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 — using Layers in web design

To start, we will create the very start of a website, or more specifically a blog, and create three layers in the design:

  1. Open Inkscape, and create a new document. From the file menu, select File | New | Desktop_800x600.
  2. From the main menu, choose File | Document Properties.
  3. Click on Background. The Background color dialog will be displayed.
    Time for action — using Layers in web design
  4. Change RGBA from ffffff00 to ffffffff. This will change the background color of this screen mockup to white.
  5. In the Layer dialog, click the + sign to create a new layer (or use Shift + Ctrl + N) and call it Header.
  6. Click the Create and Edit Objects tool and enter the header title for the blog.
    Time for action — using Layers in web design

    You could try creating something similar to the following screenshot:

    Time for action — using Layers in web design
  7. Highlight the text with the Create and Edit Objects tool and use the control bar located above the canvas area and adjust the font type and size. In the previous example, the font type is Arial and it is 36 points in size, as shown in the following...