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 — linking a photograph into a brochure design

Now let's try to link external files into an Inkscape project. For this example, we will just use the same logo as the previous example. If you did not download it yet, open a browser and go to the following Open Clipart sample logo:

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.

    The Select file to import window is displayed.

  3. Locate and select the Sample logo file you just downloaded and select Open.
  4. When the input screen displays, this time select Link.
  5. Click OK.
  6. In a few moments, the logo you selected displays and is embedded within the page of your Inkscape project.

Tip

You moved your source file and now need to change the link path to your file?

Right-click on your linked object in your Inkscape file and select Image Properties. Change the URL field to match the new path to the file...