- Quick specs
- Price: Free
- Operating system: Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP/NT
- Date added: April 19, 2006
- Total Downloads: 54,865
- Downloads last week: 691
- See full specifications
A newer version of Inkscape is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 36 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
A free, open-source, vectorized image-creator? You mean, like Adobe Illustrator, but smaller and at no cost? Could it be?
Indeed, Inkscape isn't the only one of its kind out there, although it seems like it at times, and it's definitely a solid assault on the Adobe juggernaut. Many of the now-essential tools found in the competition have made their way into Inkscape, including paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping. The app also supports Creative Commons metadata, node editing, layers, bitmap tracing, and direct XML editing. It does all this, and more, without hassles or an enormous footprint.
Other nice touches in the app include updating old industry standards--taking the CTRL Plus hot key for zooming in, and simplifying it so that all you need to hit is the Plus key, for instance. A small thing, but it shows the amount of effort being put into Inkscape. The latest version of the app addresses complaints about the lack of a shape library, for those of us who don't want to have to draw our own stars or triangles.
Overall, Inkscape isn't perfect, and it lacks a certain polish that those more familiar with big-name apps will probably expect. However, most of what it does, it does well. And since it's free, it's worth taking a chance on.
Publisher's description
From Inkscape :Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, Freehand, CorelDraw, or Xara X using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. Supported SVG features include shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping. Inkscape also supports Creative Commons meta-data, 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 as well as 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. 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.
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User reviews of Inkscape 0.43
- Average user rating: 4.1 stars out of 36 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 4 of 4 user reviewsSee all 4 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Version: Inkscape 0.43
Pros: Its actually a pretty good program considering that it is free. It has all the basic tools you need to make a good image, such as transparencies, transforming, gradients, layering, ect.
Cons: There arent any shape libraries. Just Squares and Circles. So if you are one who doesnt have the patience to make your own triangles or other shapes, you're out of luck! Also putting gradients/transparencies on text is all bugged up. Tends to suck up memory sometimes.
But other than that, this program is worth downloading.
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1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Version: Inkscape 0.43
Pros: Good for making vector graphics. It is free software, open source, cross-platform.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: Inkscape 0.43
"The best free vector graphics program!"
Pros: Inkscape produces excellent quality vector graphics, as it's supposed too! It contains all the tools you could need, and allows you to import bitmap data too. Perfect solution for creating web banners that need to be of a high standard or resized often. All in all, has almost every feature you could wish for in a free program!
Cons: Could do with a shape library, only spirals, squares and circles included... hope that this could come in a future version?
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Inkscape 0.43
Pros: I've looked around at vector programs and none compare to Inkscape. It has quickly become my favorite vector graphics program. It's also nice to see that there are versions for all major OSes.
- See all 4 user reviews Write review
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