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 — getting started with Inkscape

In order to feel completely comfortable using the Inkscape software, let's learn the basics of the Inkscape interface. This will include menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes. Let's get started!

Find the Inkscape icon in the Application or Programs folder and double-click it to open the program.

You will see the main window of the Inkscape software, as follows, with different areas of the screen highlighted. Within the main screen, there is the main menu, command, snap and status bar, tool controls, and a color palette, as shown in the following screenshot:

Time for action — getting started with Inkscape

Note

On some external resources, canvas and page are used almost interchangeably in terms of the Inkscape interface. Technically, however, a canvas is the entire editable area, whereas the page area is the area within the page borders.

  1. You will use the main menu frequently when working on your projects. This is the central location to find every tool and menu item in the program...