Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, Freehand, or Xara X. What sets Inkscape apart is its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C standard, as the native format.
In contrast to raster (bitmap) graphics editors such as Photoshop or Gimp, Inkscape stores its graphics in a vector format. Vector graphics is a resolution-independent description of the actual shapes and objects that you see in the image. A rasterization engine uses this information to determine how to plot each line and curve at any resolution or zoom level.
Contrast that to bitmap (raster) graphics which is always bound to a specific resolution and stores an image as a grid of pixels.
Inkscape can import and display bitmap images, too. An imported bitmap becomes yet another object in your vector graphics, and you can do with it everything you can do to other kinds of objects (move, transform, clip, etc.)
While Inkscape does not have all the features of the leading vector editors, the latest versions provide for a large portion of basic vector graphics editing capabilities. People report successfully using Inkscape in a lot of very different projects (web graphics, technical diagrams, icons, creative art, logos, maps).
Inkscape 1.2 is the latest major Inkscape release that brings you many fresh new features and new functionality.
Release highlights
- Inkscape documents can now hold multiple pages , which are managed by the new Page tool
- Editable markers and dash patterns
- Layers and objects dialog merged
- On-canvas alignment snapping and Snap settings redesign
- New "Tiling" Live Path Effect
- Redesigned Export dialog with preview and ability to select objects/layers/pages and even multiple file formats to export to
- Import SVG images from Open Clipart, Wikimedia Commons and other online sources
- Selectable object origin for numerical scaling and moving
- All alignment options in a single dialog
- Gradient editing in the Fill and Stroke dialog
- Gradient dithering
- SVG Font Editor updated
- Flowing text around shapes and text padding
- Convenience Boolean operation for splitting paths
- Configurable Tool bar , continuous icon scaling and many more new customization options
- Performance gains for many parts of the interface and many different functions
- Lots of improvements to the user interface
- Numerous crash & bug fixes in the main Inkscape program and in in the stock extensions
- and so much more!
To learn more, see the full release notes for Inkscape 1.2 .
Download: Inkscape 1.2 64-bit | 94.1 MB (Open Source)
Download: Inkscape 1.2 32-bit | 92.4 MB
View: Inkscape Website | Release Announcement | Screenshot
