Inkscape

Inkscape

by Bethany Hiitola
Released May 2012
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781849517201

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Book description

Create attractive layout designs, logos, brochures, icons, and more using the Inkscape vector graphics editor with this book and ebook.

  • Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of Inkscape required for graphic design
  • Real world examples show you how to create everything from paths, complex shapes, to stylized text
  • Become an expert at using filters and working with images in Inkscape

In Detail

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, and extensions—all 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 in Inkscape.

Table of contents

  1. Inkscape
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Inkscape
    3. Credits
    4. About the Author
    5. About the Reviewers
    6. www.PacktPub.com
      1. Support files, eBooks, discount offers and more
        1. Why Subscribe?
        2. Free Access for Packt account holders
    7. Preface
      1. What this book covers
      2. What you need for this book
      3. Who this book is for
      4. Conventions
      5. Time for action — heading
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — heading
        3. Have a go hero — heading
      6. Reader feedback
      7. Customer support
        1. Downloading the color images of this book
        2. Errata
        3. Piracy
        4. Questions
    8. 1. Getting Started with Vector Graphics
      1. What are vector graphics?
        1. Programs that use vector graphics
        2. Vector formats
      2. Scalable Vector Graphics
        1. Advantages of an open-standard vector format
          1. Additional advantages of SVG vector images over proprietary formats
          2. Disadvantages of vector graphics over non-vector formats
      3. Determining when to use vector or rasterized graphics
      4. Time for action — basic design
        1. What just happened?
      5. Time for action — vector versus rasterized images
        1. What just happened?
      6. Time for action — building brochure files
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — understanding vector graphics
      7. Summary
    9. 2. Installing and Opening Inkscape
      1. Inkscape's features
      2. Installing Inkscape
      3. Time for action — downloading Inkscape
        1. What just happened?
      4. Troubleshooting installation
      5. The basics of the software
      6. Time for action — getting started with Inkscape
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — using Tools
      7. Understanding a new document
      8. Time for action — learning more about the main screen
        1. What just happened?
        2. Have a go hero — floating Dockable dialogs
        3. Pop quiz — new documents
      9. Summary
    10. 3. How to Manage Files
      1. Creating new files
        1. Using predefined-sized document dimensions
      2. Time for action — creating a new CD cover
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — how do you change the dimensions of a predefined graphic?
      3. Custom document dimensions
      4. Time for action — creating a new custom file size for a postcard
        1. What just happened?
        2. Have a go hero — adding a print-safe border
        3. Have a go hero — adding a print bleed
      5. Saving Inkscape files
        1. Saving in Inkscape SVG
      6. Time for action — saving an Inkscape SVG
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — editable Inkscape file formats
        3. Exporting files
      7. Time for action — exporting to PNG
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — Export versus Save As
        3. Have a go hero — saving your Inkscape file as a PDF
      8. Creating a customized default document
      9. Time for action — creating a new default document
        1. What just happened?
      10. How to structure project files
        1. Managing multiple file projects
      11. Time for action — exporting a batch of images
        1. What just happened?
          1. Renaming object IDs
      12. Importing non-native Inkscape files
      13. Time for action — importing a PDF into Inkscape
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — file format portability
      14. Embedding and linking image files
        1. Embedding files in Inkscape
      15. Time for action — embedding a logo into your design
        1. What just happened?
        2. Linking external files in Inkscape
      16. Time for action — linking a photograph into a brochure design
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — linking versus embedding images
        3. Have a go hero — changing your mind, embedding files after the fact
      17. Summary
    11. 4. Creating your First Graphics
      1. Paths
      2. Creating your first vector graphic
        1. Creating a polygon
      3. Time for action — opening a new document
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — displaying borders
      4. Time for action — creating a star
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — switching shapes
        3. Have a go hero — changing shape options
      5. Time for action — saving your graphic
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — image formats
        3. Creating ellipses and arcs
      6. Time for action — creating the Ellipse
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — circles
      7. Time for action — making an arc
        1. What just happened?
        2. Complex Shapes
      8. Time for action — combining shapes
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — joining objects
          1. Freehand objects (Paths)
      9. Time for action — creating a freehand object
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — deleting
      10. Using grids and guidelines
      11. Time for action — viewing the Grid
        1. What just happened?
        2. Have a go hero — changing the unit of measure
        3. Pop quiz — viewable grid
      12. Time for action — making guides
        1. What just happened?
      13. Summary
    12. 5. How to Work with Layers
      1. Defining layers and how to create them
      2. Time for action — creating a layer
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — Layers dialog
      3. Using Layers in an example drawing
      4. Time for action — using Layers in web design
        1. What just happened?
      5. Locking layers
      6. Time for action — locking a layer
        1. What just happened?
      7. Hiding layers
      8. Time for action — hiding layers
        1. What just happened?
        2. Have a go hero — show all but current layer
      9. Duplicating layers
      10. Time for action — duplicating layers
        1. What just happened?
      11. Arranging layers
      12. Time for action — moving layers
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — background colors
      13. Time for action — nesting layers
        1. What just happened?
        2. Have a go hero — moving objects from one layer to another
      14. Renaming layers
      15. Time for action — renaming a layer
