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 — using filters with text

We will create one example of how we can use filters with text to create a mood or feeling with text in design:

  1. Open a new document in Inkscape, create a text box, and enter some text. In our example, we'll use the word: BOO!.
  2. With the text selected, from the main menu, select Filters, Textures, and then choose Ink Paint:
    Time for action — using filters with text

    There are a lot more filters here that you can use that will give neat effects for your text. These include Cutout, Cutout & Glow, Dark & Glow, Drop Glow, Fuzzy Glow, Glow, In and Out, Inner Glow, Inner Shadow, and Inset. See the following graphic for what each of these filters looks like when applied to our text examples. You can find these specific text filters on the main menu under Filters | Shadows and Glows:

    Time for action — using filters with text

    Note

    The effects strongly depend on the objects and their colors in the background. The examples were only rendered without objects in the background and thus some of the filters may require some tweaking...