1) Introduction to Inkscape

Introduction to Inkscape

There are two types of digital graphics files – vector and raster.

Vector images:

Vector images are made up of basic geometric shapes such as points, lines and curves. The relationship of the shapes is expressed as a mathematical equation which allows the image to scale up or down in size without losing quality.

Logo designs and print work such as brochures and posters should be designed as vector images using vector drawing software like Inkscape , Adobe Illustrator, Coreldraw etc.

A vector image will always appear smooth no matter how large you make it or how close you zoom in. Text is one of the most common types of vector image. No matter how much you increase a font’s size, for example, its look never changes.

Another advantage to using vector images is file-size efficiency. Because the files are only identified by mathematical descriptions and not individual pixels, files are often much smaller than those of the raster counterparts.

Raster images:

Raster images are made up of a set grid of dots called pixels where each pixel is assigned a colour value. Unlike a vector image, raster images are resolution dependent.

When you change the size of a raster image, you shrink or stretch the pixels themselves which can result in a significant loss of clarity and very blurry image. Raster editors such as Photoshop or GIMP are great for photographs as well as for adding effects, shadows and textures to designs.

You can identify a raster or bitmap image by looking at it very closely. If you zoom in enough, you will be able to see the square outlines of each pixel (especially around edges where there are dramatic colour contrasts).

Raster graphics typically have larger file sizes than their vector counterparts. Higher DPI (dots per inch) and PPI (pixels per inch) settings also contribute to larger files because software must keep track of and be able to render each pixel.

The images created in Mypaint are all raster images. Inkscape is one tool that can be used to create vector images. Inkscape is an open-source vector graphics editor similar to Adobe Illustrator, Coreldraw, 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.