Inkscape 1.0
www.snipca.com/34789 What you need: Windows 7, 8.1 or 10
Unlike Gimp ( www.gimp.org) and Paint.net ( www.getpaint. net), which are both raster graphic editors, Inkscape is a vector editor. What does this mean? Well, whereas images created with raster editors will start to pixelate as you zoom beyond 100 per cent, a vector image is infinitely zoomable without pixelation. There are, of course, downsides to using vector graphics - most notably they’re not suited to fine detail – but they’re perfect for creating logos and illustrations. For example, you could create a logo for a local club that looks as sharp on a website as it does when printed on a 10ft banner.
Don’t let the version number fool you - Inkscape isn’t a new program. Originally released in 2003 (though only for Linux), this open-source editor has been fine-tuned over the years and compares well with expensive alternatives, such as Adobe Illustrator. While this version promises better performance, in our tests we only noticed small improvements (applying the glorious Swiss Cheese filter to a complex vector image took six-and-a-half seconds, compared with seven seconds in the previous version). However, other improvements are welcome, not least its new design – the toolbar buttons are clearer with more space between them, while everything looks sharp even on high-resolution monitors (something the previous release struggled with).
We also love the new Split View tool (see below). This lets you drag a slider across your image, revealing the vectors behind the shading, filters and other object properties, making it easier to work on fine detail. The new X-ray tool is similar, with a circle that follows your cursor movement to reveal the vectors – activate it by pressing Alt+6. Other new features include the ability to move your artwork to the centre by pressing Ctrl+4 and rotating it by holding down Ctrl+shift while moving your mouse wheel.
Like all vector editors, Inkscape involves a fairly steep learning curve. However, there are plenty of tutorials on the Inkscape website ( www.snipca.com/34790), and the best way to get to grips with it is simply to play around with its various tools.
1
Inkscape 1.0 has cleaned up its previously cluttered interface by spacing out the buttons and improved its performance on highresolution displays.
2
You can apply a range of filters to your vector images. Simply select an object in your image, click the Filters menu option, then select one from the categories.
3
To enter Split View, press Ctrl+6 or go to the View menu and tick the Split View Mode option. Repeat this step to return to the normal view.
4
With Split View activated, drag the slider left and right to reveal the vectors behind your image.to drag it vertically, click the up or down arrow in the circle.