| Inkscape releases update to open source SVG drawing tool |
Jul. 30, 2005
The Inkscape project has released an update to Inkscape, an open source cross-platform Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) drawing tool. Inkscape 0.42 "is the most feature-filled release to date, with an exceptional number of major and minor new features, usability improvements, and bug fixes," according to the project team. "While some of the new features simply fill long-standing functionality gaps, others are truly revolutionary," says the team, adding that "Inkscape 0.42 is one step closer to full SVG compliance."
Enhancements included in the 0.42 release are said to include: - Flowed Text -- Text objects that automatically re-flow to any shape (and not just a rectangle)
- Text Selection -- One can now select part of a text and apply any style to the selection, just like in a word processing application
- Gradient Tool -- A completely redesigned and much easier to use on-canvas gradient interface with handles displayed directly in the drawing
- Effects -- These are now usable from within Inkscape on all platforms. This version ships with a collection of effects including path interpolation, randomization, and various fractal algorithms
- Color Swatches -- This standard facility of most graphics software is now a part of Inkscape
- Colored Clones -- Clones may now be painted differently from their original
- Tile Tracing -- The Tile Clones dialog can trace an existing image with tiling, producing a multitude of exciting effects
- Grid Arrange, Baseline Align, Unclumping -- There are new, powerful ways to arrange objects
- Better PS/EPS Export -- PostScript level 3 gradient support, better text handling, and a command line option for batch export are in this release
- Command Line SVG Analysis -- Inkscape may now be
used from the command line to query coordinates and dimensions of objects in an SVG file
- Better SVG/CSS Compliance -- Notably, internal CSS stylesheets are now supported (read-only)
- Mac OS X Support -- In addition to Linux and Windows, Inkscape 0.42 is now available as a fully self-contained dmg package for Mac OS X
There are also "dozens of smaller features and usability enhancements (especially in the Fill & Stroke dialog, Node tool, and drawing tools)," the project says. The release includes 404 bug fixes ("some
quite serious" and adds 165 requested features. "Overall, the Inkscape developers are very excited about this release and heartily recommend upgrading," they say.
Google's "Summer of Code" initiative provided $20,000 worth of funding that benefited the Inkscape project, enabling four new student developers to work on adding new functionality to Inkscape.
Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X packages are available for download. Further details are here. The version 0.42 release notes are here. Screenshots are here.
About Inkscape
According to the Inkscape project . . . Inkscape is an open source drawing tool that uses the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) scalable vector graphics format (SVG). Some supported SVG features include basic shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, and grouping. In addition, Inkscape supports Creative Commons' metadata, node-editing, layers, complex path operations, text-on-path, text-in-shape, and SVG XML editing. It also imports several formats like EPS, PostScript, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.
Inkscape's main motivation is to provide the Open Source community with a fully W3C compliant XML, SVG, and CSS2 drawing tool. Additional work includes conversion of the codebase from C/Gtk to C++/Gtkmm, emphasizing a lightweight core with powerful features added through an extension mechanism, and the establishment of a friendly, open, community-oriented development process.
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