How to Create a Gold Text Effect in Inkscape

Effects can be added to text in Inkscape to give the appearance of a shiny gold surface. The text can then be used in projects such as logos, web design, crafting projects and much more. Text effects add impact to draw the reader’s attention to your product or design. In this fun tutorial, we will go over the steps on how to create a gold text effect in Inkscape.

For our font we will be using a western style font created by Arterfak Project. We have a great selection of western fonts available if you would like to use another font.

Step 1 - Create and Edit Text object

Open Inkscape and click on New Document, depending on the version you are using. We will be using Inkscape version 1.1 during this tutorial.

On the left side panel, click on Create and edit text objects (I). Then, click anywhere on the document and start typing. At the top left, click on the Font Family and choose your font.

You can adjust the size of your text by clicking on the Select and Transform objects tool on the left side panel. This will activate the adjustment handles. Click on one corner and drag out to increase the size. To keep the proportion, hold down Shift while clicking + dragging.

Duplicate the text object by right-clicking and choosing Duplicate. Then move this text down to one side. We will be using it later for the shadow.

Step 2 - Intersect the Text Objects

To prepare our text for gradients, we will need to create another duplicate and intersect the two text objects. We will be using a rectangle to intersect. Create another duplicate and fill with a random color. Next, click on Create rectangles and squares and draw out a rectangle to cover the top half of the text. Then go to Path > Object to path.

With the rectangle selected click on the Edit path by nodes tool on the left side panel. At the bottom middle part of the rectangle, double click to place a new node. Now, hold shift + click to select the bottom left and bottom right nodes. Hold down Ctrl + click and drag up these two nodes as shown in the image below.

Select both the rectangle and the text object right beneath it. Go to Path > Intersection. You should be left with the text objects as shown in the image below. Everything that was beneath the rectangle was kept and the rest of the text removed. You can also now see the duplicate we made earlier on.

Step 3 - Add a Linear Gradient

Next, we will need to apply a gradient to the text. Select the bottom text, in our case the black text. Then click on Create and edit gradients tool on the left side panel. At the top left of the screen, next to New, make sure that the Create Linear Gradient option is selected. Go back to the text and, starting in the middle, click + drag half way down the text to the bottom. You can use the image below for reference.

The gradient needs additional color points in between the first and last color point. You can add as many you want but we chose to add two additional color points. This made a total of four color points. You can also shift the color points by clicking + dragging on the color point.

You can use the same colors that we did by copying and pasting the RGBA codes below. The first code is for the top color point, you can then follow in that order.

d3955aff

ffcf9cff

f8b762ff

f5b35aff

Step 3 - Apply a Gradient to the Stroke

Now that we have our colors set up, let's apply a gradient to the stroke. Go to the Object > Fill and Stroke. The panel will open on the right hand side. Select Stroke paint then click on Linear Gradient. You will also see the gradient that we created, click on this to apply.

We want to change the direction of the gradient. Click on the right side handle and drag it to the middle top of the text. Next, we will click + drag the left handle to the middle bottom of the text.

This is how the Fill Gradient and Stroke Gradient should look for the bottom half.

Step 4 - Apply Gradient to the Top Text Object

The top part of the text will be a lighter gradient to act as a gold shine. Repeat Step 3 - 4 except this time click + drag out the gradient from the bottom to the top. The reason for this is because we want the lighter color to be at the bottom.

Apply a Stroke gradient as well. When shifting the gradient around, this time the square end was moved to the top. The circular end was then shifted to the bottom.

Step 5 - Add a Shadow to the Gold Text Effect

Select the black duplicate text that we set aside at the very beginning. Now at the top of the screen click on Lower selection to bottom (End). This will place the text behind the other two text objects.

Position the black text behind the Gold text effect. You can click + drag it or use your arrow keys. Place the text as far or as close as you want. We will be adding a blur and changing the opacity.

Under the Fill and Stroke panel select the Fill option. At the bottom adjust the Blur and Opacity until you are happy with the result.

For more impact add a background using the rectangle tool then add a gradient.

Next up check out our tutorials on adding patterns to text, creating perspective text and making a neon text effect in Inkscape.