I'm still sort of new to Inkscape. I am drawing something that needs cell shading. However, I am stuck with the problem that the shaded region never first right. It will either go over the border or not fit the shape. Is there an easier way to creating shadows? I think clipping may have something to do with it.

Hi mystery, I like your username
I'm not all that familiar with cel shading. I did just look it up in Wikipedia though, so I have a general idea. But I need more information from you, about exactly how you are creating your shading. There could be a few different ways to do it, and I would only be guessing, to offer comments or suggestions at this point.

Please let us know what tools you're using, and a brief description of your process in drawing the shading.

Here is my work in progress.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/ ... incomp.png

See the ski on its left? I am trying to place the shaded spot there but it obscures the border. Same with the pink shading. Is there a way to make one object appear within the borders of another?

Ok, when you say "border", you're talking about the Stroke, right?
I'm sorry but I can't imagine what you're trying to do. Could you actually put the shading where you want, obscured border and all, so that I can get some idea what tools you might be using? Better yet, tell me what tools you're using AND post an image, even it's not working right, so I can see what the problem is. Again, there could be a few different ways to do it, I don't know which one you're using, and I don't want to explain them all.

Is there a way to make one object appear within the borders of another?

Yes. Well technically, it would be one object on top of another.....unless the Fill is transparent.

Are you using the bucket tool?

No, I am not using the bucket tool. I have tried putting another copy of the shape on top, but that's where the roundness problem near the bottom-right is.

I suppose I could post the SVG. The point is that it's supposed to appear like the original.
http://willhostforfood.com/access.php?fileid=66447

You can do something like:


Clone the ski then remove the fill on one and the stroke on the other.

That sort of works. It might take a little longer, but I'm liking the approach.

You could try using the "stroke to path" function and putting that on top of the other paths.

The linked post shows how I ended up achieving a cel-shade look. Not that it's the best or most efficient way. If you're using both the stroke and the path for your shapes, then look at the linked post and see how I created the red marble (5th post from the top). Someone already noted that method, which is basically creating a stroke with no fill, and then layering that over your other shapes, which have fills but no stroke.

This works OK, but I really like using the Calligraphy Pen , as noted in my last post in the linked thread. So what I do is draw all my lines using the Calligraphy tool on one layer, and then do all the colors on other layers. By moving the layers over/under each other, you can get all sorts of shading and highlights, and you can hide rough edges under the calligraphy lines (or other shapes).

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2152

That's interesting. I'll practice that style as well.

mystery wrote:I am trying to place the shaded spot there but it obscures the border.

You just need to change the "Z-order" of your objects. Select the shaded object and press Page Dn to move it down the z-order until it's beneath the black border (that's assuming your black border is just an outline so the shaded object shows through).

I am doing that. Here is my finished work.
http://rmexe-zone.vndv.com/gallery/disp ... fullsize=1

I like this method and has helped me make good drawings.