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 — saving your graphic

After you have created an initial version of your graphic, it is best practice to save your file so that you don't lose any work. This is a simple example graphic, so you may not want to save the file, but for any future work, this step is critical.

  1. With your latest project open, from the main menu select File | Save. Inkscape will, by default, give options to save projects in its default format, SVG. Choose a file location and click Save.
    Time for action — saving your graphic
  2. However, you might also want to export in a bitmap graphic format such as PNG. To do this, choose File | Export Bitmap.
    Time for action — saving your graphic
  3. In the Export Bitmap window, you can choose to save the Page (all objects within the page/black border, the Drawing (all objects), the Selection (only the object you have selected), or customize it.
  4. Choose the Export area, the graphic size you want (will select predefined size by default), and click Browse to choose the same location.
  5. Verify the filename in the textbox and click Export.
  6. To...