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5.5 Transform

Transform applies visual changes to the object itself after it has already been placed.

Use it when you want to alter the final appearance of an object without changing the placeholder logic of Fit or Fit-Anchor.

Transform is not about the placeholder. It is about the object itself once placement is already solved.

5.5.1 Transform vs Fit

Use:

  • Fit / Fit-Anchor for anything relative to the placeholder
  • Transform for anything applied to the object itself

Examples of Fit concerns:

  • fit mode
  • anchor
  • border
  • clipping to the placeholder
  • placement inside the placeholder

Examples of Transform concerns:

  • opacity
  • soft edges
  • later, other visual effects such as blur, color adjustments or shadows

5.5.2 Syntax

object_id.T{opacity=50% soft=12%}
object_id.T{o=50% s=12%}
object_id.T{f=myFilter}
object_id.T{f=image1-9-1 s=8%}
@{source}.T{o=70%}

Transform can be written as:

  • Transform{...}
  • T{...}

5.5.3 Parameters

Current parameters are:

  • opacity or o
  • soft or s
  • filter or f

5.5.4 Opacity

.T{o=50%}
.T{opacity=80%}

This changes the final opacity of the placed object.

5.5.5 Soft Edges

.T{s=12%}
.T{soft=[12% 4%]}
.T{s=[5% 10% 15% 20%]}

soft creates a soft fade towards the edges of the object.

Accepted forms:

  • one value: same fade on all sides
  • two values: [horizontal vertical]
  • four values: [top right bottom left]

Values are percentages.

5.5.6 Filter Copy

.T{f=myFilter}
.T{filter=myFilter}
.T{f=image1-9-1}

filter applies an existing SVG filter to the final placed object.

Accepted references:

  • the id of a <filter> element, for example f=myFilter
  • the id of another element that already has a filter applied, for example f=image1-9-1

When an element id is used, PnPInk copies that element's current filter reference. This is useful for reusing Inkscape-made effects such as color shifts, brightness tweaks or glows without rewriting the filter in the DSL.

5.5.7 Typical Use

photo.T{o=85%}
photo.T{s=10%}
photo.T{f=myWarmTint}
photo.T{f=image1-9-1 s=7%}
photo.T{o=75% s=[8% 3%]}

This is useful for:

  • fading photos or textures
  • softening cutout edges
  • blending placed art into a tile or card background