I have a layer that is a solid-color rectangle. On the layer above it is a text file I made from a Word file (it's in Russian cyrillic, not available in Inkscape) converted to a high-dpi pdf and uploaded to my canvas. I wanted to make the letters create holes in the solid fill, but so far have had no luck doing this. I tried all the approaches from the FAQ (How to make a hole in a solid object), but either nothing happens or the type and the fill layers disappear. I've tried putting the objects on the same layer, grouping the objects, reversing the path of one or the other objects; still nothing. As a newbie, I know I'm doing something wrong, but as yet I can't figure it out. Any ideas?
Without your SVG, I just suppose the text in the PDF is... a text.
In Inkscape, texts are a specific object class. Some operations (specially boolean combinations) don't work with them.
For example, substract a text to an underlying shape requires convert text to path, then ungroup it (a letter is a path, the text is a group with all of them), sum each letter and last substract new path to the shape.
If you want to keep text as it (to edit it later), a workaround consists to use it through a mask :
1. Draw a shape, at least same dimensions than the shape you want to dig (or duplicate it) > fill it in white (#ffffff)
2. Place the text within ant fill it in black (#000000)
3. Group white shape and black text
4. Select group (on top) + shape to cut (on bottom) > Mask
The part of the shape under white area will be fully displayed, the black one will be completly occulted.
To edit text, remove mask, modify text in group, then set mask again. Or simplier, begin by cloning text, let it oudside drawing margins and use clone instead original on point 2. When original text will be edited, mask will follow dynamically.
Just a hint. whatever you do, duplicate the text FIRST, and hide it on another layer, so you'll always have an original to work it down the road, or for when things go wrong. I don't work with pdfs so can't help you. I will throw out an idea which may or may not work, just wondering if you could chg the format using another pgm like GIMP first. GIMP can handle svg's, eps's etc, and it's easier to convert to various files there. (again, no idea if this will actually help you out).
Beginners' Questions Trouble making an object create a hole in a fill
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I have a layer that is a solid-color rectangle. On the layer above it is a text file I made from a Word file (it's in Russian cyrillic, not available in Inkscape) converted to a high-dpi pdf and uploaded to my canvas. I wanted to make the letters create holes in the solid fill, but so far have had no luck doing this. I tried all the approaches from the FAQ (How to make a hole in a solid object), but either nothing happens or the type and the fill layers disappear. I've tried putting the objects on the same layer, grouping the objects, reversing the path of one or the other objects; still nothing. As a newbie, I know I'm doing something wrong, but as yet I can't figure it out. Any ideas?
Working with PDFs can be tricky... they are often deeply grouped, clipped and masked.
If you can share example files, that would be most helpful.
Have a nice day.
TD
Hi chub,
Without your SVG, I just suppose the text in the PDF is... a text.
In Inkscape, texts are a specific object class. Some operations (specially boolean combinations) don't work with them.
For example, substract a text to an underlying shape requires convert text to path, then ungroup it (a letter is a path, the text is a group with all of them), sum each letter and last substract new path to the shape.
If you want to keep text as it (to edit it later), a workaround consists to use it through a mask :
1. Draw a shape, at least same dimensions than the shape you want to dig (or duplicate it) > fill it in white (#ffffff)
2. Place the text within ant fill it in black (#000000)
3. Group white shape and black text
4. Select group (on top) + shape to cut (on bottom) > Mask
The part of the shape under white area will be fully displayed, the black one will be completly occulted.
To edit text, remove mask, modify text in group, then set mask again. Or simplier, begin by cloning text, let it oudside drawing margins and use clone instead original on point 2. When original text will be edited, mask will follow dynamically.
Cheers
Is there another, more compatible file format I can save the text in to upload and convert to SVG in Inkscape?
Just a hint. whatever you do, duplicate the text FIRST, and hide it on another layer, so you'll always have an original to work it down the road, or for when things go wrong. I don't work with pdfs so can't help you. I will throw out an idea which may or may not work, just wondering if you could chg the format using another pgm like GIMP first. GIMP can handle svg's, eps's etc, and it's easier to convert to various files there. (again, no idea if this will actually help you out).
Good advice, all, and thanks!