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 1.3 release highlights:
The highlights of this major Inkscape version are:
- Shape Builder Tool for building up shapes on canvas (Boolean tool)
- Font Collections
- Pattern Editor
- Document Resources Dialog
- Improved performance thanks to fully asynchronous, multithreaded rendering
- LPE dialog redesigned
- Improved On-Canvas Pattern Editing
- Better PDF import
- Page margins & bleed
- Return of Search, opacity & blend modes in Layers & Objects dialog and of an optional persistent snap bar
- Syntax highlighting in XML Editor
- And so much more!
To learn more, see the full release notes for Inkscape 1.3
Download: Inkscape 64-bit | Portable ~100 MB (Open Source)
Download: Inkscape 32-bit | Portable
View: Inkscape Website | Release Announcement | Screenshot
