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I am trying to reproduce this image as SVG:

enter image description here

It was made in Photoshop simply by creating a rounded rectangle and setting an inner bevel layer style, downward. (It's a bit hard to see on this site, as it is meant to typically be shown on a darker background, but the beveled border is there.)

Is it possible to reproduce this effect with SVG? I have experimented with setting a stroke with gradient, but it doesn't seem to look correct. I am using Inkscape, but I can also get access to Illustrator or edit the SVG file directly. Any help with getting the border style correct (or close to it) would be most appreciated. Thanks!

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How I would do it:

  • create your shape (rounded rectangle)
  • duplicate the shape (so it's directly on top)
  • give the one on top a transparent fill and a border color (doesn't matter what border color)
  • adjust the width of the border stroke to be the width of your bevel
  • choose PATH --> OBJECT TO PATH and then PATH --> PATH TO OBJECT
  • your border is now a fillable shape. Give this shape a transparent border
  • fill this shape with a gradient. Adjust the gradient so that it has a narrow transition from light to dark
  • have this gradient's transition bisect at the lower left and upper right

Quick sample done in Inkscape:

enter image description here

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  • Thanks @DA01. I am actually able to give a gradient to the stroke without duplicating the object. This works well, but it doesn't quite achieve the same effect. I think if I set a slight blur on it, it is closer on the inner edge, but then I need a mask of some kind to make the outer edge hard. I will keep working on it. Thank you for your advice. – Brad Feb 17 '12 at 21:59
  • You could do exactly that...give it a blur, then place the entire thing inside a mask to keep the hard outer-edge. – DA01 Feb 17 '12 at 22:12
  • Using this tutorial: en.flossmanuals.net/Inkscape/ClipAndMask I was able to figure out the masking and come close to reproducing the desired effect. Thanks for your assistance! – Brad Feb 19 '12 at 4:15

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