Chapter 1. Quick Start

Inkscape » Quick Start

Table of Contents

Let's get started. Inkscape is a very powerful program. However, you need to understand only a small part of it to begin drawing. This section gives you an overview of parts of the Inkscape user interface and then leads you through the creation of a few drawings. We will use a number of examples:

Swedish Flag: A basic introduction to Inkscape using simple rectangles.
European Flag: Includes drawing stars and precisely placing objects.
Hiking Club Logo: Introduces text and is a serious foray into paths.
Northern Pacific Railway Logo: Shows how to create a drawing from a photograph with the help of the auto-tracing routine. Layers are also introduced.
Box of Playing Cards: Shows how to use Inkscape to draw a simple isometric projection of a three-dimensional object. It utilizes precise transformations of objects.
Can of Soup: Another demonstration of how to simulate a 3D object in a 2D drawing. It introduces gradients.
Vine Design: Demonstrates how to create a pattern that can be used as a base tile for a repeating pattern. It introduces the powerful Create Tiled Clones feature of Inkscape.
Neon Sign: Introduces using Inkscape for animation.
Bank Note: Uses a variety of Inkscape features to produce a "secure" bank note. Patterns and scroll work are featured.
Bottle: Creates a photorealistic drawing of a spritzer bottle. Tracing, gradients, and blurring are used.


Help		The Anatomy of the Inkscape Window