PDF generation bug: ( "An unknown shading type was encountered" while loading to illustrator )

[NTPT]

Hi all:

on some cases Inkscape produce a weired bug in PDF, especially where gradients and translucent effects are present. Inkscape produce a PDF that is viewable by Acrobat, but confuse some older software For example RIP (raster image processor for Large format printer).

 Workaround : Open that pdf in Ilustrator (cs3 in my case) it gives a waring: " Some objects were reintrerpreted", "An unknown shading type was encountered." but is displayed correctly. After saving to pdf in illustrator, pdf work well in other software too.

So I suspect Inkscape that do something not so standard while exporting to pdf. I suggest to have some "compatibility mode"

OS: WinXP SP3, 3GB ram, last updates installed , Inkscape 0.48

Thanx for help

From the attached files:
SVG: inkscape:version="0.48.2 r9819"
PDF: cairo 1.10.2 (http://cairographics.org)

[su_v (suv-lp)]

1) Please provide information about which version of Inkscape you have installed: see Inkscape menu 'Help > About Inkscape' for details.

2) Please attach one or more sample SVG file(s) which can trigger such warnings in older software, to allow further investigation on other systems with different versions of Inkscape and cairo (external library used for PDF export by Inkscape)

[su_v (suv-lp)]

Setting bug importance to 'Wishlist' based on suggested "compatibility mode" (note: AFAIU any such mode probably would have to be supported by the external cairo library which is used by Inkscape for PDF/PS/EPS export).

[NTPT (ntpt)]

OS: WinXP SP3, 3GB ram, last updates installed , Inkscape 0.48

This file saved as PDF create mentioned waring and that pdf is not compatible with older softwate (regardles of pdf version choosen for save)

This file also CAN NOT be saved as .EPS or .PS file with error: "File C:\Documents and Settings\user\Plocha\SIGNMAKING\test-bug.eps could not be saved" witch may be another consequence of the same bug...

[NTPT (ntpt)]

This is resulting PDF file that produce waring in ilustrator and cac choke older apps (in my case onyx ripcenter 5.61)

[su_v (suv-lp)]

BTW - the SVG file appears to have been created with CorelDraw (originally), and only later edited in Inkscape:
 <!-- Creator: CorelDRAW -->
and includes some tags/attributes which Inkscape itself does not create, and only partially supports (viewBox, inline CSS, global fill-rule style property, possibly others).

Could you please test with the attached cleaned-up version [1]?

[1] steps:
1) Vacuum defs to remove all no longer referenced gradient defs (drastic reduction of file size)
2) remove filter effects (blend mode) which have no effect because background is not enabled (-> layer blend mode 'darken')
3) remove redundant paths with reduced opacity which duplicate the black outlines without visual effect, but cause more complex structures in the PDF file format (SVG's global opacity does not exist as 1:1 feature in PDF).
4) reorganized content into layers (fill, outline, glows on top)

AFAICT the "cleaned-up" version looks exactly the same as the original file ( could be wrong though).

[NTPT (ntpt)]

A little expanation: There are three layers in original , because it is for decal cutting. So one layer is for printer (CONTENT layer will be printed while CUT layer is invisible - ) and second layer (CUT LAYER) that will be send to vinyl cutter (with CONTENT layer invisible) . layer CUT_MARKS will be send to printer and vinyl cutter because this is for synchronisation of both devices. This and similar workflows are quite common in low volume print+cut workflows.

Cleaned svg file work and can be saved to .eps format too. Thanx.

The cleaned version of PDF file now does not choke old application (ie Onyx 5.61), but still produce the same warings in Ilustrator (one can live with it).

one problem persist:
905629-test-bug-vacuumed-2.svg -> save to pdf -> open that pdf in inkscape -> save as eps -> Inkscape eat up around 1 GB of memory an then just fail to export.

So please: is there a some way to automatize performed sanity checks/cleanups ? How could I find a duplicate paths and objects from inkscape gui ? Tree view of layers and objects like in Corel is AFAIK not possible in Inkscape...

Thanx