| Open source drawing, graphics tool evolves |
Nov. 29, 2005
The Inkscape project has released version 0.43 of Inkscape, a freely available, open source Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) drawing tool available for Linux, Unix, Mac OS X, and Windows. The program boasts capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, and Xara X, which also use W3C standard SVG file formats.
Supported SVG features include shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping.
Inkscape also supports Creative Commons metadata, node editing, layers, complex path operations, bitmap tracing, text-on-path, flowed text, direct XML editing, and more. It imports formats such as JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and others and exports PNG in addition to multiple vector-based formats.
Inkscape's main goal is to create a powerful and convenient drawing tool fully compliant with XML, SVG, and CSS standards, project member Jon Phillips said. "We also aim to maintain a thriving user and developer community by using open, community-oriented development process, and by making sure Inkcape is easy to learn, to use, and to extend," Phillips added.
The focus of this release is on the new features sponsored by Google through its Summer of Code (SoC) program, which provided funding for four individuals to contribute to Inkscape. The primary additions this release are: - Connectors -- A new indispensable connector tool implements creation, editing, and auto-routing (object-avoiding) of connector lines between objects. It is indispensable for drawing diagrams. (Google SoC project)
- Inkboard Collaborative Editing -- One may now connect to other Inkscape users over a network and edit a shared document, watch changes, and contribute one's own changes. (Google SoC project)
- Pressure and Tilt Sensitivity -- The calligraphy tool may now use a tablet pen with pressure and tilt support to vary the width and angle of a calligraphic stroke.
- Better Node Editing -- One may freely drag, bend, and stretch a Bezier curve by any point and not only by a node. Also, one may easily add a new node at any point on the curve.
- New Extensions -- There are now extensions for envelope distortion, whirling, and adding nodes.
- Refinements -- Inkscape now supports improved precision, expanded limits, usability improvements and several bugfixes.
- SVG Compliance -- There is now additional support for the viewBox element improving SVG compatibility.
In response to the release, Tavmjong Bah updated his online book, "A Guide to Inkscape", to cover the Inkscape 0.43 features, Phillips said. This guide is not included with the Inkscape release. Users are encouraged to read the guide in addition to Inkscape 0.43's release notes and the help included with Inkscape.
Currently, the Inkscape community is working on the next release, which focuses on stability and closing bugs, Phillips said. The next release will add an outline viewing mode, a plan toward SVG Tiny compliance, a fill and stroke interface to the bottom toolbar, and further application refinements, he added.
Inkscape is open to all types of contributions by people with all different skill levels from around the world. Inkscape needs translators, web designers, people to help answer questions, and developers to help reach the project's goal of SVG compliance.
Community-submitted screenshots are available here.
All versions of Inkscape can be downloaded here.
For more details, see the complete Release Notes for 0.43.
Related stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
Approaching the Linux Desktop
The purpose of this paper is to help organizations evaluate the Linux desktop against their own enterprise needs and discover what benefits the Linux desktop might bring to their organizations.
Migrating To Linux: Application Challenges and Solutions
Several solutions exist to help organizations migrate in an orderly fashion from Windows to Linux desktops. This paper establishes the characteristics of an ideal cross-platform solution and reviews these alternatives in light of this ideal standard. The paper takes a closer look at the pros and cons of various solutions and outlines the business benefits that can be achieved.
Linux Advantages: Publicly Available Information on Linux Software
This paper offers a brief summary of readily-available Linux information to help businesses sort out this widely misunderstood operating system.
Top 5 Strategies for Managing Linux
Despite continuous evolution in the manageability of Linux, a 2006 survey cited manageability concerns as a top reason why organizations are hesitating to adopt Linux. Levanta believes Linux can be as manageable, if not more so, than other operating systems by following key strategies. These strategic recommendations were developed from experiences in numerous customer environments, both large and small.
Why Choose Novell for Linux?
This paper outlines the benefits of switching to the Linux platform and choosing Novell as a high-performance, enterprise solution.
Enterprise Linux Selection Guide
Considering moving your enterprise to the Linux operating system? Since there are so many similar versions, choosing the right one can be tough. This paper offers a clear process to help you make an informed decision and get the features, support, and cost that are right for your business and technical needs.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing Linux
Levanta has created a new administration model with innovative technology that breaks down the barriers to making the most of Linux systems. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the workings of Levanta’s product, the first Linux appliance of its kind.
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Retail Businesses
Discover why major retailers have switched to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in the back office. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is a low-cost desktop that offers a complete set of productivity applications and interoperates seamlessly with the other Windows, Macintosh and UNIX desktops in your store.
Moving to a Linux Desktop
Migrating from Windows to Linux on the desktop can be a substantial undertaking because it has the potential for touching -- and perhaps disrupting -- every user in your organization. Unlike a data center (server and infrastructure) migration that is largely transparent to users, the cultural and administrative transitions and environment readiness required to support a Linux desktop migration are extensive.
Seven Good Reasons to Exchange Exchange
This paper describes seven compelling reasons why you should switch from Exchange to Scalix.
|
|
news feed