Sleek Modern Bow Element in Inkscape and Gimp

This is a super simple element which can take many looks accorind to your taste and to the effects you apply to it!

Note- This tutorial assumes you have Inkscape and Gimp installed on your computer. It also assumes you have at least a basic understanding of both softwares. Please, see our previous tutorials, since they are quite simple for beginners.


Open Inkscape

• Choose a color you like, I chose a hot pink. Create a horizontal rectangle of the size and width you like.
• I chose rounded corners but you can leave the edge straight if you want to.
• Now click on the Arrow tool and then select your rectangle, click again. You will notice some rounded arrows have appeared, you will use those to rotate your rectangle. To rotate your rectangle, drag the corner top arrow and while holding down the space bar of your keyboard, slowly drag your rectangle around until you have formed a bow. Let go when you are pleased with what you've got.

If you are not very sure, practice rotating your rectangle before you press the spacebar. If the space baris not pressed down, the stamping function will not be active and you will not be repeating the pattern.

When you are happy with what you have, go to File, Export as Bitmap.

Fire up Gimp.

• Open your stamped bow in Gimp.
• Choose the bucket tool. Select a texture you like. I have a pea green fabric with white polka dots that is perfect for this.
• Fill the topmost rectangle with the texture you chose. Now click on the Ellipse tool. Make a narrow oval at the center of your bow.
• Go to Layer, New Layer. Click on the bucket tool. Make sure your Foreground color is Black and fill the oval with Black.
• Go to Select, Shrink, and shrink your oval by 10 pixels. Choose the gradient tool, and click on the little menu and find Golden, click
• to select it. Stroke downward with your mouse to make a golden linear gradient to fill the circle in the middle of your bow.

• Go to Select, Shink, and shrink by 20 pixels. Go to Layer, New Layer. Select the Bucket tool and fill with Black again.
• Go to Select, Shink and shrink by 15 pixels.Click on your Bucket tool again, and choose another texture and fill your new layer with the texture.
• I chose a yellow fabric with white polka dots. You can leave it as is, but I chose to go a bit further.
• Go to Script-Fu, Bevel and Emboss. Choose Outer Bevel, Dept 5, Direction: Up and leave the rest as ic. Click OK and allow Gimp to apply the special effect.
• Then go to Filters, Blur and apply a soft blur. That's it.

Play with it all you want and make your own bows!

Bible Universe, Come and See!