Inkscape

Abhi

Let us presume that you have heard of Inkscape. It is a vector graphics tool which is free and open source.

And interestingly, version 1.0 just landed after 3 years of development with many improvements

splite mode

Smoother performance, HiDPI support and a native macOS app, that is the punch line for Inkscape 1.0

Translations are available in around 20 languages, there is GTK +3 support, works with Windows, Linux and Mac, in-built Fillet and Chamfer, PDF export, Python 3 support, searchable symbols, customisable interface, dark theme and so on

icon colours

Check out this introduction video

https://youtu.be/f6UHXkND4Sc

Ready to try it out or an upgrade ? Here you go

https://inkscape.org/release/inkscape-1.0/

Abhi

If you are using Ubuntu and is going the Snap way of using Inkscape, make sure there are some limitations. Mainly it will be the snap is a container type format. It is hard for the program to reach beyond the boundaries set for it by Snap.

Inkscape themselves lists a few of possible issues that might arise when you use the Snap package

On Ubuntu and various other Linux platforms, you can also use the snap package (installation instructions for snap).
On the terminal, type:

$ sudo snap install inkscape

Note that the Inkscape snap package comes with a couple of restrictions. Some of these can be solved, and some are unavoidable due to the safety level of the packaging format:

custom markers and custom filters cannot be saved to the file where Inkscape is looking for them (which is /usr/share/inkscape/markers/markers.svg and /usr/share/inkscape/filters/filters.svg) in all Inkscape versions older than 1.0. This behavior cannot be changed.
extensions that depend on programs that are not linked with the Inkscape snap do not work (i.e. export as Gimp XCF, PDFLatex, ...). To work around this restriction you can do:
sudo snap remove inkscape
sudo snap install --classic inkscape
The --classic parameter will, though, also disable the security advantages that snap has over a normal, package based install or over the other binary install options for Linux.
by default, only files that are saved in the user's home directory are accessible to Inkscape
external devices, like plotters or cutters, will not be found by Inkscape (see here for solution or install with --classic parameter, see above)
fonts that you have installed globally on your system are not available (workaround: copy the font files into ~/.local/share/fonts)

Source

admin

I like the eye candy features. Dark theme and icon colour scheme. Simply awesome.

Fillet and Chamfer is one that I sought the most. Thankfully, it is available. Now need to spend some time exploring 1.0.

Abhi

admin need to spend some time exploring 1.0.

Try these

Logos by Nick

https://youtu.be/HLcx8Qcmcak

Davies Media Design

https://youtu.be/d7cAQ6HYsAE

admin

Thanks. I watched them. A lot of talk is about LPE, which it deserves considering the face lift it got. And the UI theming part. I hope more detailed videos will be made available.

If not, I will have the docs anyway. 🙂

Abhi

Launchpad PPA now offers Inkscape 1.0. Your Inkscape 0.92 will be automatically updated to 1.0 if you use the commands associated with this PPA

https://launchpad.net/~inkscape.dev/+archive/ubuntu/stable

Here are the commands. Use one line at a time on Terminal

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install inkscape

Abhi

Davies Media Design explains Live Path Effects (LPE) here

https://youtu.be/jasNo_qF6Y4

admin

Abhi I got bored. He is explaining too much. But I going to give it another try. 🙂

phenomlab I tried Inkscape a while back and didn't find it either user friendly,

There is a good chance that it is because their UI was not cute or well organised. The new version has that taken care of. The default isn't much. But if you care to customise it, everything can be eye candy.

phenomlab

Perhaps it's just me being stupid, but I tried Inkscape a while back and didn't find it either user friendly, or usable to the point that I would chose it over another product. GIMP, on the other hand, gets my vote every time.

Abhi

phenomlab didn't find it either user friendly, or usable to the point that I would chose it over another product

It surprises me. I started doing basic work in Inkscape within a week. I did see a couple of guides on YouTube. But for me, it was easy to grasp. As they say, different people, different style.

phenomlab GIMP, on the other hand, gets my vote every time.

In fact, GIMP was hard for me in the beginning. It took me years to get familiar with the regular tools and their effects. I am still a long way from anything to be called a skilled user. But I managed to get away with basic tasks.

Abhi

Want to draw Pixel Art in Inkscape ? Start with watching this video

Abhi

Inkscape 1.0.1 is released with CMYK support using experimental colour-managed PDF export using Scribus. Selectors and CSS dialog is also included in this release

selectors and css

admin

v1.0.1 reduces crashes a lot. That is what I heard about release among other merits.

Abhi

I used it for some time today. Thankfully, no crashes. I am loving it 😉

Abhi

Windows and Mac OS version for 1.0.1 is released

Download

admin

I got a very important bug solved. Inkscape developers are very helpful and have a positive attitude towards community feedback.

admin

Crashing still exists in Inkscape, but I think it has reduced a lot after the last update.

Abhi

Inkscape 1.0.2 released

Crafters and makers seeking to frame and shape text will no longer need to rely on workarounds, to use text in Boolean operations, or when offsetting text. This means that if users have been holding out with 0.92.5 because of this, they'll find the functionality restored in 1.0.2. Older tutorials will once again be helpful for users seeking to learn how to wrangle text in Inkscape.

v1.0.2 allows users to disable/enable Zoom with middle mouse click and an option to Lock Canvas rotation by default.

Abhi

Inkscape 1.1 Alpha is available for testing.

admin

I installed 1.0.2 on Windows 10. All good, working fine. But there was no auto update. I had to delete 1.0.1 before I could install 1.0.2. But that is ok.