INKSCAPE

Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics editor. I used it in the FOSSASIA Badgeyay repository whose main purpose is to create badges for the event created using open-event. Badges were created in Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) because of its advantages over JPEG, png etc. such as: scalability, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly, easy editing ability (as it gets saved in an XML format) and resolution independence.

My task (issue #20) was to create the background in SVG format so that it can be edited using XML file. Aim was to create the background in such a way so that we just have to find and replace the color code to see the color change in the image/background. Following background was to be reproduced in SVG format using Inkscape whose color can be edited using a text editor.

This was achieved using Inkscape (as suggested in the issue itself) which let us create an SVG file. I created 2 layers, 1 for plain background, and the other containing the triangles of Voronoi Diagram. General steps are included in this awesome video tutorial – AbstractBackground.

I found this quite helpful in understanding the interface of Inkscape. After following this tutorial, I had to do changes as follows:

• Layer 1 rectangle was made using mesh, giving 4 different colors at corners. I set these colors as grey with different opacity/alpha factor.
• Then just like in the video, I created a small circular object, set it to ‘path to object’, made duplicates of them, scattered them on the rectangle of 1st layer.
• Used extensions menu to use ‘voronoi diagram‘, and then applied this to the selected circles.
• Then I removed these circles, ungrouped all the triangles formed , changed their color, just by picking with the background (which was grey — with different opacities!). Grouped them together again, removed the lines which were separating the triangles by setting stroke to none.
• Now all one have to do is change the color of 1st layer’ rectangle, and the final image/background will get changed .

This change of color can be changed using a text editor too. I just had to find layer 1 rectangle in the XML tree, replace the ‘fill’ attribute with the required color code.

This was achieved using INKSCAPE.

Now using text editor (here Sublime Text 3) , find layer 1, and change ‘fill’ value of rect with say ‘37C871’.

 <g
      inkscape:label="Layer 1"
      inkscape:groupmode="layer"
      id="layer1"
      style="display:inline;opacity:1">
     <rect
        id="rect4504"
        width="141.3569"
        height="200.82413"
        x="-63.25676"
        y="-14.052279"
        style="opacity:1;fill:#37C871;fill-opacity:1;stroke:url(#linearGradient2561);stroke-width:0.57644272" />
   </g>

Then again opening the svg file, gives us the output as :

Results can be seen in my Pull request #152 which eventually got merged.

Using the similar background and adding logo of FOSSASIA on the top, also adding editable Headings like ‘VIP’, ‘BUSINESS PASS’  was done further in #PR167.

If you want to contribute to FOSSASIA/badgeyay, you can create an issue here.

Resources:

• AbstractBackground: For creating such type of backgrounds.
• Nick Saporito: His videos are mostly about ‘Inkscape’.