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Introduction
Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities
similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C
standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. Supported SVG
features include shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending,
transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping. Inkscape also supports
Creative Commons meta-data, node editing, layers, complex path
operations, bitmap tracing, text-on-path, flowed text, direct XML
editing, and more. It imports formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and
others and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.
Program possibilities:
Object creation
- Drawing tools
- Shape tools
- Linked bitmap images, either imported or rasterized from
selected
- Clones
Object manipulation
- Affine transformations (moving, scaling, rotating, skewing)
- Grouping objects
- Layers
- Alignment and distribution commands, including grid arrange,
randomization, unclumping
- A tool to create patterns of clones, using wallpaper symmetries plus
arbitrary scales, shifts, rotates, and color changes, optionally
randomized
- Grid and guide snapping
Styling objects
- Color selector (RGB, HSL, CMYK, color wheel), color palette, picker
("dropper") tool
- Fill opacity, stroke opacity, master opacity, gradient stop opacity
- Gradients: linear and elliptic
- Pattern fills made from any objects
- Gaussian blur
- Masks and clipping paths
- Dashed strokes, with predefined dash patterns
- Path markers (e.g. arrowheads)
- Ability to copy/paste style between objects
Text support
- Uses any outline fonts installed on the system
- Can use any scripts and languages supported by the Pango library
including complex scripts (e.g. Hebrew, Arabic, Thai, Tibetan etc.)
- Kerning, letterspacing, linespacing adjustments
- Text on path (both text and path remain editable)
Miscellaneous
- PNG export
- PostScript and PDF export
- Command line options for export, conversions, and analysis of SVG
files
- User interface is translated in more than 40 languages
This software can be downloaded from the developer site:
http://www.inkscape.org/ Online community, FAQ and add-ons are
also available on this site. Several interactive tutorials in SVG are
available via Help > Tutorials in Inkscape. Below the same tutorials are
linked in HTML (e.g. for printing), though in this form they lose the
interactive aspect.
After you download the install package from the developer website,
you can install software. The installation process is simple - you have
just follow the wizard’s instructions.
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