I am in the process of writing a tutorials guide for creating photo-realistic fantasy maps for use in RPG and board games using many different graphics applications. While the main book is being created using Xara Photo & Graphic Designer, my preferred application. The techniques I use can be duplicated in a number of other applications, including Photoshop, GIMP, Illustrator, CorelDraw and many others. I planned to include a chapter detailing the simple instructions from the tutorials to specific tools and techniques with the mentioned software. I had intended to include Inkscape in that detailed descriptions of specific tool, however, most of my tutorials make heavy use of beveled shapes, edge feathering and varying transparency applications. I don't know Inkscape well enough if it can duplicate these primarily used tasks. I have a series of simple questions below addressing the issues in question. If you have a good handle with Inkscape, answer them please.

1. Can Inkscape create beveled shapes?
2. If so, what kind of beveled shapes can be created - flat, rounded, chiselled, other?
3. How large a bevel can be created?
4. Also can Inkscape apply a feathered edge to a vector shape?
5. What kind of transparency effects can be applied in Inkscape - flat transparency, linear transparency, fractal cloud transparency, other?

I'll get more specific and post images of the kinds of effects I am creating now, and whether they can be duplicated in Inkscape - based on the answers for the above.

Thank you.

Inkscape has filter effects to achieve such look.
There are quite some filter which is similar to that bevel, and there is a possibility to adjust the filters through a filter editor panel.
Also there are some filters that create "cloud transparency".

BUT
all those filters you are looking for are raster based.
The implementation of the rendering is not so good, it slows down the machines.

I'm not using filters, so you may get better feedback from others.
See what can be done with the possibilities if you are really into them:
V1nce's topic.

Also for basic filter previews, check out this topic:
http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13775&p=53540

Good luck!

Hello:
Very interesting questions,
I think that the best answer can be seen here:
http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/

and in the inkscape wiki, or the inkscape web page

But I will try to give me my opinion:
1.- Short Answer: NO. But some objects have the property of rounding dinamically their edges: Those objects are the and
2.- Nevertheless, I think the results that you want can be achieved by the means of path operations and node editing of the paths
3.- This is up to you. As I said, there is NO BEVEL TOOL, BUT the same results can be done.
4.- I think the answer is YES. You can MASK a GROUP of vectors, or even a raster image, and give them a feathered look
5.- In Inkscape transperency is achieved by the OPACITY of the objects, and using GRADIENTS, and even by a filter called BLURING, but the last is more complex. About the gradients, Inkscape can get only two:
- CIRCULAR GRADIENTS: Which can be translated, escaled, and rotated, or even transformed to be elliptical
- LINEAR GRADIENTS: which can be, etc ... However they can't be BENT or COMPOSED ... in a simple way
- There aren't other gradients [Can I see an example of a FRACTAL CLOUD transparency/ gradient?]

Also check this link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Inksc ... Bevels.png

Just so you can see what I'm trying to accomplish using what I use to create it. How possible is it to duplicate this in Inkscape? I will definitely look at Inkscape filters and see what the possibilities might be.

Possibly I would use that recent extension to export all elements, if started with inkscape:
http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=15561,
and use gimp for adding raster effects.
Maybe even use some filter programs as well like filterforge,
or mapzone to create nice textures.

Or model the things with blender in 3D and use nice textures?
Not sure, depends on the complexity of the design, and there are many ways to create a good one.

While I don't require the use of image editors for my cartography needs (I do have both Photoshop and GIMP), I sometimes create maps using 3D rendered objects for certain specialized needs. Professionally I do mostly hand-drawn work, that is digitally scanned large format, imported to Xara and finished in the style above using a water color palatte, instead of photo realistic images, as in the maps posted above. However, many RPG gamemasters have needs for maps for their games and using photo textures makes it faster and easier to make cool maps for their games. So that's the direction in my upcoming map tutorials guide.

Hello,
At first I thought that you wanted to do beveled as in Autocad with geometric shapes.

Seeing your later posts I see that a better answer is using filters.

It seems that Xara has an special bevel tool. I still think that it's possible to do in Inkscape, but it will take a lot more time, and a lot more steps. Using dynamic offset and node editin maybe:

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... Paths-Misc

Lazur: Gimp have a special tool for beveling?. I'm just see a bevel filter, but It doesn't seem to have many options, Can you be more specific?

Greetings
Attaching a graphic answer to the first post

[ img width=400 ]http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/188/1/1/beveltransp4_by_hul78-d6cf3dh.jpg[/img]

hulf2012 wrote:It seems that Xara has an special bevel tool. I still think that it's possible to do in Inkscape, but it will take a lot more time, and a lot more steps. Using dynamic offset and node editin maybe:

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... Paths-Misc

As long as it can be done at all, it's worth noting. Looking at the links, I'd say filtering is solution for the beveling questions I have. Unless one cannot create a freehand shape with a drawing tool, node editing doesn't seem to be an issue.

In the Explanation of Terms chapter of my upcoming tutorial guides when describing beveling would either be an overview on using filters in Inkscape, or even point to the actual links you've posted.

