Filters in Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector graphics editor that is compatible with Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. This editor can be used to create original graphics by making subtle, or not so subtle changes to illustrations, diagrams, line art, charts, logos and more.

Inkscape gives you the ability and freedom to use your artistic vision to make your graphics uniquely your own. I might also add that Inkscape is available as a free download.

Once you have downloaded Inkscape you are going to find that there are several different filters in the program. Each different filter will provide a different effect to the graphics you are working on.

Creating a Frosted Window

A good example of one of the filters is the frosty window. At holiday time this effect can be used to turn your home photos into wintery wonderland images.

• To make this illusion you will first need to draw a square using your Inkscape program and give the square an Alpha value of close to 45. Use whatever stroke you prefer.

• Then you need to click on Filters>Overlays>Frost. Just use the standard parameters for this.
  

• Next, you are going to select some objects to put behind your frosty pane that you just created. In the following picture three pieces of fruit were chosen for the objects

• Once that decision is made you simply click on Filters>Blurs>Noisy Blur and you have successfully made an image of fruit (or whatever you chose) appear to be behind a frosty pane of glass.

Making an Image have a Crisp Outline

You can use filters on this software to draw dramatic black outlines around images. This filter is especially useful for diagrams and charts. The following picture shows how the black outline makes the figures in the picture stand out.

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Softening an Image Using Feathering Techniques

The feather filter softens the edges of objects. This filter is especially useful when you are making changes to personal pictures.

• It can be used to make landscape pictures look like the edges f the landscape gently fades away instead of being crisply outlined.

• If you notice the picture of the shapes below you will see that when the edges of the objects are feathered then they look softer to the eye.

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Creating an Antique Photo Look

• In the following image, you will see that a filter was used to distort and roughen the edges of the photo. This filter can help you to create an antique look to photos and images.

• The distortion affects only the edges of the picture and does not change or alter the images in the photo, or the colorization in the photo.

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Other Filter Considerations

Filters are a great way to add contrast or distinction to the images in your illustrations.

• You can brighten some objects or highlight certain portions of the image to make that portion stand out. You can change the color, or change the lighting effects to create a new picture.

• Each person sees a photo in a different way. By using filters you can highlight the parts of the image that stands out to you so you can make other people see what you see.

• The best part of using this type of software is that you do not have to damage or change the original photo.

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