Open Book

Abstract

This tutorial highlights the design of a simple but still pretty useful realistic image of an open book (see Figure 0).

Figure 0. Tutorial Target.

Required Tools

• Selector
• Node Tool
• Rectangle Tool
• Gradient Tool

Instructions

1. Run Inkscape.
2. Set desired document properties. Take special attention to its size - it reasonable should roughly depend on the imitated  book format. Say, US Letter = 8.5" x 11", so your calculations for image itself would look like this: 850px (the left page) + 850 px (the right page) = 1700 px (Width) x 1100 px (Height). The full page (i.t. the document) might be expanded to 2000 x 1500 px.
3. Set the grid according to the book format, e.g. Spacing X = 85 px and Spacing Y = 110 px in case of US Letter format. Be sure snapping are enabled and turned on.
4. With the Rectangle Tool, create the rectangle covering 10 x 10 grid cells (close to the left side of the Canvas) and another one 10 x 1 grid cells slightly above the first. Drag the round handler at the upper-right corner of the latter rectangle downwards as below as possible (to the middle of the right side). It rounds the rectangle corners (see Figure 1).
5. Select the rounded rectangle and convert it into Path (Path -> Object to Path).
6. Using the Node Tool, select (holding SHIFT) and delete two upper nodes (see Figure 1).
7. Duplicate the result of the previous modification (CTRL+D).
8. Using Selector, drag the copy down to the bottom of the large rectangle. Then drag the original to the top of the large rectangle. Carefully adjust both original and copy as shown below (see Figure 1).
9. Select the large rectangle and the upper object (SHIFT+Selector). Execute Path -> Union (see Figure 1).
10. Select the union and the lower object (SHIFT+Selector). Execute Path -> Division (see Figure 1).
11. Select the small section below the large object and open the Fill and Stroke Dialog Window (Object -> Fill and Stroke...). Click the Fill tab, then the Pattern button.  Choose the Wavy pattern from the drop-down list. Set the Blur to 0.5 (see Figure 1).
12. Using the Rectangle Tool, create a tall rectangle overlapping about one grid cell at the left side of the large upper object (see Figure 1).
13. Select the large upper object and the overlapping rectangle (SHIFT+Selector) and execute Path -> Division (see Figure 1).
14. Select the new most left object and fill it with the Stripes 1:1 pattern (refer Step 11 if necessary). Set the Blur to 1.5 (see Figure 1). Check if filling accurately matches the upper-left and bottom-left corners. If necessary, examine the Strips 1:1.5 or the Strips 1:2 patterns (with those patterns increase the Blur up to 2.0). Also you can Undo (CTRL+Z) last actions back to Step 12 and try to overlap a bit more or less wider area this time.
15. Select the page (the large object only). Using the Gradient Tool, create a new gradient across the page horizontally. Select the left stop point and set it to #FFD6E5 (click the appropriate color from the Palette), then select the right stop point and set it to #FFCCAA (see Figure 1).
16. Select all objects (CTRL+A), duplicate them (CTRL+D), and flip horizontally (Object -> Flip horizontal). Keeping selection, move the copy to the right while its left side match the right side of the original (see Figure 1).
17. Select the right page (the large object only). Switch to the Gradient Tool and press SHIFT-R to reverse the gradient colors (see Figure 1).
18. Save your work.
19. Enjoy!

Figure 1. Open Book: Important Steps.

Summary

In this tutorial we have learned the creative design of an Open Book image. We have also demonstrated  the effective technique of symmetric object design: only a half of the image have been really designed - and finally duplicated and flipped.

The following things have been highlighted specifically:

• Method of reasonable calculations of the document size and the grid spacing;
• Elementary operations with Gradient and Path (including Union and Division);
• Filling objects with Pattern.

You can utilize the designed image as a part of your various future projects or even as their start point.