SPGradient *SPGradient::getVector(bool force_vector)
{
    SPGradient * src = chase_hrefs(this, has_stopsFN);

    if (force_vector) {
        src = sp_gradient_ensure_vector_normalized(src);
    }
    return src;
}

/**
 * Returns the effective spread of given gradient (climbing up the refs chain if needed).
 *
 * \pre SP_IS_GRADIENT(gradient).
 */
SPGradientSpread SPGradient::fetchSpread()
{
    SPGradient const *src = chase_hrefs(this, has_spread_set);
    return ( src
             ? src->spread
             : SP_GRADIENT_SPREAD_PAD ); // pad is the default
}

/**
 * Returns the effective units of given gradient (climbing up the refs chain if needed).
 *
 * \pre SP_IS_GRADIENT(gradient).
 */
SPGradientUnits SPGradient::fetchUnits()
{
    SPGradient const *src = chase_hrefs(this, has_units_set);
    return ( src
             ? src->units
             : SP_GRADIENT_UNITS_OBJECTBOUNDINGBOX ); // bbox is the default
}