Opening EPS with Gradient

[propperdx]

> i have problems with opening EPS files with gradient. The file isnt
> rendered correctly. AI-Files are working right.
> I tried to convert the eps file with Ghostscript directly (to png and
> pdf). This works too, so it should be a problem with inkscape.
>
> Inscape 0.47 Windows 7 or Windows Server 2003
> Ghostscript 8.70 and 8.71

reproduced with Inkscape 0.47+devel r9108 on OS X 10.5.8 (with ps2pdf
from Ghostscript 8.70 and 8.71): Preview in the EPS import dialog looks
fine, but the actually imported gradient seems to be scaled incorrectly.

Please consider filing a bug report.

~suv

[~suv (suv-lp)]

attaching the files from the original posting in inkscape-user
<http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.graphics.inkscape.user/13203>

[~suv (suv-lp)]

Workaround with current trunk (> r10051):

1) convert EPS file to PDF on the command line:
   $ ps2pdf -dEPSCrop file.eps file.pdf
2) open the created PDF file from within Inkscape, and make sure to choose
   the alternative file type "Adobe PDF via poppler-cairo (*.pdf)" in the
   'File > Open…' dialog
3) The gradients in Inkscape on-canvas are correctly positioned and
   scaled compared to how the original EPS file displays e.g. in evince,
   gv (gs 9.02) or Apple's Preview.

Notes:
- The alternative PDF format is experiemental and only available in trunk:
<http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.graphics.inkscape.devel/35781>
<http://bazaar.launchpad.net/~inkscape.dev/inkscape/trunk/revision/10052>
- The thumbnail preview is broken for single-page PDF documents with that file format, but this does not affect the actual import.
- The biggest difference compared to the regular PDF import (AFAICT) concerns text (which is outlined on import): see my comments in the blueprint
<https://blueprints.launchpad.net/inkscape/+spec/vectorize-embedded-fonts>

[~suv (suv-lp)]

Drawback of above described workaround: the file size (saved as SVG) increases a lot, and - as the outline view mode reveals of an example file comparing both import methods - the structure is quit different.

<http://imgh.us/inflex-i-screenshots.png>
<http://imgh.us/inflex-i-screenshots-outline-view.png>

Screenshots done with Inkscape 0.48+devel r10647 on Mac OS X 10.5.8 (i386):
- left: EPS opened as is
  (saved as SVG: 240 KB)
- right: EPS converted to PDF with ps2pdf, opened with 'Adobe PDF via poppler-cairo'
  (saved as SVG: 1.3 MB)

[Alvin Penner (apenner)]

For the Adobe PDF import file type, the definition of the GradientTransform element has been modified in bzr rev 10680.
This pdf file type is apparently used as the default for importing eps as well, resulting svg file is attached here.

[~suv (suv-lp)]

@Alvin - thanks a lot for looking into this issue! :)

Fix confirmed with Inkscape 0.48+devel r10680 on Mac OS X 10.5.8 with two other test files:
- the one mentioned in comment #3 (EPS source not in the public)
- from the mailing list, see
  <http://article.gmane.org/gmane.comp.graphics.inkscape.user/13883>

[Alvin Penner (apenner)]

no problem, I enjoy playing with mathematics...

[propperdx (propperdx)]

Thank you for your efforts! I appreciate it.

Tobias