Hello community,

I 've created a vector graphic image with inkscape as displayed below. It is in one layer, a path of 15064 nodes.

In order to achieve a physical result similar to this.

This is meant to be artwork for a rack 2U front panel.

In the beginning the purpose of the image was to be cut with a vinyl cutting machine, so it was not a matter the positive/negative aspect of the image view since i was gonna remove the lined material, transfer the rest to the panel and use a spray color to stencil my image. Now this purpose has changed and what i want to do is prepare the image to be printed on film to have a screen print.
For this reason i need to invert the colors shown at the first posted image. I tried filters-->color-->invert but the whole image turns white. Then i tried to create a new rectangle object to fill black and place behind this layer but for some reason it always stays on top as a layer. I tried creating it either in the same layer as my original either to a separate new one, and tried to lower the selection from various buttons around inkscape with no visible result.
Trying extensions-->color-->negative i also have a white result.

What could it be that i am missing?Are there any ideas on how i could invert the colors?

You don't need to use a filter, just change the color of the black filled path (Ctrl+Shift+F to open Fill and Stroke dialog, set the Fill in the first tab).

As to the rectangle that you cannot lower:
Are there any groups in your image?
If yes: try what happens if you ungroup things.

Is the rectangle on a different layer than the silhouette?
If yes: Open the layer dialog (Ctrl+Shift+L) and lower the layer the rectangle is on.

If neither helps, you'd have to upload the svg file for us to investigate

Hi.

If your path has even-odd fill rule (probably it has) then you only need to do is adding a subpath at the outer edge of four nodes, in the right direction.
So draw over those borders with the rectangle tool, select the rectangle and the path and combine them (Ctrl+K).
If it doesn't work at first, select a segment of that rectangular subpath, and in the path menu, reverse direction.

Explanation can be found here.

Yep! It worked!
I had no idea about the function of these fill rule buttons. Nor that the paths have a direction. I' m happy that i learned about that.
thank you Lazur!

You are welcome!