For sketching out some stickers I’ve been learning to make use of the Pattern Fill. However, upon saving either as Plain- or Inkscape-SVG (or PDF), the patterns disappear entirely (or corrupt) when proof checking in different vector-based softwares or when printing them. Opening the same file again in Inkscape, even on another computer, has it appear correctly. This seems indiscriminate of whether 'Object to Pattern' or one of the templates has been used for the pattern. No problems exporting as PNG, which seemingly is the only workaround for getting these stickers fabricated. Hopefully it becomes clear from the attached files.
According to old threads I’ve found the Pattern Fill has inherently been a weak point, though none of the recent instructions that I followed mentioned any such issues. Being new to Inkscape, is there a setting I need to change or something in the process of applying Pattern Fills I need to pay attention to?
I don´t see any issue here with M1/MacMini/BigSur/Inkscape1.4: Pdf generated in Inkscape via File->Save a Copy as=PDF with default settings. PDF tested in AffinityDesigner, Krita, Preview for instance.
Thank you for replying, Polygon - this now worked for me too confirming with Krita. IIRC the fill pattern would appear corrupted in Affinity, though I no longer have access to that program.
Mainly I was focussing on SVG files, since this is what my printer guy requested as file format. Could you kindly confirm whether the issue is reproducible for SVG? Or could it be that my settings are somehow incorrect?
I´m not sure what you´re after exactly. I can confirm that Krita nor AffinityDesigner won´t read pattern filled objects stored in SVG. But what´s the purpose when PDF works nicely?
Since this project is more of a collaborative effort, we wanted to retain editability through SVG, but my partner is not familiar with Inkscape.
More so I was trying to understand the cause of the problem, since I could find little documentation on the matter, and whether there was something I could do about it. Probably has something to do with the coding of the SVG format, which goes above my head anyway.
Seems like Pattern Fill remains an incomplete feature, I will see what other options are available.
Inkscape is more about browser compatibility as far as I know. But every software has its own proprietary features that are not easily shareable. At least you can make a bitmap copy of that part in exchange inside Inkscape directly which will work everywhere.
Actually, SVG 1.1 was adopted in 2003. Patterns was adopted in 2001 in SVG 1.0. Really no excuse for any vector graphics software (not naming names!) not to properly handle SVG patterns.
Off on a tangent here, what I find amazing with Inkscape is the filters. I hope I am not hallucinating, but it seems every filter I have tried in Inkscape displays correctly In Microsoft Edge and Opera. That to me is mind blowing.
Beginners' Questions Pattern Fill exports empty SVG/PDF
Inkscape.org
Hello everyone,
For sketching out some stickers I’ve been learning to make use of the Pattern Fill. However, upon saving either as Plain- or Inkscape-SVG (or PDF), the patterns disappear entirely (or corrupt) when proof checking in different vector-based softwares or when printing them. Opening the same file again in Inkscape, even on another computer, has it appear correctly. This seems indiscriminate of whether 'Object to Pattern' or one of the templates has been used for the pattern. No problems exporting as PNG, which seemingly is the only workaround for getting these stickers fabricated. Hopefully it becomes clear from the attached files.
According to old threads I’ve found the Pattern Fill has inherently been a weak point, though none of the recent instructions that I followed mentioned any such issues. Being new to Inkscape, is there a setting I need to change or something in the process of applying Pattern Fills I need to pay attention to?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Systems: Windows 10, Inkscape 1.4 / macOS15, Inkscape 1.4arm64 & 1.3arm64
I don´t see any issue here with M1/MacMini/BigSur/Inkscape1.4: Pdf generated in Inkscape via File->Save a Copy as=PDF with default settings. PDF tested in AffinityDesigner, Krita, Preview for instance.
Thank you for replying, Polygon - this now worked for me too confirming with Krita. IIRC the fill pattern would appear corrupted in Affinity, though I no longer have access to that program.
Mainly I was focussing on SVG files, since this is what my printer guy requested as file format. Could you kindly confirm whether the issue is reproducible for SVG? Or could it be that my settings are somehow incorrect?
I´m not sure what you´re after exactly. I can confirm that Krita nor AffinityDesigner won´t read pattern filled objects stored in SVG. But what´s the purpose when PDF works nicely?
Since this project is more of a collaborative effort, we wanted to retain editability through SVG, but my partner is not familiar with Inkscape.
More so I was trying to understand the cause of the problem, since I could find little documentation on the matter, and whether there was something I could do about it. Probably has something to do with the coding of the SVG format, which goes above my head anyway.
Seems like Pattern Fill remains an incomplete feature, I will see what other options are available.
Many thanks for the clarification!
Inkscape is more about browser compatibility as far as I know. But every software has its own proprietary features that are not easily shareable. At least you can make a bitmap copy of that part in exchange inside Inkscape directly which will work everywhere.
Inkscape is a native SVG editor, and pattern fills are included in the SVG specification.
If other programs can't render pattern fills, they need to work on getting up to speed with a global spec that has been in use for a decade.
Actually, SVG 1.1 was adopted in 2003. Patterns was adopted in 2001 in SVG 1.0. Really no excuse for any vector graphics software (not naming names!) not to properly handle SVG patterns.
Off on a tangent here, what I find amazing with Inkscape is the filters. I hope I am not hallucinating, but it seems every filter I have tried in Inkscape displays correctly In Microsoft Edge and Opera. That to me is mind blowing.