Postage stamps with Inkscape

In this easy tutorial we will learn to create postage stamps using Inkscape, the results will look like this:
Perforated paper
Stamps look like tiny pictures on paper with a white perforated paper. This is the most important thing
for a stamp and the core of this tutorial:

I will present three ways to create the perforations, use what you like best.
Pattern along Path
Using the Rectangle Tool draw a rectangle:
And with the Ellipse Tool a circle (keep the Ctrl key pressed to get a circle:
Select the circle and then the rectangle:
And put the circle on the path defined by the rectangle (Effects > Generate from Path >
Pattern along Path. !nsure copies are Repeated, the deformation type is Snake and ad"ust
the space to fit the si#e of your circle:
$ou will get a contour made from circles for your rectangle:
Select the contour and substract it (Path > Difference from the rectangle:
This is the perforated paper:
%hange its color in something paper&like, white or something near white (a 'ery light yellow for
old paper:
(or a shadow which will make the paper more 'isible duplicate the shape and make the copy
black:
)ut it at the bottom of the stack and mo'e a little to the right and down:
Slightly blur the shadow and if you want ad"ust its transparency:
*ptionally, for increased realism rotate it a little:
Tiled Clones
+ith the Ellipse Tool create a circle:
%reate tiled clones (Edit > Clone > Create Tiled Clones. ,ea'e the symmetry as simple
translation and change the Shift Per column and Shift ! Per row to something to fit the
si#e of your circle (here I used -./. Set the number of rows and columns (here 012 to get the
desired si#e of the stamp:
The result is a grid like this:
Select and delete the inner circles and lea'e only a border like this. Select all and unlink the
clones (Edit > Clone > "nlink Clone. Select all and make an union (Path > "nion.
3raw a rectangle at the desired si#e and put it under the border made from circles:
Substract (Path > Difference the border from the rectangle:
%hange its color and add a shadow:
#lign and Distribute
%reate a Rectangle:
And a circle:
Select the circle and create a lot of duplicates (Edit > Duplicate. The number depend on the
circle si#e and rectangle width (here I made 42 circles:
Select all the circles and the rectangle:
And use the #lign and Distribute dialog ($b%ect > #lign and Distribute:
Align the circles (relati'e to biggest item, which is the rectangle e'enly by hori&ontal:
Select the circles, perform an union (Path > "nion and mo'e the result at the top edge of the
rectangle:
3uplicate and mo'e the copy to the bottom edge:
5ake two more copies, rotate them by 6. degrees and mo'e them to the left and right edges.
Ad"ust their position as needed:
Substract the lines of circles from the rectangle (Path > Difference one by one:
And get the perforated paper:
%hange the color and add a shadow:
The postage stamp
7ow for the easy part:
Import or make on the spot whate'er image or drawing you want to put on the stamp:
5ake sure it is in a rectangle:
Add the issuer name (here I used 8)osta 9omana8 & 8the 9omanian )ost8 and the denomination
(I used 8- bani8, the moral e:ui'alent in the 9omanian language to the !nglish 8two cents8:
5y stamp image was too simple so I added more te1ture to the background:
3raw the paper, a rectangle, and put it under the image:
Using one of the ways described abo'e transform the rectangle in perforated paper and you
are done:
Done
Use any kind of perforations, larger, smaller, round or elliptic, any kind of image, e'en photos, put the
stamp on 'ertical or hori#ontal, the possibilities are endless: