How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape

Need a vector image of a bowling pin?? Why not make one yourself with Inkscape?! Open Inkscape and select the ellipse icon. Create a circle. You don't have to be exact, you will be changing its measurements. Make sure that the stroke is...
Method 1 of 4:

Making the Outline

  1. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 1How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 1
    Open Inkscape and select the ellipse icon. Create a circle. You don't have to be exact, you will be changing its measurements. Make sure that the stroke is turned off.
  2. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 2How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 2
    Change the width and height (W and H) to 70.
  3. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 3How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 3
    While it is still selected, press CTRL D 4 times. This will make 4 copies.
  4. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 4How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 4
    Make the other circles to fit these dimension:
    1. 52 * 130
    2. 136 * 184
    3. 80 * 40
    4. 58 * 14
  5. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 5How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 5
    Line them up vertically so that they are touching, but not overlapping. Don't worry if it doesn't look quite right. That will be fixed.
  6. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 6How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 6
    Go to Object >> Align and Distribute (CTRL + Shift + A). This will open up that particular dialog box.
  7. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 7How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 7
    Holding down the Shift key, select all of the ellipses.
  8. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 8How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 8
    Select the 'Center on vertical axis' option in the Align and Distribute box.
  9. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 9How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 9
    Be sure that your snapping tool is set.
  10. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 10How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 10
    On the Snap Controls Bar, enable snapping. If you don't see it, go to View >> Show/Hide >> Snap Controls Bar and check it.
  11. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 11How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 11
    Select 'Snap nodes or handles' and 'Snap to cusp nodes'.
  12. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 12How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 12
    Select the Bezier tool, and make sure that the tool for creating regular bezier path is selected. Also, be sure that the shape is set to None.
  13. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 13How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 13
    Start at the top and click where you see the X that appears. Do this will all of the circles, all the way around.
  14. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 14How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 14
    When complete, click on the first selection.
    1. This is what it should look like at this point.
  15. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 15How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 15
    Once complete, press F2 (edit mode option).
  16. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 16How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 16
    Select all of the nodes. Go to the upper left portion of your project, click and hold on the left mouse button. Go to the lower right so that all of the nodes are selected.
  17. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 17How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 17
    Click on the 'Make selected nodes smooth' icon. This will round out your bowling pin.
  18. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 18How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 18
    Click on the Enable Snapping icon so that it is no longer enabled.
  19. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 19How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 19
    Click off of the bowling pin to deselect everything, then click on the top center node and bring it down, just a small amount.
  20. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 20How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 20
    Press F1 and then select the outline you have just created. Move it over away from the circles used to shape it.
Method 2 of 4:

Shading the Bowling Pin

  1. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 21How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 21
    Select a dark brown for its color. Be sure that the stroke is removed, so you just have the fill.
  2. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 22How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 22
    Go to Object >> Fill and Stroke (Shift + CTRL + F) to activate the dialog box.
  3. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 23How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 23
    Set the Blur to 1.
  4. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 24How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 24
    Make a copy (CTRL + D) of the pin.
  5. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 25How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 25
    Set the Blur of the duplicate back to 0 (zero). Change the color of the copy to white. What this does is create a slight outline for your bowling pin.
  6. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 26How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 26
    Shrink the white copy by going to Path >> Inset. Now, you should see a little more of the outline.
  7. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 27How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 27
    Add a gradient to your bowling pin. The gradients will give it added depth.
    1. Click on the gradient icon.
    2. Be sure the radial option is selected.
    3. Make the gradient in the upper right side of the bowling pin, as seen in the screenshot. Manipulate it until it has the desired look.
  8. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 28How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 28
    Press CTRL + D to duplicate the layer.
  9. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 29How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 29
    Move the gradient (copy) and bring it down to the bottom of the bowling pin. Manipulate it until it looks right.
  10. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 30How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 30
    Press F1 which will select the entire bowling pin.
  11. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 31How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 31
    Press CTRL + D to duplicate the layer. Adding this will lighten up your pin a little bit more.
Method 3 of 4:

Adding Red Stripes

  1. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 32How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 32
    Select the square icon and draw a rectangle in approximately the right place for the stripe.
  2. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 33How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 33
    Fill it with red.
  3. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 34How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 34
    Set the height of the red stripe to 20 pixels.
  4. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 35How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 35
    Duplicate the stripe and move it to the correct place. Play with their positioning until it looks right to you.
  5. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 36How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 36
    Click on the bowling pin and then make a copy of it (CTRL D).
  6. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 37How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 37
    Click on the fill and make it the same red as the stripe.
  7. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 38How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 38
    Holding down the shift key (with the bowling pin still selected), click on the bottom red stripe.
  8. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 39How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 39
    Go to Path >> Intersection. This will give you one red stripe.
  9. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 40How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 40
    Select the bowling pin again and then press CTRL D to copy it. Repeat the steps above for the other stripe. Here is how it should look at this point.
  10. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 41How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 41
    While the second stripe is selected, hold down the Shift key and select the first stripe.
  11. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 42How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 42
    Select the gradient icon and make sure you have the linear (not radial) option selected.
  12. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 43How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 43
    Start the gradient on one of the stripes. With the blue handle where you see it in the screenshot, select black. This will help create a shadow.
    1. If you can't do them together for some reason, it's ok to shade them separately.
Method 4 of 4:

Adding Shine to the Bowling Pin

  1. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 44How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 44
    Click on the ellipse icon and draw a circle on the top part of your pin.
  2. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 45How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 45
    Set the dimensions of the circle to 55 (width) by 60 (height).
  3. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 46How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 46
    Center it on your bowling pin and fill it with white.
  4. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 47How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 47
    Click on the gradient tool. Manipulate the linear gradient until it looks the way you want it.
  5. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 48How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 48
    Click on the Bezier tool. You will be adding shine to the curve of the bowling pin. Click on the top of where you will add it, release, then click on the bottom of it. Finish by going back to where you started with the third click.
  6. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 49How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 49
    Select F2 (to edit nodes) and then take your first line close to the edge of the bowling pin.
  7. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 50How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 50
    Repeat with the other line, but make sure it is 'shadowing' the first line.
  8. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 51How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 51
    Change the fill to white. Be sure to remove the stroke.
  9. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 52How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 52
    Click on the gradient tool and add it to the center of the bezier line you have. Adjust it until you like the way it looks.
  10. How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 53How to Make a Bowling Pin in Inkscape Picture 53
    Enjoy your bowling pin vector graphic!
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