How to Create a Realistic Candle in Inkscape
Open Inkscape and make the basic shape of the candle., Be sure to narrow it at the base a bit and have a bit of a rounded bottom as in this screenshot., Select all of the shapes, click on Path >> Union., Right click on the candle and select Fill and...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Open Inkscape and make the basic shape of the candle.
The beginning of the candle was made using two tools:
The ellipse and rectangular tool.
The two colors are meant to show the two shapes.
You could also draw the shape using the pen tool and drawing it somewhat freehand.
This is the initial layer.
Name it Trunk. -
Step 2: Be sure to narrow it at the base a bit and have a bit of a rounded bottom as in this screenshot.
To change the top oval to resemble a partially melted candle, select the oval, click on Path >> Object to Path and then start altering it. , This will make them all one path.
It will all go to one color.
Change it to black, if it isn't already. , Select the Linear Gradient icon and set the stop parameters as follows:
Offset of
0.00 and color of #c62f08ff Offset of
0.30 and color of #c03c08ff Offset of
0.60 and Color of #bd4607ff Offset of
1.00 and Color of #df512aff , Using the ellipse tool, make an oval at the top of the candle.
Click on Path >> Object to Path and then change the path to look like a circle of melted wax. , Offset of
0.00 and Color of #fffab0ff Offset of
1.00 and Color of #ffac19ff , Call it "Trunk Highlights". ,, The stop parameters are:
Offset of
0.00 and Color of #ffac29c3 Offset of
0.47 and Color of #ffa92247 Offset of
1.00 and Color of #ffa21c00 , To do this, select the Trunk layer and copy it to the clipboard (CTRL C).
Click Edit >> Paste in Place.
Color it green so that it stands out from the rest. , Click on Layer >> Layer to Top or Page Up or Page Down. , Hold down Shift while selecting the two layers. , This will remove the unwanted extra highlight that you are trying to get rid of. , You can add the shapes by using the Rectangles and Squares icon and then adjusting them. ,, Clip them both to the shape of the trunk. , At the top front, draw a shape, similar to the screenshot, just below the edge. ,,,,, It will be a ring shape with a hole in the middle. , Select both rings and then choose Path >> Difference. , It doesn't need a gradient. ,, Thanks to our layering, the Blur doesn’t spill over onto the yellow ellipse. ,,, First, draw an ellipse in the top-center, color it yellow-orange, and give it some Blur.
This will simulate the pool of molten wax around the wick. , This should be a very simple shape, but make it a little more interesting than a rectangle.
Give it a black to yellow gradient. , Create a new layer called “Flame.” Start by drawing a simple shape that shown below.
Fill it with a solid, fleshy color. ,,,,,,, Let’s draw a simple backdrop. , -
Step 3: Select all of the shapes
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Step 4: click on Path >> Union.
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Step 5: Right click on the candle and select Fill and Stroke.
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Step 6: Add a layer and call it 'Top'.
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Step 7: Make the 'Top' be gradient with just one stop.
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Step 8: Create a new layer between "Trunk" and "Top".
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Step 9: Draw a box over the top half of the candle.
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Step 10: Fill the box with a radial gradient.
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Step 11: Get rid of the overflow.
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Step 12: Be sure the green layer is on top.
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Step 13: Select the Trunk Highlight Layer and the new layer (probably green).
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Step 14: Click on Object >> Clip >> Set.
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Step 15: Add highlights to the side of the trunk.
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Step 16: Select the two shapes
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Step 17: right click to Fill and Stroke and then on the Fill tab
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Step 18: set the Blur to 4.00.
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Step 19: Give each of the linear gradients that go from white to transparent.
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Step 20: Make the lip at the top stand out with highlights.
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Step 21: Blur the shape.
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Step 22: Apply another white to transparent gradient
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Step 23: but this one will be a radial gradient.
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Step 24: Draw similar shapes at various points around the lip.
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Step 25: Blur them and add more radial gradients.
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Step 26: Add one more highlight that goes all the way around the candle.
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Step 27: To do that
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Step 28: draw the outer ring and then the inner ring.
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Step 29: Set this one semi-transparent white and blur it.
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Step 30: To imply light coming from the flame
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Step 31: add a highlight to the inside of the lip.
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Step 32: Blur the inner highlight.
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Step 33: Apply a radial gradient going from orange-yellow to transparent.
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Step 34: Extend the gradient handles beyond the bounds of the object.
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Step 35: Start drawing the wick and flame.
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Step 36: Draw the wick.
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Step 37: Let’s draw the flame.
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Step 38: Draw a slightly different shape on top of it
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Step 39: leaving a bit of a gap at the bottom.
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Step 40: Fill the top shape with white and Blur it.
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Step 41: Draw a boomerang-like shape at the bottom of the flame.
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Step 42: Fill it with yellow and Blur it.
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Step 43: Draw a circle at the bottom of the flame and Blur it.
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Step 44: Apply a peach to transparent gradient
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Step 45: running top to bottom.
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Step 46: The candle itself is done
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Step 47: but it looks rather bland against a white background.
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Step 48: For mine
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Step 49: I just applied a vertical
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Step 50: linear gradient
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Step 51: then layered a radial gradient on top of it.
Detailed Guide
The beginning of the candle was made using two tools:
The ellipse and rectangular tool.
The two colors are meant to show the two shapes.
You could also draw the shape using the pen tool and drawing it somewhat freehand.
This is the initial layer.
Name it Trunk.
To change the top oval to resemble a partially melted candle, select the oval, click on Path >> Object to Path and then start altering it. , This will make them all one path.
It will all go to one color.
Change it to black, if it isn't already. , Select the Linear Gradient icon and set the stop parameters as follows:
Offset of
0.00 and color of #c62f08ff Offset of
0.30 and color of #c03c08ff Offset of
0.60 and Color of #bd4607ff Offset of
1.00 and Color of #df512aff , Using the ellipse tool, make an oval at the top of the candle.
Click on Path >> Object to Path and then change the path to look like a circle of melted wax. , Offset of
0.00 and Color of #fffab0ff Offset of
1.00 and Color of #ffac19ff , Call it "Trunk Highlights". ,, The stop parameters are:
Offset of
0.00 and Color of #ffac29c3 Offset of
0.47 and Color of #ffa92247 Offset of
1.00 and Color of #ffa21c00 , To do this, select the Trunk layer and copy it to the clipboard (CTRL C).
Click Edit >> Paste in Place.
Color it green so that it stands out from the rest. , Click on Layer >> Layer to Top or Page Up or Page Down. , Hold down Shift while selecting the two layers. , This will remove the unwanted extra highlight that you are trying to get rid of. , You can add the shapes by using the Rectangles and Squares icon and then adjusting them. ,, Clip them both to the shape of the trunk. , At the top front, draw a shape, similar to the screenshot, just below the edge. ,,,,, It will be a ring shape with a hole in the middle. , Select both rings and then choose Path >> Difference. , It doesn't need a gradient. ,, Thanks to our layering, the Blur doesn’t spill over onto the yellow ellipse. ,,, First, draw an ellipse in the top-center, color it yellow-orange, and give it some Blur.
This will simulate the pool of molten wax around the wick. , This should be a very simple shape, but make it a little more interesting than a rectangle.
Give it a black to yellow gradient. , Create a new layer called “Flame.” Start by drawing a simple shape that shown below.
Fill it with a solid, fleshy color. ,,,,,,, Let’s draw a simple backdrop. ,
About the Author
Betty Mendoza
Committed to making hobbies accessible and understandable for everyone.
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