Inkscape Essential Training

Course details

Create great vector graphics with Inkscape, the open-source illustration software. In this course, Mike Rankin, a design professional for over 25 years, covers everything from creating new documents to outputting files for print and the web. Follow along to learn how to work with vector paths; draw shapes; add colors, patterns, and gradients to drawings; transform objects by scaling, rotating, and skewing; and creating special effects with the software's nondestructive filters. You don't need any prior experience with Illustrator or other drawing apps to get the most out of this course. Just download Inkscape and start following along.

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Create great vector graphics for free with Inkscape

1. Getting Started

02 - What is Inkscape
03 - Understanding the SVG file format
04 - Touring the Inkscape interface
05 - Exploring the Inkscape toolbox
06 - Creating new documents
07 - Importing documents from Adobe Illustrator
08 - Editing document properties
09 - Editing global Inkscape preferences
10 - Using Undo History

2. Navigating an Inkscape Document

11 - Panning and zooming
12 - Working with Inkscape dialogs
13 - Using guides
14 - Using grids
15 - Working with snap controls
16 - Understanding display modes
17 - Selecting input devices
18 - Working with layers

3. Drawing Basic Shapes

19 - Drawing with the Pen tool
20 - Using the Node tool
21 - Understanding node types
22 - Joining and splitting paths
23 - Drawing with the Pencil tool
24 - Understanding shapes and paths
25 - Creating spirals
26 - Creating rectangles
27 - Creating ellipses
28 - Creating stars and polygons
29 - Drawing with the Calligraphy tool
30 - Creating diagram connectors
31 - Erasing paths

4. Transforming Objects

32 - Selecting objects
33 - Grouping objects
34 - Moving objects
35 - Controlling the stacking order
36 - Scaling objects
37 - Rotating objects
38 - Skewing objects
39 - Using the Tweak tool
40 - Hiding and showing objects
41 - Aligning and distributing objects
42 - Arranging objects in a grid
43 - Working with object clones
44 - Using clipping paths and masks
45 - Using the XML Editor

5. Working with Fills and Strokes

46 - Adding fills to your objects
47 - Understanding fill rules
48 - Adding strokes to your objects
49 - Working with linear gradients
50 - Working with radial gradients
51 - Working with mesh gradients
52 - Working with patterns
53 - Working with swatches
54 - Working with stroke styles
55 - Working with dashed and dotted strokes
56 - Using the Dropper tool to sample and apply colors
57 - Creating blurs

6. Using Filters

58 - Using the Filter Editor
59 - Creating bevels
60 - Adjusting color with filters
61 - Distorting objects
62 - Simulating materials
63 - Creating drop shadows
64 - Creating textures

7. Using Extensions

65 - Adjusting color with extensions
66 - Embedding and extracting images
67 - Modifying paths
68 - Blending paths
69 - Creating effects with raster extensions
70 - Rendering objects

8. Creating Complex Shapes

71 - Using path commands
72 - Using the 3D-Box tool
73 - Using the Spray tool
74 - Tracing bitmap images
75 - Applying path effects

9. Working with Text

76 - Adding text
77 - Editing text
78 - Inserting special characters
79 - Placing text on a path
80 - Converting text into paths

10. Printing and Exporting Artwork

81 - Using clean up document feature
82 - Printing Inkscape documents
83 - Saving files for print
84 - Saving files for the web

Conclusion

85 - Next steps