Inkscape: How to make a mat/shadow for your file

[jancy]

please see my other post on how to make a connected/welded title first if you need help with that

after your file is made (title or image, etc)

*click on the large single arrow on the left side tool bar
*click on your file
*click edit, duplicate
*click path, outset {OR CTRL + ) }, repeat until you achieve the size mat you prefer
*be sure to separate the 2 items with space in between before saving

you can repeat the process if you want multiple mats.

if you want to eliminate some parts of the mat--if you want just a solid outline & no cut outs on the mat, do this:

*select your mat
*zoom in using your magnifying tool on the left tool bar
*click the small arrow with the little squares located below the single large arrow on the toolbar
*all nodes will appear in your file
*delete the ones you don't want in your file/mat. you can click individually or drag a box around multiple nodes & click delete.

[DiCutter]

Thanks for all your helping tips for Inkscape -- soon we'll all be pros! Keep the tips coming!

[sboz]

Jancy,

You are making this so simple! Thanks for your directions!

Shari

[Laurieinaz]

You really are amazing. Thanks so much for easing the pain for those of us who are new to this.

[Laura]

jancy,
Thank you for your directions. You gave me so many clues about how to use Inkscape when you explained welding the letters together that I'm doing lots of stuff now. I'll try this this weekend when I don't have to go to that pesky day job.

Laura

[Laurieinaz]

I'm with you until it gets to path/outset. No matter how many times I click control+), nothing happens. I can separate the title and the duplicate. I just can't seem to make one bigger than the other. At the bottom is says "no paths to outset selection" Any idea where I've gone wrong?

[jancy]

I'm with you until it gets to path/outset. No matter how many times I click control+), nothing happens. I can separate the title and the duplicate. I just can't seem to make one bigger than the other. At the bottom is says "no paths to outset selection" Any idea where I've gone wrong?

instead of using your keyboard for the command, try using the mouse & controls/tools above.

make sure you have the image selected (click on the large arrow on the left tool bar & then click on the image) before you try to do "path: outset".

that should work.

[Laurieinaz]

Thanks, Jancy, for trying to help me. I've tried using the path>outset. Clicked it about 20 times and nothing happens. I know there must be something simple I'm not doing but I've gone over it several times and just can't figure out what I'm missing...

What does "no paths to inset/outset in the selection" mean? Is that significant?

[jancy]

Thanks, Jancy, for trying to help me. I've tried using the path>outset. Clicked it about 20 times and nothing happens. I know there must be something simple I'm not doing but I've gone over it several times and just can't figure out what I'm missing...

if you have time right now, start from the beginning & tell me exactly what you do, step by step.

[Laurieinaz]

I think I may have figured it out. I had created a title and saved it yesterday. But when I went back this morning to get it, I clicked IMPORT rather than OPEN. I couldn't get the path/outset to work on the imported image. But it is working once I went back and used OPEN, it seems to work. Thanks again for your help. Without it, I would have thrown this whole mess out the window by now -- computer and all.