Create a Blog Logo with Mirrored Shadow in Inkscape (Free, 2026)

Want a professional-looking blog logo without paying a designer? Your blog title is one of the first things readers see, and a clean logo makes your site look trustworthy. Guest author Paul Adrian Gonzalez showed how to create a stylish blog logo with a mirrored “reflection” shadow in Inkscape, the free open-source vector design program. Here is the tutorial updated for Inkscape 1.x in 2026.

Quick answer: In Inkscape, type your blog name with the Text tool, choose a bold font, convert it to a path (Path > Object to Path), duplicate it (Ctrl + D), flip the copy vertically (V), move it just below the original, then apply a transparent gradient to the copy so it fades out. Group both and export as SVG and PNG.

What you need

• Inkscape (external site) (free for Windows, Mac and Linux).
• A bold font you are allowed to use. Google Fonts are free for logos.
• Your brand colours. If you have not chosen them yet, see how to create a brand for your blog.

Step by step: blog logo with a mirrored shadow

1. Create a document: File > New, then Document Properties (Ctrl + Shift + D) to set a canvas such as 1200 x 400 px.
2. Type the title: press T for the Text tool, click the canvas and type your blog name. Pick the font, size and colour in the Text toolbar.
3. Convert to path: select the text and choose Path > Object to Path (Shift + Ctrl + C). The letters become shapes, so the logo looks the same on any computer.
4. Duplicate: press Ctrl + D to make a copy on top of the original.
5. Flip: press V to flip the copy vertically.
6. Move it down: hold Ctrl and drag the copy straight down so its top touches the bottom of the original text.
7. Fade it: open Fill and Stroke (Ctrl + Shift + F), choose a linear gradient, and set the gradient to run from about 40% opacity near the text to 0% at the bottom. Use the Gradient tool (G) to adjust the direction.
8. Group: select both and press Ctrl + G.
9. Export: save an Inkscape SVG master file, then use File > Export (Shift + Ctrl + E) to export a PNG with a transparent background, or a plain SVG for the web.

Tips for a great logo

• Keep it simple and readable at small sizes.
• Use one or two colours, matching your site.
• Avoid tiny details in the reflection; a soft fade looks best.
• Upload an SVG or a 2x PNG so it stays sharp on high-resolution screens. See how to display a sharper logo.
• Create a matching icon too, and make a favicon from it.

Other free logo tools

• Canva: quick logo templates, easy for beginners.
• Figma: great for designers who also build web layouts.
• GIMP: for raster effects, though vector tools like Inkscape scale better.

FAQ

Is Inkscape free for commercial logos?

Yes. Inkscape is free, open-source software, and you own the designs you create. Check the licence of any font you use.

Should my logo be SVG or PNG?

Use SVG where your site supports it for perfect sharpness, and PNG as a fallback.

Are reflection logos still in style?

Mirrored effects were popular in Web 2.0 designs. Today, use them subtly, or try a soft drop shadow instead with Filters > Shadows and Glows.

Originally written by guest author Paul Adrian Gonzalez, who wrote for ImpactLogos.co.au. Updated for Inkscape 1.x in 2026 by QuickOnlineTips.