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 — embedding a logo into your design

Let's learn how to embed a logo file into a design. We'll start by downloading a sample logo. Open a browser and go to this Open Clipart sample logo at the following URL:

http://www.openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/vetlogo.png

Right-click on the logo and save it to your computer.

  1. Open a document in Inkscape.
  2. From the main menu, select File | Import. Alternatively, you can drag-and-drop a file from your desktop onto an open Inkscape file.
    Time for action — embedding a logo into your design

    The Select file to import window displays.

  3. Locate and select the Sample logo file you just downloaded and select Open.
  4. When the input screen displays, select Embed.
    Time for action — embedding a logo into your design
  5. Click OK.
  6. In a few moments, the logo you selected displays and is embedded within the page of your Inkscape project.

What just happened?

In the preceding steps, you embedded a logo image into your current Inkscape document.

Linking external files in Inkscape

Linking certain files can be useful—particularly if the source...