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 simple object

Inkscape can create predefined shapes that are part of the SVG standard. These include rectangles/squares, circles/ellipses/arcs, stars, polygons, and spirals. To create any of these shapes, you can select items from the toolbar:

Time for action — creating a simple object

However, you can also create more freehand-based objects as well. Let's look at how we can create a simple freehand triangle:

  1. Select the Bezier tool:
    Time for action — creating a simple object
  2. Click once where you want the first corner and then move the mouse/pointer to the next corner. A node appears with the click and then a freehand line:
    Time for action — creating a simple object
  3. When you have the length of the first side of the triangle estimated, click for the second corner:
    Time for action — creating a simple object
  4. Move the mouse to form the second side and click for the third corner:
    Time for action — creating a simple object
  5. Move the mouse back to the first corner node and click it to form the triangle, shown as follows:
    Time for action — creating a simple object
  6. Now save the file. From the main menu, select File and then Save. We will use this triangle to build a graphic later in this book, so choose a location...