Hi, I'm a new member. I've been using inkscape for a few months now. Needless to say it's a great program. Straight to the point now, inkscape got lots of filter effects (even when the one I use 99% of the time is just the gaussian blur). But they can be very cumbersome. This problem can restrain users (well at least me) from freely using them. You can use the "No Filter" or "Outline" display, but then it won't be the "real" image. Optionally you can use "Make a Bitmap Copy" function and hide the memory consuming object, but it involves too many steps to be practical.

I propose a "Bitmapfy" (or whatever ) function. Details as follows:
- This function converts and save an object (a curve, a shape, etc) that have effects applied to them to a bitmap, silimiar to current "Make a Bitmap Copy" function. The difference is the original object will then be hidden and the newly created bitmap object retain the hit area (the area where when you click you will choose an object, I don't know if that's the right name) of the original object.
- When the user selects and modify the object, or zoom to the object to the point where the bitmap gets too pixelized the bitmap object will then be deleted and the original object unhidden.

I realize this will be a hard disk space consuming function. But when it comes to getting the ability to use filter effects freely (and excessively ) temporarily "sacrificing" a some Mb of hard disk space doesn't sound so bad.

For further details:
- The function should have a "Bitmapfy" button to manually Bitmapfy selected objects or group of objects that have filter effect applied to them
- The function should have an "Auto Bitmapfy" toggle button to assign Auto Bitmapfy selected objects or group of objects. These objects will be automatically Bitmapfied every time they're unselected or unzoomed when they still have filter effect applied to them.
- The function should have a "Bitmapfy project" button and an "Auto Bitmapfy Project" toggle button to Bitmapfy and assign Auto Bitmapfy (respectively) to objects in the entire project and any subsequent objects after that.
- Optionally the function could have "Bitmapfy Layer" and "Auto Bitmapfy Layer".

Hopefully this feature will allow and encourage people to use and create more Filter Effects.

Hi, I am also new, just landed here searching for how to make a bitmap from a group of objects. I am using Inkscape for years and just realized there is a Copy to Bitmap function.

The idea of a Bitmapfy function is great.
I know it’s an old thread but as I found it by Google I think it could be useful to someone if I explain my workaround.

Well, I use a "Bitmaps" layer to where I send all bitmaps of the vector objects that are too resource-hungry.
I send the vector originals to a special layer "Bitmapified" the visibility of which is switched off.
So I can toggle between bitmapiefied vectors and their originals by toggling the visibility of the layers.

It’s not as comfortable as the suggested function, but maybe it’s helpful to someone.

Best,
Scholli2000