Inkscape User Manual

This is a free, user-editable, open source software manual.

Table of Contents

About Inkscape....................................................................................................................................................1About SVG...........................................................................................................................................................2

Objectives of the SVG Format.................................................................................................................2The Current State of SVGSoftware........................................................................................................2

Inkscape Interface...............................................................................................................................................3

The Menu.................................................................................................................................................3The CommandsBar.................................................................................................................................3The Toolbox and ToolControls Bar........................................................................................................4The Canvas...............................................................................................................................................4Rulers......................................................................................................................................................5Guides......................................................................................................................................................6How to use.........................................................................................................................................6MovingGuides...........................................................................................................................6Deleting guides...........................................................................................................................6Guide Visibility...........................................................................................................................6Grids.........................................................................................................................................................7How to Use .......................................................................................................................................8Enabled......................................................................................................................................8Visible.........................................................................................................................................8Grid Units...................................................................................................................................8Origin X and Y...........................................................................................................................8Spacing X and Y.........................................................................................................................8Angle Xand Y............................................................................................................................8Grid line color.............................................................................................................................8Show dots insteadof lines.........................................................................................................8Swatches..................................................................................................................................................8Howto Use .......................................................................................................................................9Status Bar.................................................................................................................................................9

Working with files.............................................................................................................................................10

Create a New Document........................................................................................................................10Using...............................................................................................................................................10Additional Information....................................................................................................................10Opening a Document.............................................................................................................................10Usage...............................................................................................................................................10Additional Information....................................................................................................................10Saving files............................................................................................................................................11How to use.......................................................................................................................................11Parts.................................................................................................................................................11Type.................................................................................................................................................11Name...............................................................................................................................................12Formats............................................................................................................................................12.svg (native Inkscape)......................................................................................................................12.svg (plain).......................................................................................................................................12.svgz (compressed)..........................................................................................................................12.pdf...................................................................................................................................................12.svg (Adobe Illustrator 9+ , Adobe Illustrator)................................................................................12.outline.............................................................................................................................................12.xaml................................................................................................................................................12.png..................................................................................................................................................13.bmp.................................................................................................................................................13.wbmp..............................................................................................................................................13

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Table of Contents

Working with files

.ico, .cur...........................................................................................................................................13.jpg, .jpeg.........................................................................................................................................13.pnm, .pgm, .pbm, .ppm...................................................................................................................13.ras...................................................................................................................................................13.tiff...................................................................................................................................................13.xpm, .xbm.......................................................................................................................................13.tga, .targa........................................................................................................................................13.pcx..................................................................................................................................................13.ps (Postscript),.eps (encapsulated postscript), .epsi (encapsulated postscript interchange).........14.dia (dia)...........................................................................................................................................14.ggr (Gimp Gradient).......................................................................................................................14.ani (animated).................................................................................................................................14.tex...................................................................................................................................................14.odg..................................................................................................................................................14.dxf...................................................................................................................................................14.pov..................................................................................................................................................14.xcf...................................................................................................................................................14

Selector Tool......................................................................................................................................................15

How to Use............................................................................................................................................15Selecting Objects.............................................................................................................................15Adding Objectsto and Removing Objectsfrom Selection............................................................15Rubberband Selection......................................................................................................................15Touch Selection...............................................................................................................................15Inverting ObjectSelection...............................................................................................................16Moving Objects...............................................................................................................................16Transforming Objects......................................................................................................................16Scaling.............................................................................................................................................17Rotating...........................................................................................................................................17Rotation Center................................................................................................................................18Skewing orShearing.......................................................................................................................18Mirroring.........................................................................................................................................19Scaling of Stroke Width, Rectangle Corners, and Fills...................................................................19Tips........................................................................................................................................................20

Node Tool ..........................................................................................................................................................21

How to Use............................................................................................................................................21.........................................................................................................................................................21 Add Node........................................................................................................................................21.........................................................................................................................................................21 Subtract Node..................................................................................................................................21..................................................................................................................................................21 Join Nodes.......................................................................................................................................21..................................................................................................................................................21.........................................................................................................................................................21 Joing Nodes with New Segment.....................................................................................................21..................................................................................................................................................21 Split Path Between Two non-Endpoint Nodes................................................................................21Break Path at Selected Nodes..........................................................................................................21Make Selected Nodes Corner (Convert to Cusp)............................................................................22Make Selected Nodes Smooth.........................................................................................................22Make Selected Nodes Symmetric....................................................................................................22..................................................................................................................................................22 Make Selected Segments Lines.......................................................................................................22Make Selected Segments Curves....................................................................................................22Convert Selected Object to Path......................................................................................................22..................................................................................................................................................22 Convert Selected Object's Stroke to Paths......................................................................................22Show the Bezier Handles of Selected Nodes..................................................................................22Show Next Path Effect Parameter for Editing.................................................................................22Invert Node selection.......................................................................................................................22..................................................................................................................................................23

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