Hi,
is there a filter in Inkscape to automatically apply effects on shapes to make them look like theses 3D copper wires ? I know you can make few copies of the shape then do some path substraction operations, apply gradients and you can make it look like metallic texture. But this is too much work when you have a lot of such wires. Does an effect like this exist in Inkscape to accelerate this ?

Will appreciate very much your comments.
Picture is attached.
Thanks

Hi.

Oh it wasn't about the layout.

There are a couple built in filters in inkscape. Unfortunately there is no quick preview for them.
There is an outdated sample file shipped in the inkscape/share/examples/filters.svg file.
Made one similar collection myself, the bevel filters may be the closest match.

It is not that complicated making a simple custom emboss filter alike though if you are familiar with the filter editor.
You need some blurring of the original object to generate an input for a diffuse filter primitive, then it's just recolorizing it. In a nutshell.

But if you get deep enough "into the pit", you can end up with complex "shaders", like this one for example.
It does look metallic however that particular filter uses the luminosity levels of the original object so it wouldn't work "as is" exacty in your case.
From that point of view this one is closer in concept.

Will make some basic filters for that purpose if you like in a few days (busy at the moment).

Grate examples. I could definitely write my own filter following them. Thanks a lot!

You are welcome!