Inkscape is a great cross-platform tool for creating vector graphics. After I created some graphics with the basic gradients, border, and 3D effects, I wanted to see what interesting text effects I could create.

Text effects can add a lot of richness and pop to your design. Here’s a nice screencast on how to create interesting text effects, including shadows, cutouts, and blurs, in Inkscape (NOTE: this screencast didn’t play in Safari, but it played fine in Chrome):

http://screencasters.heathenx.org/wp-content/videos/ep098/ep098.html