Inkscape Beginner's Guide

Inkscape Beginner's Guide - Opis

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. Spis treści:
Inkscape
Table of Contents
Inkscape
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
Support files, eBooks, discount offers and more
Why Subscribe?
Free Access for Packt account holders
Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is (...) więcej for
Conventions
Time for action heading
What just happened?
Pop quiz heading
Have a go hero heading
Reader feedback
Customer support
Downloading the color images of this book
Errata
Piracy
Questions
1. Getting Started with Vector Graphics
What are vector graphics?
Programs that use vector graphics
Vector formats
Scalable Vector Graphics
Advantages of an open-standard vector format
Additional advantages of SVG vector images over proprietary formats
Disadvantages of vector graphics over non-vector formats
Determining when to use vector or rasterized graphics
Time for action basic design
What just happened?
Time for action vector versus rasterized images
What just happened?
Time for action building brochure files
What just happened?
Pop quiz understanding vector graphics
Summary
2. Installing and Opening Inkscape
Inkscapes features
Installing Inkscape
Time for action downloading Inkscape
What just happened?
Troubleshooting installation
The basics of the software
Time for action getting started with Inkscape
What just happened?
Pop quiz using Tools
Understanding a new document
Time for action learning more about the main screen
What just happened?
Have a go hero floating Dockable dialogs
Pop quiz new documents
Summary
3. How to Manage Files
Creating new files
Using predefined-sized document dimensions
Time for action creating a new CD cover
What just happened?
Pop quiz how do you change the dimensions of a predefined graphic?
Custom document dimensions
Time for action creating a new custom file size for a postcard
What just happened?
Have a go hero adding a print-safe border
Have a go hero adding a print bleed
Saving Inkscape files
Saving in Inkscape SVG
Time for action saving an Inkscape SVG
What just happened?
Pop quiz editable Inkscape file formats
Exporting files
Time for action exporting to PNG
What just happened?
Pop quiz Export versus Save As
Have a go hero saving your Inkscape file as a PDF
Creating a customized default document
Time for action creating a new default document
What just happened?
How to structure project files
Managing multiple file projects
Time for action exporting a batch of images
What just happened?
Renaming object IDs
Importing non-native Inkscape files
Time for action importing a PDF into Inkscape
What just happened?
Pop quiz file format portability
Embedding and linking image files
Embedding files in Inkscape
Time for action embedding a logo into your design
What just happened?
Linking external files in Inkscape
Time for action linking a photograph into a brochure design
What just happened?
Pop quiz linking versus embedding images
Have a go hero changing your mind, embedding files after the fact
Summary
4. Creating your First Graphics
Paths
Creating your first vector graphic
Creating a polygon
Time for action opening a new document
What just happened?
Pop quiz displaying borders
Time for action creating a star
What just happened?
Pop quiz switching shapes
Have a go hero changing shape options
Time for action saving your graphic
What just happened?
Pop quiz image formats
Creating ellipses and arcs
Time for action creating the Ellipse
What just happened?
Pop quiz circles
Time for action making an arc
What just happened?
Complex Shapes
Time for action combining shapes
What just happened?
Pop quiz joining objects
Freehand objects (Paths)
Time for action creating a freehand object
What just happened?
Pop quiz deleting
Using grids and guidelines
Time for action viewing the Grid
What just happened?
Have a go hero changing the unit of measure
Pop quiz viewable grid
Time for action making guides
What just happened?
Summary
5. How to Work with Layers
Defining layers and how to create them
Time for action creating a layer
What just happened?
Pop quiz Layers dialog
Using Layers in an example drawing
Time for action using Layers in web design
What just happened?
Locking layers
Time for action locking a layer
What just happened?
Hiding layers
Time for action hiding layers
What just happened?
Have a go hero show all but current layer
Duplicating layers
Time for action duplicating layers
What just happened?
Arranging layers
Time for action moving layers
What just happened?
Pop quiz background colors
Time for action nesting layers
What just happened?
Have a go hero moving objects from one layer to another
Renaming layers
Time for action renaming a layer
What just happened?
Deleting layers
Time for action deleting a layer
What just happened?
Pop quiz undo last action
Blend mode
Time for action using Blend mode
What just happened?
Summary
6. Building Objects
Working with objects
Time for action creating a simple object
What just happened?
Fill and Stroke
Fill and Stroke dialog
Time for action using the Fill and Stroke dialog
What just happened?
Color palette bar
Time for action using the color palette
What just happened?
Dropper
Time for action using the dropper tool
What just happened?
Pop quiz changing Fill and Stroke
Grouping
Time for action grouping objects
What just happened?
