The most popular graphics/image processing programs on Linux platform are: GIMP, Inkscape, and Dia, each of which has its own unique functions. Thereinto, GIMP claims to be the Adobe Photoshop for Linux; Inkscape claims to be CorelDraw for Linux; while Dia refers to Microsoft’s Visio. Here, we recommend Inkscape to you all.

Inkscape is a free, open-source, and cross-platform vector image drawing program. Its functions are very powerful and well-knit, in addition to basic drawing tools like point, line, plane, circle, rectangle, curve, and it also provides advanced functions like 3D color. As a high-end vector graphics editor, Inkscape’s capabilities are highly similar to those of CorelDraw, Adobe Illustrator, Freehand, Xara X, and others.

Inkscape uses the W3C standard compliant Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format, supports SVG features like shapes, paths, text, markups, cloning, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns, and composition. Besides, it also supports authoring shared metadata, node editing, layers, complex path calculations, bitmap tracing, text around paths, flowing text, direct editing of XML, and so on.

Inkscape supports a wide range of vector file formats, including SVG, AI, EPS, PDF, can import JPEG, PNG, TIFF format of image, and output image as PNG and multiple bitmap formats. Maybe not many people use it, but it is definitely a good piece of software to be noticed by vector graphics artists. If you think Illustrator and CorelDraw are too expensive, then Inkscape should be a very good alternative.

// Key Features //

Object creation

Drawing: pencil tool (freehand drawing with simple paths), pen tool (creating Bézier curves and straight lines), calligraphy tool (freehand drawing using filled paths representing calligraphic strokes) Shape tools: rectangles (may have rounded corners), ellipses (includes circles, arcs, segments), stars/polygons (can be rounded and/or randomized), spirals Text tool (multi-line text, full on-canvas editing) Embedded bitmaps (with a command to create and embed bitmaps of selected objects) Clones (“live” linked copies of objects), including a tool to create patterns and arrangements of clones

Object manipulation

Transformations (moving, scaling, rotating, skewing), both interactively and by specifying exact numeric values Z-order operations (raising and lowering) Grouping objects (“select in group” without ungrouping, or “enter the group” making it a temporary layer) Layers (lock and/or hide individual layers, rearrange them, etc; layers can form a hierarchical tree) Alignment and distribution commands

Fill and stroke

Color selector (RGB, HSL, CMYK, color wheel, CMS) Color picker tool Copy/paste style A gradient editor capable of multi-stop gradients Pattern fills (bitmap/vectors) Dashed strokes, with many predefined dash patterns  Path markers (ending, middle and/or beginning marks, e.g. arrowheads)

Operations on paths

Node editing: moving nodes and Bezier handles, node alignment and distribution, etc. Converting to path (for text objects or shapes), including converting stroke to path Boolean operations Path simplification, with variable threshold Path insetting and outsetting, including dynamic and linked offset objects Bitmap tracing (both color and monochrome paths)

Text support

Multi-line text Uses any installed outline fonts, including right-to-left scripts Kerning, letterspacing, linespacing adjustments Text on path (both text and path remain editable) Text in shape (fill shape following stroke)

Rendering

Fully anti-aliased display Alpha transparency support for display and PNG export Complete “as you drag” rendering of objects during interactive transformations

File formats

Perfectly compliant SVG format file generation and editing Live watching and editing the document tree in the XML editor PNG, OpenDocument Drawing, DXF, sk1, PDF, EPS and PostScript export formats and more Command line options for export and conversions

// Related Links //

• Inkscape Books and Manuals
• Inkscape Keyboard shortcuts reference
• Inkscape Command lines reference
• Inkscape Text Tutorials
• Inkscape Video Tutorials
• Inkscape Extension download
• Inkscape Frequently Asked Questions

// Download URLs //

License	Version	Download	Size
Freeware	Latest		n/a

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