In terms of software for creating vector graphics, the market is dominated by Adobe Illustrator, Sketch, and to a smaller extent, CorelDRAW. But that isn't to say that Inkscape hasn't made a name for itself in the digital art community.
Inkscape has been a free-to-use, professional vector editor since its initial launch in 2003. It's still being developed and improved to this day.
Inkscape Is Still Free and It's Getting Better
Inkscape will be launching it's much-awaited 1.1 update in the coming months, but in the meantime, you can download the beta on the official website.
... And it's launched!! If you're waiting to test #Inkscape 1.1beta before we launch the final version later this Spring, you're in luck! Head here to download it: https://t.co/IzExthMvkT Thanks for sharing your feedback & bug reports with us, too. pic.twitter.com/CYOxWeiZdo
— Inkscape (@inkscape) March 31, 2021
There's a new welcome dialog box, where you can select Inkscape's theme, the size of your new document, or the file that you want to open.
A Commands palette (press the "?" key to open) has been added too, which you can use to search for specific Inkscape functions. So if you don't remember a tool's keyboard shortcut, or where it is on the menu, you can just look it up.
Other highlights include:
- Copy, cut and paste parts of paths with the Node tool
- Rewritten dialog docking system (they should be significantly less buggy now)
- New Outline overlay mode that displays object outlines while showing their real colors
- Automatic exporting after you click Save in the file selection dialog
Over 200 changes and bug fixes were made since January's 1.1 alpha release, too. You can check out at the complete list of changes in the release notes.
What Is Inkscape?
An open source vector drawing app for Windows, Mac, and Linux that primarily works with the scalable vector graphics (SVG) format. Other formats can be imported and exported though, such as PNG, PDF OpenDocument Drawing, DXF, and more.
Using Inkscape, you can can render vector shapes (e.g. rectangles, ellipses, polygons, arcs, spirals, stars and 3D boxes) and text filled with colors, patterns, gradients, etc. You can also add strokes to border these objects, and adjust their transparency.
Inkscape began as a code fork for another open source vector graphics editor called "Sodipodi." When it was discontinued, Inkscape became its own program. The fork was originally led by Ted Gould, Bryce Harrington, Nathan Hurst, and a developer that went by "MenTaLguY."
At present, Gould is still a part of the Inkscape team, the board page on the official website says that he's now works alongside Josh Andler, Martin Owens, Tavmjong Bah, Chris Rogers, and Marc Jeanmougin.
Give the Inkscape Testing Team Your Feedback
Help make Inkscape the best it can be by replying to their tweets on Twitter (@inkscape), joining the public Inkscape chat channel, or commenting on the issue on GitLab.
Competition is tough for Inkscape, though. CorelDRAW 2021 released for Apple's M1 Mac devices by the second week of March.
