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:: I N T E R P O L AT E

This document explains how to use Inkscape's Interpolate extension

Introduction
Interpolate does a linear interpolation between two or more selected paths. It basically
means that it “fills in the gaps” between the paths and transforms them according to the
number of steps given.

To use the Interpolate extension, select the paths that you wish to transform, and choose
Extensions > Generate From Path > Interpolate from the menu.

Before invoking the extension, the objects that you are going to transform need to be
paths. This is done by selecting the object and using Path > Object to Path or Shift
+Ctrl+C. If your objects are not paths, the extension will do nothing.

Interpolation between two identical paths

The simplest use of the Interpolate extension is to interpolate between two paths that are
identical. When the extension is called, the result is that the space between the two paths
is filled with duplicates of the original paths. The number of steps defines how many of
these duplicates are placed.

For example, take the following two paths:

Now, select the two paths, and run the Interpolate extension with the settings shown in
the following image.

Exponent: 0.0
Interpolation Steps: 6
Interpolation Method: 2
Duplicate Endpaths: unchecked
Interpolate Style: unchecked

As can be seen from the above result, the space between the two circle-shaped paths has
been filled with 6 (the number of interpolation steps) other circle-shaped paths. Also note
that the extension groups these shapes together.

Interpolation between two different paths

When interpolation is done on two different paths, the program interpolates the shape of
the path from one into the other. The result is that you get a morphing sequence between
the paths, with the regularity still defined by the Interpolation Steps value.

For example, take the following two paths:

Now, select the two paths, and run the Interpolate extension. The result should be like
this:

Exponent: 0.0
Interpolation Steps: 6
Interpolation Method: 2
Duplicate Endpaths: unchecked
Interpolate Style: unchecked

As can be seen from the above result, the space between the circle-shaped path and the
triangle-shaped path has been filled with 6 paths that progress in shape from one path to
the other.

When using the Interpolate extension on two different paths, the position of the starting
node of each path is important. To find the starting node of a path, select the path, then
choose the Node Tool so that the nodes appear and press TAB. The first node that is
selected is the starting node of that path.

See the image below, which is identical to the previous example, apart from the node
points being displayed. The node that is green on each path is the starting node.

The previous example (shown again below) was done with these nodes being the starting
node.

Exponent: 0.0
Interpolation Steps: 6
Interpolation Method: 2
Duplicate Endpaths: unchecked
Interpolate Style: unchecked

Now, notice the changes in the interpolation result when the triangle path is mirrored so
the starting node is in a different position:

Interpolation Method
One of the parameters of the Interpolate extension is the Interpolation Method. There are
2 interpolation methods implemented, and they differ in the way that they calculate the
curves of the new shapes. The choices are either Interpolation Method 1 or 2.

In the examples above, we used Interpolation Method 2, and the result was:

Now compare this to Interpolation Method 1:

The differences in how these methods calculate the numbers is beyond the scope of this
document, so simply try both, and use which ever one gives the result closest to what you
intend.

Exponent
The exponent parameter controls the spacing between steps of the interpolation. An
exponent of 0 makes the spacing between the copies all even.

Here is the result of another basic example with an exponent of 0.

Exponent: 0.0
Interpolation Steps: 6
Interpolation Method: 2
Duplicate Endpaths: unchecked
Interpolate Style: unchecked

The same example with an exponent of 1:

with an exponent of 2:

and with an exponent of -1:

When dealing with exponents in the Interpolate extension, the order that you select the
objects is important. In the examples above, the star-shaped path on the left was selected
first, and the hexagon-shaped path on the right was selected second.

View the result when the path on the right was selected first. The exponent in this
example was set to 1:

Duplicate Endpaths
This parameter defines whether the group of paths that is generated by the extension
includes a copy of the original paths that interpolate was applied on.

Interpolate Style
This parameter is one of the neat functions of the interpolate extension. It tells the
extension to attempt to change the style of the paths at each step. So if the start and end
paths are different colors, the paths that are generated will incrementally change as well.

Here is an example where the Interpolate Style function is used on the fill of a path:

Interpolate Style also affects the stroke of a path:

Of course, the path of the start point and the end point does not have to be the same
either:

Using Interpolate to fake irregular-shaped gradients

It is not possible in Inkscape (yet) to create a gradient other than linear (straight line) or
radial (round). However, it can be faked using the Interpolate extension and Interpolate
Style. A simple example follows — draw two lines of different strokes:

And interpolate between the two lines to create your gradient:

Conclusion
As demonstrated above, the Inkscape Interpolate extension is a powerful tool. This
tutorial covers the basics of this extension, but experimentation is the key to exploring
interpolation further.