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 — installing Inkscape templates

To install a template in Inkscape, do the following:

  1. Download the new template file. If it is in a compressed format (ZIP, RAR, and so on), uncompress or extract the SVG template file. You can use applications such as WinZip, WinRAR, or 7-Zip to extract files such as these.
  2. Open the SVG file itself in Inkscape to view the template to make sure it fits your needs.
  3. From the main menu, select File and then Save As. Choose a save location in your computer operating system's Inkscape template directory:
    • For Windows, that directory is the C:\Program Files\Inkscape\share\templates folder
    • For Mac OS, the directory is /Applications/Inkscape/Contents/Resources/Templates/
    • For Linux, the directory is typically /usr/local/share/inkscape/templates or /home/user/.config/inkscape/templates
      Time for action — installing Inkscape templates
  4. Click Save.
  5. If you restart Inkscape and go to the main menu and select File and then New, the new custom template should be in the submenu.

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