Inkscape

Inkscape is a vector graphics editor application. It uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C™ standard, as its native format. Inkscape is built on GTK+™, and can therefore run on a variety of different platforms.

Install Inkscape from the Muon package manager, which can be started by going to Kickoff Application LauncherComputerMuon Software Center.

To run Inkscape, go to Kickoff Application LauncherApplicationsGraphicsVector Graphics Editor (Inkscape).

Some features of Inkscape are:

  • Create ellipses, rectangles, circles, paths, and text using the different types of tools available.

  • Manipulate, style, rotate, and edit objects.

  • Command-line interface, primarily for format conversion functions.

  • XML tree editor for manipulating SVG documents.

Creating Vector Images With Inkscape

  1. Open Inkscape by going to Kickoff Application LauncherApplicationsGraphicsVector Graphics Editor (Inkscape).

  2. Set the image size by changing the 'width' and 'height' of the document in FileDocument Properties.

    Example 5. Document Properties




  3. Draw circles, rectangles, polygons, etc., by selecting the appropriate tool from the toolbox and then left-clicking the mouse and dragging in the image.

    Example 6. Drawing Shapes




  4. Text can be added to the image by selecting the 'Text' tool (marked with a T symbol in the toolbox) or by pressing T on the keyboard and left- clicking once in the image where the text should be placed.

    Example 7. Adding Text




  5. When the editing is complete, save the image by going to FileSave. Navigate to the folder where the file should be saved, enter a filename, and left-click the Save button. Files can be saved as Plain SVG or as Inkscape SVG. There is additional information inside Inkscape SVG images that is not used by other SVG image editors.

References

The "Help" menu in Inkscape includes tutorials. Additional information about using Inkscape is available: