Using Layers to fill OUTSIDE a shape?

[Agrajag]

My project of making a card game continues (and I've learned a ton with Inkscape thanks in large part to this community). I need to make an adjustment to the art for the card back which is the same for each card.

The image currently extends to the edge of each card back, but I would like to change that as, after testing the prototype decks, use cuts into the image on the edges making them more prone to identification. Having a white edge all the way around the card would help this greatly.

So, currently, I have a PNG of the card back which is a perfectly square-edged rectangle with a the full image on it. I also have a template from the printers that point out a "border" where you shouldn't place anything important as it may get trimmed. To help keep me within this I created a perfect match of a rounded-corner rectangle (black) that's nothing but a line (I don't think it has a "center" area as it's all transparent.

I'm trying to figure out how I can place the card back image under that shape (it will extend beyond the shape) and then have the area outside the border of this shape get filled with white so that the card back shows through the shape, but now has a "mask" on top of it with a perfectly-rounded white border.

This is likely a brain fart on my part as it seems I'm missing something obvious.

[phiscribe]

The way your wording it I can't wrap my head around.  But I wonder if you just can't use a clip.  Perhaps a clip with a large white stroke.  Maybe if you linked to the svg in question it would be clearer.

[brynn]

If I understand your question, one simple way to do this would be to duplicate the round corner rectangle, which you said you make the perfect size for where the border starts, and enlarge it so that it's exactly the size of the whole card, or the outer edge of the card.  Then select both round corner rectangles, do Path menu > Combine, then fill it with white.

That would simply cover up the design, and make it look like there is a border.  However, I'm equally confused as phiscribe, as to exactly what you're asking.

Whether you simply cover up the outer edge to create a border, or use clipping or masking, you're still simply "cutting off" the design.  Usually with playing cards, the design on the back has a....well it's kind of hard to explain.  Let's see if I can make some quick screenshots to explain.  I'll be right back.

[brynn]

Ok, please see the screenshot.  On the left is a card with the design going all the way to the edges.  Probably not nearly as nice as your design, but it will do for clarity.

If you either just cover up part of the design to create a border, or if you use clipping or  masking, it will just cut off the design, like in the middle example.  To me, it just doesn't look very nice.  But on the right, there's a line which encloses the design.  It looks more like you did it that way on purpose.

If you only have the PNG, then making the white border to cover it up is all you will be able to do.  But if you still have the SVG file, then  you could use clipping or masking to edit the design.  And then you would just export another PNG when you're finished.  Actually I'm a little surprised if the printer wants a raster format (PNG).  Usually they want a vector file.

So anyway, how you do it depends on which way you want it to look.  Did I understand your question?

[Agrajag]

Thanks everyone. I tried this several ways (from above) and got it working several ways. The Clip method worked most easily for me.