        1. What just happened?
      16. Deleting layers
      17. Time for action — deleting a layer
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — undo last action
      18. Blend mode
      19. Time for action — using Blend mode
        1. What just happened?
      20. Summary
    13. 6. Building Objects
      1. Working with objects
      2. Time for action — creating a simple object
        1. What just happened?
      3. Fill and Stroke
        1. Fill and Stroke dialog
      4. Time for action — using the Fill and Stroke dialog
        1. What just happened?
        2. Color palette bar
      5. Time for action — using the color palette
        1. What just happened?
        2. Dropper
      6. Time for action — using the dropper tool
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — changing Fill and Stroke
      7. Grouping
      8. Time for action — grouping objects
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — shortcut keys to quickly ungroup items
      9. Clipping and masking
      10. Time for action — clipping objects
        1. What just happened?
      11. Time for action — masking objects
        1. What just happened?
      12. Summary
    14. 7. Using Paths
      1. Working with paths
      2. Time for action — using the Bezier tool
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — remove the last node movement
      3. Transforming objects into paths
        1. Stroke to paths
      4. Time for action — creating spiros and swirls
        1. What just happened?
        2. Object to Path
      5. Time for action — Object to Path
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — paths
      6. Path options
      7. Time for action — creating an icon
        1. What just happened?
      8. Summary
    15. 8. How to Style Text
      1. Text and Font editor
      2. Time for action — opening and using the Text and Font editor
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — font options
        3. Kerning
      3. Time for action — kerning text
        1. What just happened?
        2. Text styling keyboard shortcuts
      4. Using paths and text
      5. Time for action — using a path for text
        1. What just happened?
        2. Placing text within a closed shape
      6. Time for action — placing text in a closed shape
        1. What just happened?
      7. Spell check and find/replace
      8. Time for action — performing a find and replace
        1. What just happened?
      9. Text effects
      10. Time for action — using text effects
        1. What just happened?
      11. Creating text reflections
      12. Time for action — creating a reflection
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — — transparency
      13. Summary
    16. 9. Using Filters
      1. What are filters?
      2. Using the Filter editor
      3. Time for action — using filters
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — common icon sizes
      4. Using filters with text
      5. Time for action — using filters with text
        1. What just happened?
      6. Images and effects
      7. Time for action — using filters with images
        1. What just happened?
      8. Tracing images
      9. Time for action — using Potrace
        1. What just happened?
      10. Time for action — using SIOX
        1. What just happened?
      11. Summary
    17. 10. Extensions in Inkscape
      1. Templates
        1. Installing and using new templates
      2. Time for action — installing Inkscape templates
        1. What just happened?
        2. Creating your own custom templates
      3. Time for action — modifying an existing Inkscape template
        1. What just happened?
      4. Time for action — creating a custom template
        1. What just happened?
      5. What are extensions?
        1. Examples of extension tutorials
      6. Installation extensions
        1. Pop quiz — what are extensions?
      7. Summary
    18. 11. Working with Images
        1. Importing from the Open Clip Art Library (Linux and Mac users)
      2. Time for action — using the Open Clip Art Library (Mac users only)
        1. What just happened?
        2. Pop quiz — Open Clip Art
      3. Basics about photo manipulation
      4. Time for action — blurring the background of a photograph
        1. What just happened?
      5. Converting raster logos to vector-based logos
      6. Time for action — converting a logo to a vector-based image
        1. What just happened?
      7. Summary
    19. 12. Using the XML Editor
      1. Inkscape's XML Editor
      2. Time for action — accessing the XML Editor
        1. What just happened?
      3. XML Editor basics
      4. SVG basics
        1. Attribute types
        2. Pop quiz — sodipodi tag
        3. Basic attributes
          1. Paths
          2. Shapes
          3. Images
          4. Text
      5. Using the XML Editor to change characteristics
      6. Time for action — using the XML Editor to change object characteristics
        1. What just happened?
      7. Using XML and graphics with programmers
      8. Summary
    20. A. Where to Find More Information
      1. Official sites
      2. Articles and tutorials
      3. Community
      4. Blogs
      5. Twitter
    21. B. Keyboard Shortcuts
    22. C. Glossary of Terms
    23. D. Pop quiz Answers
      1. Chapter 1, Getting Started with Vector Graphics
        1. Pop quiz — understanding vector graphics
      2. Chapter 2, Installing and Opening Inkscape
        1. Pop quiz — using Tools
        2. Pop quiz — new documents
      3. Chapter 3, How to Manage Files
        1. Pop quiz — how do you change the dimensions of a predefined graphic
        2. Pop quiz — editable Inkscape file formats
        3. Pop quiz — Export versus Save As
        4. Pop quiz — file format portability
        5. Pop quiz — linking versus embedding images
      4. Chapter 4, Creating your First Graphics
        1. Pop quiz — displaying borders
        2. Pop quiz — switching shapes
        3. Pop quiz — image formats
        4. Pop quiz — circles
        5. Pop quiz — joining objects
        6. Pop quiz — deleting
        7. Pop quiz — viewable grid
      5. Chapter 5, How to Work with Layers
        1. Pop quiz — Layers dialog
        2. Pop quiz — background colors
        3. Pop quiz — undo last action
      6. Chapter 6, Building Objects
        1. Pop quiz — changing Fill and Stroke
        2. Pop quiz — shortcut keys to quickly ungroup items
      7. Chapter 7, Using Paths
        1. Pop quiz — remove the last node movement
        2. Pop quiz — paths
      8. Chapter 8, How to Style Text
        1. Pop quiz — font options
        2. Pop quiz — transparency
      9. Chapter 9, Using Filters
        1. Pop quiz — common icon sizes
      10. Chapter 10, Extensions in Inkscape
        1. Pop quiz — what are extensions?
      11. Chapter 11, Working with Images
        1. Pop quiz — Open Clip Art
      12. Chapter 12, Using the XML Editor
        1. Pop quiz — sodipodi tag
    24. Index

Product information

  • Title: Inkscape
  • Author(s): Bethany Hiitola
  • Release date: May 2012
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781849517201