INKSCAPE
PROGRAM BASICS
DOCUMENT SET UP
Inkscape is primarily used for vector and logo design. Inkscape is a vector
based application, which means a design can be the size of a business card but also
be printed to the size of a billboard with no loss of quality.
STEP ONE:
-Open Inkscape
-Select NEW DOCUMENT from
the window that pops up.
-Once it opens, go to FILE-
DOCUMENT PROPERTIES.
- Set your document size in the window
that opens. Make sure UNITS is set to
in. Make the width 9” and the height 12.”
-Click the x to close the window.
ADDING ELEMENTS
You can add images, color shapes, decorative lines, text, and more to your document.
STEP TWO: TEXT
-Select the CREATE
AND EDIT TEXT
OBJECTS from the
left toolbar.
-Click on the
document and
drag the size
text box you
want.
-Start typing to add
text.
-Change the text
FONT, STYLE, and
SIZE in the top
menu bar.
You can add images, color shapes, decorative lines, text, and more to your document.
STEP THREE: CREATING SHAPES
-Try adding lines and shapes to
your document.
-Select the CREATE
RECTANGLE AND SQUARE
tool from the left toolbar.
-Click and drag to create the
shape.
-To create a circle shape, click
the CIRCLE tool, click and
drag to create a circle or oval
shape. Hold ctrl (control)
while dragging to make a perfect circle. -To create a triangle or other polygon
shape click the CREATE STARS AND
POLYGONS tool.
-Set the number of corners you want
to define the shape in the top menu
bar, enter 3 for a triangle.
-Click and drag to create the shape.
-To create a star use the same tool but
click the star shape in the top menu
bar and define the number of corners
for your star. A standard star has 5
corners.
-Click on the shape using the SELECT tool, or black arrow in the left toolbar, and drag the arrows in and
out to change the size of the shape.
-Click the shape again to turn the arrows into angle options. Drag the arrows to shift the angle of the shape.
-Change the color of your shape using the stroke and fill
options in the bottom menu bar.
-Select the shape using the SELECT tool.
-Click the FILL box at the bottom.
-This will open a window on the right side of the
screen. Change fill options here or select a color
from the bottom toolbar. Scroll through the
bottom row for many options.
-Click STROKE PAINT tab to select an outline
color if you want one.
-Select STROKE STYLE tab to change the
thickness or line style of the outline, such as a dash line.
-Use the SELECT TOOL from the left
toolbar and click the shape and move
it around your page.
-TIP: Use shapes to block out areas
and emphasize text, images, headers,
or similar. Shapes can help divide up
the space in an interesting way.
-Try overlapping your text box and
shape.
-When the shape is selected, arrange
options pop up in the top menu bar.
To send the shape to the back, click
the far right option, LOWER
SELECTION TO BOTTOM.
STEP FOUR: ADDING IMAGES
-Try adding images to your document. Simply drag and drop images into your document.
-Click OK in the window that pops up.
-With the SELECT TOOL click on your image, hold the CTRL key (control key), and
drag the arrows to resize it without distorting it.
DECORATIVE ELEMENTS
STEP FIVE: ROUNDED TEXT
-Try playing with your text. Either
create curved or rounded text.
-Draw a curved line using the
BEZIER CURVE tool or a circle
using the CIRCLE tool.
-Create a text box and type out
text. Set the font, size, and style
you want.
-Select both the line and text or
circle and text.
-Go to TEXT-PUT ON
PATH.
- The text will jump onto
the line or shape.
-Click the shape to turn the
arrows into angle arrows,
drag these to change the
location of the text on the
shape.
-Once your text is set, go to
PATH-OBJECT TO PATH
to release the text from the
shape.
-You can now delete the line
or shape.
STEP SIX: DECORATIVE LINES
-Try out three different line styles.
-Click the BEZIER CURVES tool to create curved lines. Click to start the line, click and drag to prompt the
line to curve. Drag the line to change the curve until you are happy with the look.
-Click FREEHAND LINES tool to draw lines with no guides.
-Play around with the stroke width and colors.
-Click CALLIGRAPHIC OR BRUSH STROKES tool.
-In the top menu bar, customize the look of the stroke.
-Click NO PRESET to prompt a drop down menu to select the style. Set the width and colors.
-Click the lines and move them around to create an
interesting design on your page.
SAVING YOUR DOCUMENT
STEP SEVEN: FINISHING UP
-Once you are all finished with your document go to FILE, SAVE AS.
-Title your document and save it as a .svg file, or an Inkscape file. I always save a
copy as an Inkscape file to allow me to edit my documents if needed.
-To save as a PDF go to FILE, SAVE AS, title it if needed, then select PDF from the
FORMAT drop down menu.
-If you need to save your document in a PNG format you have to export the
document.
-To do this go to FILE, EXPORT PNG IMAGE.
-A window will pop up on the right side.
-Title your document, select the save location, and select EXPORT.
CHECKING YOUR WORK:
Play around with other tools and
explore Inkscape to familiarize
yourself with the program. Make
sure you include the following to
get credit for the assignment:
_____ Standard text
_____ A shape
_____ A picture
_____ Curved text
_____ Bezier curve line
_____ Freehand line
_____ Decorative line