Inkscape
Inkscape is an open-source alternative to Illustrator. It runs on all major computer operating systems (Linux, Mac, and Windows), and can import and export to many major file formats. (SVG, AI, EPS, PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, etc.)
On Mac Inkscape runs under the X11 environment, Apple's spin on XFree86 Project's X Windows System, which is the foundation for Linux's GUI interface. X11 follows the same keystroke conventions as Windows.
Zoom Presets
Zoom 1:1—1 keyZoom 1:2—2 key
Zoom to selection—3 key
Zoom to drawing—4 key
Zoom to page—5 key
Zoom to page width—6 key
- Selector Tool: (S or Spacebar) Select and resize. With a second click, you can rotate and skew the selection.
- Node Tool: (N) The Node Tool lets you select nodes and adjust their handles to adjust the paths. Click and drag a section between nodes also adjusts the curve and brings out the nodes handles. Shift-C will let you adjust the node's handles independently of each other.
- Tweak Tool: (W) Push and pull paths and objects, shrink, roughen, shift the object's color, and blur the object.
- Zoom Tool: (Z) Zoom in and out (when holding the shift key) of your drawing area. You can also use the - (minus) and + (plus) keys to zoom.
- Rectangle Tool: (R) Create rectangles and squares. When you create your rectangle, they aren't quite paths yet. When a rectangle is selected, you'll see some handles at three of the corners. The squares let you resize your rectangle. The circle in the upper right-hand corner will split into two circles, but they will let you adjust the roundness of the rectangle's corners, to the point where your rectangle turns into an ellipse. To convert your rectangle into an editable path, go to the menu bar, select Path>then Object to Path. (Shift-Control-C)
- 3D Box Tool: (X) Create live 3D boxes in Inkscape, great for perspective drawing.
- Ellipse/Arc Tool: (E) Create ellipses. Dragging either handle on the right side inside the ellipse will maintain the fill within the parameter of the object up to the two circle handles. Dragging either of the circle handles outside of the ellipse will cause the ellipse's fill to cut straight into the center, like a pie chart. Just like the Rectangle Tool, your ellipse/arc is not a path yet. To convert it into a path, go to the menu bar, select Path, then Object to Path. (Shift-Control-C)
- Star Tool: (*) Creates objects that can be formed into stars or polygons. You'll find two handles on your newly created objects, one to adjust the points, the other to adjust the inside corners. The settings, under the menu bar, let you change the number of corners, the roundness of the corners, and there's a setting that let you turn your polygon into wacky abstractions.
- Spiral Tool: (i) There are two different handles on your new spiral. One handle to control the end in the inside of the spiral, and the other for the end on the outside.
- Freehand Tool: (P) TCreate editable paths.
- Bezier Tool: (b) For creating bezier curves and straight lines. You have to click and drag to pull out a node's handle.
- Calligraphy Tool: (C) Create lines with varying widths. The end result isn't a skeletal stroke, but a newly created object with just a fill.
- Text Tool: (T) Click in a spot and start typing or click and drag to create a text box.
- Spray Tool: (A) Duplicates the last selected object in clusters as you drag your cursor across the canvas. The Spray Tool also has options that scatter and rotate your duplicates.
- Eraser Tool: (E) Works in one of two ways, either it'll create a temporary path that will delete any object beneath it. Or the Eraser Tool will create a new object, much like the Calligraphy Tool, and with the new object, use it to cut into the object under it.
- Paint Bucket Tool: (U) Floods areas with color. The Paint Bucket Tool can also be applied to vector objects, creating duplicates with a different color.
- Gradient Tool: (G) Apply gradients to your objects. Based on the type of gradient your using, you'll find some handles. You can use the handles to position where you want you color to begin. The handles can also be used, when you select one of them, to let you determine what color you want to use in that end of the gradient and the transparency with the Fill and Stroke Palette.
- Dropper Tool: (D) Pick-up color anywhere in your canvas. If you have another object selected while using the Dropper Tool, it'll change the fill to that color. The Dropper tool can't pick up the stroke color
- Connector Tool: (O) This tool is great for people who create diagrams. Basically the Connector Tool's purpose is to let you create lines that connect to your objects. Once those lines are created, they'll remain attached to your objects. If you have two squares linked together, and you choose to move one of them, the line will stretch/squash, and follow your square.
Spiro is a tool that is designed to be a stroke or curve.
- The Spiro Path tool. This tool that will automatically convert any path you create to be a better and orderly path. There are three kinds of items that you can use to create a Spiro Path. The Triangle, Ellipse, and From Clipboard. Select Noneif you don't want to use a shape and just want to make a line. Using just the line tool, you can easily create your own style of floral design or swirly curl.
- Path Effects
The Spiro Path uses two kinds of path effects, Spiro Spline and Pattern Along Path. Pattern Along Path gives you the opportunity to cut shapes, and paste them so that you can edit it as you like to get the shape you want. Note that the Spiro Path has limitations, which sometimes makes the path broken when using edit on canvas. Undo to fix it. When you select Pattern Along Path the pattern that you can modify will be found in the upper left corner of the page. Add points, modify the closed form and see how the flourish cha - Create Tiled Clones
This tool is useful for creating a pattern or forming the composition of the clones of your Spiro Path. There are several types of symmetry you can use when making clones. Using the few Spiro Paths you can create good designs with this tool.
Source:chrishilbig.com
http://www.smashingapps.com/2013/02/11/useful-tutorials-for-creating-vector-graphic-using-free-software-inkscape.html
Here's another appraoch:
- Find an svg on the internet and import into Inkscape.
- Reduce the size and rotate 45°
- Duplicate (CTRL+D), move
and flip horizontally:
- Select both images and
duplicate again. Move the duplicated images below the fold and flip vertically:
- Select all 4 paths and under the
Path menu select Combine
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