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

Chapter 3, How to Manage Files

Pop quiz — how do you change the dimensions of a predefined graphic

1

c

Just adjust the document dimensions of the current document to fit your needs.

Remember, you’ll likely also need to move objects on your page to reflect the new dimensions.

However, for any of the objects that you have drawn, there will be no stretching or manipulation.

The page dimensions just change (the black borders).

Pop quiz — editable Inkscape file formats

1

b

You can also save in the Inkscape compressed format of SVGZ if minimizing the file size is important.

Pop quiz — Export versus Save As

1

c

Inkscape only supports exporting PNG files. However, the File | Save/Save As function will allow you to save files as PDFs.

Pop quiz — file format portability

1

d

PDF files, when imported into Inkscape, allow for editability to remain with vector-based objects.

Pop quiz — linking versus embedding images

1

d