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

What are extensions?

Let's first understand what extensions are in Inkscape. Extensions add new capabilities to software programs—thus customizing what you want them to do for you.

When you use scripts with Inkscape, you essentially add new features to the existing software. A script takes control of the Inkscape software to perform a certain feature. Scripts themselves differ from extensions in that they are usually written in a different programming language from the main program (Inkscape in this case) and can be modified at any time—mostly by Inkscape developers.

Extensions "extend" Inkscape's features or functionality .If you used an extension outside of inkscape, it wouldn't work correctly. An example of an extension for Inkscape is one that allows importing and exporting of non-SVG file types into the program. Most extensions require external programs, usually written in Perl or Python.

You can find common extensions here: http://wiki.inkscape...