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 filters

In this example, let's create an icon, such as the example shown as follows:

Time for action — using filters

Let's give it a drop shadow, which is one of the more common filter effects used in Inkscape and almost all image editing software as it is an essential filter for creating a sense of realism:

  1. Open a new Inkscape document.
  2. From the main menu, select File, New, and then icon_64x64.

    Tip

    Icon sizes can vary depending on your design (or what operating system you might be creating them for), so feel free to change your canvas sizes accordingly.

  3. From the main menu, select View and then Grid. Having the grid viewable will help us with the spacing of all the objects.
  4. Let's again set the grid properties. From the main menu, select File and then Document Properties.
  5. Select the Grid tab and verify that Spacing X and Spacing Y are both set to 1.0 and that Major Grid Lines is set to every 4 pixels.
  6. Close the Document Properties dialog by clicking the red X in the upper-left corner...