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 freehand object

Here's an example of how to create a lightning bolt.

  1. From a new document, choose the Bezier tool from the Tool Box.
    Time for action — creating a freehand object
  2. Click somewhere on the canvas to start drawing a straight line, click to establish a node, click again to change direction of the straight line to create an angle in our lightning bolt, as shown in the following screenshots:
    Time for action — creating a freehand object
    Time for action — creating a freehand object
  3. Continue to create the lightning bolt object by creating the shape segment by segment.

    Tip

    Don't worry if you stop a line and realize you need to extend its length, just click and move a straight line to add on to the original to make it as long as you need. Click again when you are ready to change direction. If you made a mistake, press the Backspace or Delete key and it removes the last line segment.

  4. To close the lightning bolt, just create a line segment and join it to the starting point with a final click. The start node will glow red in color when the mouse is hovered over it for easy identification...