Inkscape is a vector graphics editing application.
A vector graphic editor is a computer program that allows creating vector images, modifying and storing them in various vector formats such as EPS, SVG, PDF, WMF.
It is developed as an open source software, and it is distributed free of charge under the GNU GPL license.
Its stated goal is to become a powerful graphics tool through fully deployed support for the Scalable Vector Graphics standard.
Inkscape is a cross-platform application, starting with its source code being compiled into distribution packages that have been tested and operated on Mac OS X, Unix operating systems and Microsoft Windows.
Inkscape has multi-lingual support, especially for complex scripts, which is a characteristic currently lacking in many commercial applications specialized in vector graphics.
Creating Objects:
Paths – are made with the Pencil tool, which allows drawing of lines with the free hand; Pen tool allows the user to create Bezier spline curves with node and lines in the same path; the Caligraphy tool can be used to draw handwriting lines; the Paint Bucket tool fills the delimited areas of the selection. The Caligraphy tool can use pressure and tilt to readings on graphics tablets. The Paint Bucket tool works optically rather than geometrically and can assist in tracking the contour of the image. The Spray tool creates copies or clones of one or more elements as follows: Select the item (s), then click the Spray icon and move the mouse or the mouse wheel to the desktop.
Rectangles – are created using the Rectangle tool. The corners of the rectangles can be rounded.
3D boxes – created using the 3D Box tool. The boxes have XYZ adjustable perspectives and configurable values for runoff points. 3D boxes are actually path groups and can be modified after unblocking.
Elipse – are created using the Ellipse tool. Ellipses and circles can be converted into circular arcs (e.g., open half circles) and circle segments (for example, closed circle halves).
Stars/polygons – are created using the Stars / Polygons tool. Stars or polygons can have multiple points (from 3 to 1,024) with two control points (base and tip) and handles that can be used to emulate spirals. Polylines with a control handle (base) can be used to create an element based on the number of sides: hexagons, pentagons, etc.
Text – is created with the Text tool. Texts can use any of the fonts installed in the system and can be converted to trails; Unicode fonts are also supported. Text can be bold, italic, lined (left, right, center, left-right), exponent, index, vertical and horizontal. All text objects can be converted by means of spacing tools: Line Spacing, Letter Spacing, Word Spacing, Horizontal Kerning, Vertical Shift, and Character Rotation, either manually or through menu settings. The text can be placed along a route-line, cast in a form or grammatically verified. Bulleted lists, numbered lists, indentations, and underlined text are also available.
Raster/bitmap images – Inkscape supports the export of bitmap images (by PNG formatting) from drawings: all objects, only the current selection, objects on the page outline and customized coordinates. You can import bitmap images, either by embedding the image or by linking that image to a link. Pasting an image into Inkscape will automatically insert the images into the file. Inkscape supports importing PNG, JPEG, and BMP image files. Image contours can be traced, meaning they can be transformed from bitmap to vector using the Potrace Path and Trace Bitmap feature.
In addition, there are specialized tools that can be used:
Spiro Spline (Swirls) – This type of route creates very beautiful curves, similar to what you see in Gothic, floral and tattoo patterns.
Trail connector, often used in diagrams or schemes.
There is a rendering extension that performs object files through menu settings, such as barcodes, calendars, grids, tools, spirographs, spheres, and more.
Unlike many other GTK + applications, Inkscape uses its own rendering library to create charts, called libnr. libnr can play enlarged images up to 25,600% with anti-alias effect and graphical update during transformations.