
The new patterns should be available in menu: Object>Paint Servers, use the dropdown menu to find your collection.
The pattern can be used in fills and strokes.
Give it a try and let me know how this tutorial can be improved!
Thank you so much. I followed the steps and it works perfectly 💯
One question, how does it affect the size of the image to be converted to pattern? In other words, is there an ideal image size for creating a pattern in Inkscape?
I don't think there is a general optimal size... I'd make the pattern close to the size I plan on using or larger. If the image/pattern needs to be scaled up, pixels may look bad.
Tips, Tricks, and Tutorials Custom Patterns - work in progress
Inkscape.org
I'll try to keep this simple. It will be in rough shape for a while, but I want to get something out quickly.
Let's say you want to use an image as a pattern fill... e.g. wood.
After importing the image into the workspace, I'd open the object properties and change the label to something descriptive. You can also make a note.
Click the Set button at the bottom.
Then I'd use menu: Object>Pattern>Objects to Pattern. Note that the pattern is given a random number.
We want to use the XML editor to change the name of the pattern, in the non-visible document area called "defs".
We can find the original random number and other properties to identify the item to rename.
In the lower section of the XML editor, is where a new "id" (name) can be entered. e.g. Wood1
After renaming the pattern in the defs, the original object will have no fill, because it's "looking" for the original pattern number. The Fill/Stroke dialog will also not be updated yet.
This is where we open menu: Objects>Paint Servers and select Current Document from the dropdown menu.
When hover over the new pattern the new name should appear and when we click it, the object will fill with the newly named pattern and the Fill/Stroke dialog should update.
We can repeat this process for any number of images or groups of vector objects.
Before we save the final document, we will set the Title in the Document Properties:
The final file is placed into the user Paint Servers directory, easily found by clicking the open button in the Preferences>System dialog.
After the file is saved and in the user Paint Servers directory, we can close and restart Inkscape.
The new patterns should be available in menu: Object>Paint Servers, use the dropdown menu to find your collection.
The pattern can be used in fills and strokes.
Give it a try and let me know how this tutorial can be improved!
Thank you so much. I followed the steps and it works perfectly 💯
One question, how does it affect the size of the image to be converted to pattern? In other words, is there an ideal image size for creating a pattern in Inkscape?
I don't think there is a general optimal size... I'd make the pattern close to the size I plan on using or larger. If the image/pattern needs to be scaled up, pixels may look bad.
O.K, thanks.