Rectangle: How to Create a Stamp Effect with Inkscape

This updated guide examines Rectangle: How to Create a Stamp Effect with Inkscape and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1of 3:

Pattern along a Path

1. Using the Rectangle Tooldraw a rectangle.
2. With the Ellipse Tool,draw a circle(keep the Ctrl key pressed to get a circle).
3. Select the circle and then the rectangle.
4. Andput the circle on the path defined by the rectangle(Effects > Generate from Path > Pattern along Path). Ensure copies are Repeated, the deformation type is Snake and adjust the space to fit the size of your circle:
   • You will get a contour made from circles for your rectangle.
5. Select the contour and subtract it (Path > Difference) from the rectangle.
   • This is the perforated paper.
6. Change its color to something paper-like, white or something near white (a very light yellow for old paper).
7. For a shadow which will make the paper more visible,duplicate the shape and make the copy black.
8. Put it at the bottom of the stackand move a little to the right and down.
9. Slightly blur the shadowand if you want, adjust its transparency.
   • This is what it should look like at those point.
10. Optionally, for increased realism,rotate it a little.

Method 2of 3:

Tiled Clones

1. With the Ellipse Tool,create a circle.
2. Create tiled clones (Edit > Clone > Create Tiled Clones). Leave the symmetry as simple translation and change the Shift X Per column and Shift Y Per row to something to fit the size of your circle (here 20% is used). Set the number of rows and columns (here 6x8) to get the desired size of the stamp.
   • The result is a grid like this.
3. Select and delete the inner circlesand leave only a border. Select all and unlink the clones (Edit > Clone > Unlink Clone). Select all and make a union (Path > Union).
4. Draw a rectangle at the desired size and put it under the border made from circles.
5. Subtract (Path > Difference) the borderfrom the rectangle.
6. Change its color and add a shadow.
   • Final product.

Method 3of 3:

Align and Distribute

1. Create a Rectangle.
   • And a circle .
2. Select the circle and create a lot of duplicates(Edit > Duplicate). The number depend on the circle size and rectangle width.
3. Select all the circles and the rectangle.
4. Anduse the Align and Distribute dialog(Object > Align and Distribute).
5. Align the circles (relative to biggest item, which is the rectangle) evenlyby horizontal.
6. Select the circles, perform a union(Path > Union) and move the result at the top edge of the rectangle.
7. Duplicate and move the copy to the bottom edge.
8. Make two more copies, rotate them by 90 degreesand move them to the left and right edges. Adjust their position as needed.
9. Subtract the lines of circles from the rectangle(Path > Difference) one by one.
   • And get the perforated paper:
10. Change the color and add a shadow.