Pop quiz shortcut keys to quickly ungroup items
Clipping and masking
Time for action clipping objects
What just happened?
Time for action masking objects
What just happened?
Summary
7. Using Paths
Working with paths
Time for action using the Bezier tool
What just happened?
Pop quiz remove the last node movement
Transforming objects into paths
Stroke to paths
Time for action creating spiros and swirls
What just happened?
Object to Path
Time for action Object to Path
What just happened?
Pop quiz paths
Path options
Time for action creating an icon
What just happened?
Summary
8. How to Style Text
Text and Font editor
Time for action opening and using the Text and Font editor
What just happened?
Pop quiz font options
Kerning
Time for action kerning text
What just happened?
Text styling keyboard shortcuts
Using paths and text
Time for action using a path for text
What just happened?
Placing text within a closed shape
Time for action placing text in a closed shape
What just happened?
Spell check and find/replace
Time for action performing a find and replace
What just happened?
Text effects
Time for action using text effects
What just happened?
Creating text reflections
Time for action creating a reflection
What just happened?
Pop quiz transparency
Summary
9. Using Filters
What are filters?
Using the Filter editor
Time for action using filters
What just happened?
Pop quiz common icon sizes
Using filters with text
Time for action using filters with text
What just happened?
Images and effects
Time for action using filters with images
What just happened?
Tracing images
Time for action using Potrace
What just happened?
Time for action using SIOX
What just happened?
Summary
10. Extensions in Inkscape
Templates
Installing and using new templates
Time for action installing Inkscape templates
What just happened?
Creating your own custom templates
Time for action modifying an existing Inkscape template
What just happened?
Time for action creating a custom template
What just happened?
What are extensions?
Examples of extension tutorials
Installation extensions
Pop quiz what are extensions?
Summary
11. Working with Images
Importing from the Open Clip Art Library (Linux and Mac users)
Time for action using the Open Clip Art Library (Mac users only)
What just happened?
Pop quiz Open Clip Art
Basics about photo manipulation
Time for action blurring the background of a photograph
What just happened?
Converting raster logos to vector-based logos
Time for action converting a logo to a vector-based image
What just happened?
Summary
12. Using the XML Editor
Inkscape's XML Editor
Time for action accessing the XML Editor
What just happened?
XML Editor basics
SVG basics
Attribute types
Pop quiz sodipodi tag
Basic attributes
Paths
Shapes
Images
Text
Using the XML Editor to change characteristics
Time for action using the XML Editor to change object characteristics
What just happened?
Using XML and graphics with programmers
Summary
A. Where to Find More Information
Official sites
Articles and tutorials
Community
Blogs
Twitter
B. Keyboard Shortcuts
C. Glossary of Terms
D. Pop quiz Answers
Chapter 1, Getting Started with Vector Graphics
Pop quiz understanding vector graphics
Chapter 2, Installing and Opening Inkscape
Pop quiz using Tools
Pop quiz new documents
Chapter 3, How to Manage Files
Pop quiz how do you change the dimensions of a predefined graphic
Pop quiz editable Inkscape file formats
Pop quiz Export versus Save As
Pop quiz file format portability
Pop quiz linking versus embedding images
Chapter 4, Creating your First Graphics
Pop quiz displaying borders
Pop quiz switching shapes
Pop quiz image formats
Pop quiz circles
Pop quiz joining objects
Pop quiz deleting
Pop quiz viewable grid
Chapter 5, How to Work with Layers
Pop quiz Layers dialog
Pop quiz background colors
Pop quiz undo last action
Chapter 6, Building Objects
Pop quiz changing Fill and Stroke
Pop quiz shortcut keys to quickly ungroup items
Chapter 7, Using Paths
Pop quiz remove the last node movement
Pop quiz paths
Chapter 8, How to Style Text
Pop quiz font options
Pop quiz transparency
Chapter 9, Using Filters
Pop quiz common icon sizes
Chapter 10, Extensions in Inkscape
Pop quiz what are extensions?
Chapter 11, Working with Images
Pop quiz Open Clip Art
Chapter 12, Using the XML Editor
Pop quiz sodipodi tag
Index O autorze: Bethany Hiitola is a working writer and technology geek. With a degree in Scientific and Technical Communications, she's worked as a technical writer and multimedia developer for over 12 yearsshe spends the rest of her time as a wife, mother, gadget geek, and Master of the Household. She's written more user manuals than she can count, essays, novels, and a few technical booksincluding Inkscape 0.48 Essentials for Web Designers. More details are at her website: bethanyhiitola.com mniej