Inkscape Tutorial: Tips and tricks for beginners

With Inkscape you create and edit two-dimensional vector graphics. This tutorial provides tips and tricks for beginners.

Tips and tricks for beginners: Inkscape Tutorial

Below we show you a few tips and tricks for Inkscape.

1. Change unit of measure for rulers: If you open a new document, the unit of measure for the ruler is always given in millimeters (mm). To change this, click on "Document Settings" and adjust the display unit under the "Page" tab.
2. Alignment: If you want to align something in the middle of the page, first select the object to be moved. In the "Align and distribute" list, select "Relative to:". How to move the object to the center of the page.
3. Clarity: If you want to tidy up the document and make it tidier, you can delete gradients, patterns and markings. Go to "File" and there to "Clean Document". Everything that is not used by an object is now deleted. After cleaning the document, the file has also become smaller.
4. Gradients: To set asymmetrical radial gradients, click a circular gradient in the gradient tool. This will pull the gradient's x-shaped focus slider away from the center. This is how you changed the focus of the courses.
5. Rotate: To rotate an object, click on it. Scaling arrows appear. Click the object again. Rotation arrows now appear. With the arrows you can easily rotate the object in any direction.
6. Shadows: Under the "Shadows and lights" tab, you will find the "Shadow" section. This creates a shadow on the object. To create an unsharp shadow, click Blur. Duplicate the object and place it slightly under the original object. Under "Fill and Contour" change the blur to 5.0.

Tricks with the drawing tool: Inkscape Tutorial

1. After using the drawing tool, you can finish drawing in four different ways: First, press the Enter key. You can also simply double-click with the left mouse button. Or you can right-click with the mouse. Even if you select a different tool, stop drawing a line.
2. The path does not appear in the document until it is finished. Press the "Esc" key to discard the path or the "Backspace" key.
3. If you would like to add another path to an existing path, select the path and click the "Shift" key.
4. To continue an existing path, click on the end node of the path and continue drawing there.

Tip: Convert pixel graphics to vectors

1. Upload the graphic to be edited via "File" -> "Import" -> "Embed" into the document.
2. To convert the pixel graphics into vectors, click on "Path" and there on "Vectorize Bitmap". You now have various options for modifying the file.
3. A black and white graphic is created when you perform the scan "Along a brightness value", "Edge detection" or "Color quantization".
4. With the option "Brightness steps" all contrasts are examined. The "Colors" option highlights any color areas.
5. Try out the different options a little. Click "Refresh" in between to see a preview.
6. With "Ok" the change and the vector graphic are included in the document.

In the next practical tip, we will show you how to create vector files with Inkscape.