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 — Object to Path

We'll add stylized text to our current project of the woman's face to illustrate how to use the Object to Path functionality and how we can further manipulate the text when we use this feature:

  1. Open your previous Inkscape project.
  2. Press the shortcut keys: Shift + Ctrl + L to open the Layers dialog if it is not already open.
  3. Create a new layer for the hair object(s). Press the + button in the Layers dialog. Name the layer: Text and click Add.

    Tip

    Locking layers

    To prevent accidentally selecting other objects, lock all other layers except the one you are currently working on. In this case, lock all layers except the Text layer.

  4. In the Add Layer, select the create and edit text button from the toolbox:
    Time for action — Object to Path
  5. Click on the canvas and type the word: SMILE:
    Time for action — Object to Path
  6. Now we are going to convert the text to a path. From the main menu, choose Path | Object to path.

    Now when you select the word, the bounding box has changed and you can only select individual letters as follows...