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 the color palette

Let's learn all the tips and tricks for using the color palette bar:

  1. From the palette bar, click a color and drag it from the palette onto the object to change its fill, as shown in the following diagram:
    Time for action — using the color palette
  2. You can also change an object and the stroke color in a number of other ways:
    • Select an object on the canvas and then click a color box in the palette to immediately set the fill of an object.
    • Select an object on the canvas and then right-click a color box in the palette. A popup menu appears with options to set the fill (and stroke).
    • If you hold the Shift key and drag a color box onto an object, it changes the stroke color.
    • Shift + left-click a color box to immediately set the stroke color.

    Note

    Note, you can use the scroll bar just below the viewable color swatches on the color palette to scroll right to see even more color choices.

What just happened?

You learned how to change the fill and stroke color of an object by using the color swatches...