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 — creating a star

Now, we will create a shape that is a part of the SVG standard that is inherent in Inkscape. These standard shapes include rectangles/squares, circles/ellipses/arcs, stars, polygons, and spirals. We will create a star. Here's what you need to do:

  1. Select (click) the shape tool icon (A) and the polygon icon (B) in the toolbox, as highlighted in the following screenshot.
  2. Then draw the shape on the canvas by clicking, holding, and then dragging the shape to the size you want on the canvas:
    Time for action — creating a star
  3. To switch between creating stars and polygons, select the star/polygon icon in the toolbox on the left-hand side of your screen, and then select either the polygon or the star icon in the Tool controls (just above the canvas).
  4. You can also change the number of corners this polygon has by changing the number in the Corners field in the Tool controls.

If you had wanted to draw a circle, square, or cube—you would have selected those icons on the toolbox.

It is...