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 — nesting layers

You also have the option of nesting layers in Inkscape. Nesting is the idea of creating sublayers in Inkscape. You might want to do this if you want all sublayers to be virtually grouped with a parent layer and carry some of the parent layer's attributes.

Here's how we can create sublayers within the Header layer in our current project:

  1. With the example project open, go to the Layer dialog (from the main menu, select Layer and then Layers or use the Shift + Ctrl + L keyboard shortcut to open it).
  2. Right-click the Header layer and choose Add Layer....
    Time for action — nesting layers

    The Add Layer dialog is displayed.

  3. Type a new layer name into the Layer name field and then select Position: As sublayer of current.
    Time for action — nesting layers
  4. Click on Add.
  5. The new sublayer displays as a nested layer beneath Header.
    Time for action — nesting layers

    Note

    Unfortunately, at this time, there is no way to convert an existing Inkscape layer into a sublayer in the graphical interface. You can, however, go into the XML editor and make this change...