Xara indeed has a powerful and easy to use vector based bevel tool as a one or two step process, something perhaps unique to Xara. While I indeed use Xara for my mapping needs, the goal is not necessarily to 'sell' people on using Xara. The point of the book, is that if you have any standard graphics app, the techniques I use can apply - even though it might be easier or more difficult in one app versus another. It still can be done, and the tutorials I offer can have some benefit.

You can visit my Google+ community dedicated to the project, if you want to see any of the rough draft versions of 11 tutorials I've posted so far, plus other samples of the kinds of maps I intend to teach others to make themselves.

25 Quick & Dirty Map Tutorials Guide

hulf2012 wrote:...
Lazur: Gimp have a special tool for beveling?. I'm just see a bevel filter, but It doesn't seem to have many options, Can you be more specific?
...

I don't have the english interface so maybe I'm giving the wrong terms.
So I don't know if a bevel tool existed, I'm following a more manual way.
My method to create beveled shapes in gimp, is the following -roughly*-:
Have a black representation of the shape on a white background,
duplicate the layer and apply some kind of blurring, gaussian blur in most cases.
Then, use filter>distort>emboss.
That filter as I can recall uses the greyscale copy of the layers to create a bump map,
and use a 3D based shading, where you can set the depth of that 3D,
and the direction of a parallel lighting.
After the filter was done, add a layer mask to that layer:
a white representation of the shape on a black background.
Then you can play with layer modes, like multiply or darken the bevel shades over the original shape.

*It produces a better result if the masking is only applied once the layers of the shape are flattened.

Lazur URH wrote:I don't have the english interface so maybe I'm giving the wrong terms.
So I don't know if a bevel tool existed, I'm following a more manual way.
My method to create beveled shapes in gimp, is the following -roughly*-:

Which is exactly how it is done in inkscape filters

Lazur URH wrote:Have a black representation of the shape on a white background,

not needed in inkscape. We'll just use sourceImage as source. (say it's our virtual step (0))

Lazur URH wrote:duplicate the layer and apply some kind of blurring, gaussian blur in most cases.

no need to duplicate.
(1) just apply blur primitive onto sourceImage

Lazur URH wrote:Then, use filter>distort>emboss.
That filter as I can recall uses the greyscale copy of the layers to create a bump map,
and use a 3D based shading, where you can set the depth of that 3D,
and the direction of a parallel lighting.

(2) apply diffuse lighting onto (1) with the following settings
scale = strength of effect (1 or +),
source light = distant light (easier to set up than the others),
azimuth (=source of light) (270 for light at noon)
elevation (0 or 45 are usually good choices)

=> you got a bumpmapped surface.

Lazur URH wrote:After the filter was done, add a layer mask to that layer:
a white representation of the shape on a black background.
Then you can play with layer modes, like multiply or darken the bevel shades over the original shape.

Same in inkscape.
(3) Use Blend/multiply between sourceImage (0) and the bumbmap (2) (order does not matter)

Because the bumpmap is not transparent you need an extra stage : you need to add a composite "in" between our current result (3) and the original imagesource (0) (order matters).

Results are not perfect because with drop out 50% off cliffs elevation with our in operation but that's a good start
If you want the border only, as a final stage you can add a composite "in" between our current result (3) and (1) (instead of (3) and (0))

Thank's for the information!

Will look for a comparition of the two ways.

Here's a sample of the hand-drawn style of map I do, that also use the same beveled style, yet not using photo textures.

Just made this as I couldn't belive inkscape could reproduce exactly the same filter effect done in gimp.
gimp vs inkscape comparision on embossing/diffuse lighting

I have to agree this is as close it can get.
If it's about usability I would still go with gimp for raster effects.
Both the rendering time and inkscape's hard to handle filter panel in the current stable version makes me think that.
Maybe if I set the rendering resolution to a lower level on screen?
That doesn't really solve the problem of the rendering method, as with the raster images,
they render much faster then with the filter representations of the same resolution.
Resulting it's much faster to modify the result in gimp, like adding some blur to the embossed object's shades to remove those small bumps.
And the more option of compositing.



[ontopic]
In my opinion those bevels on that samples are not looking that good viewed at larger resolutions:
the white light reflection to me looks unreal.
Some blending of them to the original would look much better.
[/ontopic]

Lazur URH wrote:[ontopic]
In my opinion those bevels on that samples are not looking that good viewed at larger resolutions:
the white light reflection to me looks unreal.
Some blending of them to the original would look much better.
[/ontopic]

I'm not sure which 'samples' your speaking of, my samples don't have truly white light reflections, because they are not supposed to be reflective material, rather soil and plants, not chrome or liquid. There is a lighter side and darker side to emulate which direction the sun is hitting the graphic. The maps I design are intended for large format print dimensions, even though the majority of such maps would be created for use with online applications like Virtual Tabletop software (ie: Roll20, MapTool, Fantasy Grounds).

Like this one:

Most of those trees seem to me like they are metallic.

