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 — opening a new document

When you first open Inkscape, a new document is opened and you are ready to start. However, it uses a default canvas size of A4 and you may need to change the orientation and size for the graphic you are creating, as follows:

  1. Open Inkscape.
  2. If you need to create a new document, go to File | New. A menu appears with the predefined sizes Inkscape has for you.
  3. If you want to manually change your document properties, just go to the main menu and select File | Document Properties. You will see the Document Properties window displayed with a number of options for customizing your canvas size.
    Time for action — opening a new document
  4. If you want to change the default background color (default in Inkscape is a transparent background), you change it in the General, Background section. Click the color swatch to change it.
  5. If you want to adjust any Border settings, check the appropriate checkboxes. The options include:
    • Showing a page border
    • Showing the border on top of any objects on the canvas
    • Showing...