Book Image

Inkscape Beginner's Guide

By : Bethany Hiitola
Book Image

Inkscape Beginner's Guide

By: Bethany Hiitola

Overview of this book

Learning to use Inkscape, an exciting open-source vector graphics program, broadens your software toolkit as a graphic designer. Using practical, real-world examples, you'll learn everything about the software and its capabilities so you'll be able to design anything from logos to websites.Inkscape Beginner's Guide is a practical step-by-step guide for learning this exciting vector graphics software. Not only will it take you through each menu item and toolbar, but you will also learn about creating complex shapes, text styling, filters, working with images, extensions, and the XML editoróall using real world examples.The book starts with an overview of vector graphics and how best to use them when designing for digital and print mediums. Then we install Inkscape and start learning all the ins and outs of the software. You'll build your first vector graphic while learning best practices for using layers, and build simple and complex objects with shapes and paths that will ultimately become exciting graphics to be used in your designs. Beyond designing sample logos and brochures while learning the software, you'll also learn how to use filters, install and use extensions, and the ins-and-outs of SVG and the XML Editor in Inkscape.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
14
B. Keyboard Shortcuts
15
C. Glossary of Terms
17
Index

Time for action — creating a new default document

We're going to create a new default document with a custom size.

  1. From the Inkscape main menu, select File | New | Default. This opens a file with the default dimensions of A4, as shown in the following screenshot:
    Time for action — creating a new default document
  2. Now customize those document dimensions. From the main menu, choose File | Document Properties. You'll see the Document Properties window displayed, as shown in the following screenshot:
    Time for action — creating a new default document
  3. Change the Units to in (Inches), Width to 7, and Height to 5. The changes on the Document Properties window should look similar to the following screenshot:
    Time for action — creating a new default document

    Remember to change the Units first; otherwise the Width and Height fields will adjust to the new unit of measurement and you will have to readjust them.

  4. Close the Document Properties window/dock by clicking the X at the upper-right corner.
  5. From the main menu, select File | Save As. Choose the following directories to save as a new default:

    For Windows, save to the share directory...