Any mountain looks less contrasted in my opinion.
Some random examples:
http://goo.gl/maps/Zm3sO
http://goo.gl/maps/E6ISa
http://goo.gl/maps/sZBfj

That is an artistically created hand-drawn map. Since there is no intention of photo-realism in this style of map, I don't consider comparisons to realistic terrain as even worth considering. The only goal for me in this kind of map is to properly deliniate what is elevated and what is not - so the map reader can understand what he's looking at, which to me is the only important thing. If I were trying to invoke reality, I would not do a hand-drawn map, nor use this style. I get what you mean, but, as stated it's design to be plainly understood, moreso than trying to match any realistic style. The fact that I'm sought after by many game publishers for this specific style, and one of the higher paid freelancers in this kind of work, I don't feel compelled to do this style differently - it's not worth changing.

Xara does let me, lower the contrast between highlights and shadows on beveled shapes (it also allows me to change the direction of the source light, as well as the angle to the ground), but lowering the contrast to look 'more real' might hide my intent to show the elevations in the map. Getting the message of elevation information is far more important than emulating reality - which again, is not the intent with this kind of map.

Besides when I create for the intent to look metallic - it looks much more metallic, than this. For metal I'd include actual reflections and multiple gradients to accomplish the effect. Just having highlights and shadows is not enough to denote 'metallic' to me.

This is what I'd call metallic.

I was thinking of topviews of shiny metallic structures, like:

http://goo.gl/maps/0lutl
http://goo.gl/maps/Jv3Jt
http://goo.gl/maps/7Glmc
http://goo.gl/maps/lRBwX
http://goo.gl/maps/PUFA6

They are not so common by the way.

Indeed, in the real world, shiny metal architecture is pretty rare. And although I certainly create regional top-down maps, many of the maps created for RPG gaming is 'encounter scale' or 1 inch = 5 feet, so details like shiny kettles, cauldrons, piles of gold coins, etc. might be needed, so at floorplan scale shiny metal objects are far more likely. My primary direction in offering map tutorials is for the creation of maps of fictional locations (game settings).

Photo-realistic is one style of game mapping, however, my hand-drawn style/digital vector hybrid is artistic; it's more subjective. It emulates a feeling of depth without really being 3D, nor an overly technical production process to accomplish - depending on which software you are using. Although I intend to show my hand-drawn process in a third book, as a stretch goal for a Kickstarter to fund this project. The main book and first stretch goal book rely on photo-texture and beveled shape cartography, more like the first samples I posted.

I consider this a 'research thread' for me, not intended as a marketing platform. Since I do use Photoshop and GIMP, I can follow the steps of the tutorials using the appropriate tools and processes in those applications, I just don't know Inkscape that well. I'm one of the longtime members of the Cartographers' Guild and know there are map enthusiasts and cartographers that use Inkscape for their map-making needs. Since I'm intimately familiar with Xara, a different vector application, I've never had the need to look at Inkscape's capabilities until now.

I had one member of the my Google+ community suggest that Inkscape couldn't duplicate the effects of my tutorial, this thread allowed me to post that using filters was the closest process in Inkscape to do so. While no software can perfectly match a given tutorial, they go a long way to allowing individual game masters to create their own weekend game maps without too much of a struggle, yet still look good.

An exemple of (animated) bevel with svg

http://codepen.io/johanberonius/details/chiseled/

v1nce wrote:An exemple of (animated) bevel with svg

http://codepen.io/johanberonius/details/chiseled/

I hope that's not yours, Vince. I mean it's very nice work but is the light from top left (shadow) or top right (highlight), am I just being nitpicky about that, is it now an internet fashion like writing "teh" for "the"?

Edit: Okay, now I see your original works the way it should and the 'remix' is backwards....

druban wrote:
Edit: Okay, now I see your original works the way it should and the 'remix' is backwards....

I should have stated that the original creation was by Vincent Hardy (this is not me.) @ http://svg-wow.org/blog/2009/10/04/chiseled/
I linked the remix version because it was animated and you could edit it online to see how it works.

Maybe I'll post some versions of mine that don't use javascript to animate the light.

I'm all into 3D lettering but that bumpmap is off of the letter's structure.
Most notably on the lower corner of the "V".

Xara includes a powerful and fast using bevel tool. The following image includes the word "Xara" in white without bevels, then the shape is copied moved beneath changed to dark blue, then applied a bevel. Changing the bevels in the other versions was merely a matter of selecting the beveled shape, and choosing a different type of bevel from the Bevel dropdown menu. While the last image is the top "Xara" changed to faded linear color of gold and yellow and a flat bevel applied to that shape. It took me about as long as typing the word "xara" as it did to apply and change the bevel type.

The beveled text is even still editable, meaning I can place my cursor onto the beveled text, and backspace or retype any word and bevels are maintained. Although I'd have to do both the non-beveled shape and beveled shape separately. I'd just cut the upper shape to the clipboard, make the change to the lower shape, then Paste-in-place, and alter the top shape.

If I wanted to create 3D looking text, Xara includes an extrusion tool. It also allows some Photoshop plug-ins (and includes some as well) for additional special effects.

That looks legit, however when I was thinking about that idea I had this on my mind.
I have to admit it's not yet a common need, but it would make the drawing/modelling -if the vector bump map could be exported to an obj- of such object easy in 3D as well.