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Best Free Vector Graphics Editor
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To quote their website "Inkscape... uses 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." The current release is only at V0.48 and doesn't, for example, yet support SVG filter effects, animation, and SVG fonts. It is, however, totally usable. That usability is enhanced by an excellent user interface and the impressive set of tutorials that come with the product that help wean the user away from the world of digital images to the nodes, lines, curves and shapes that form the basis of vector editing. Overall a top product that will only get better. Highly recommended. From the same stable as PhotoPlus (in the Best Free Digital Image Editor category) DrawPlus is drawing and graphics software that enables you to create vector graphics, family trees, room layouts and even web animations. This is the most current free version (version 4), however there are more up-to-date commercial versions. |
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Free but requires registration.
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Editor
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| This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Ritho. Registered members can contact the editor with any comments or questions they might have by clicking here. |
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| vector graphics editor, free vector image editor, top vector image editor, best free vector graphics editor, top free vector graphics editor. |
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Having used many of the expensive vector drawing programmes I was astounded at the scope of inkscape. What an amazing programme for free. Although the help is on-line there is an excellent tutorial for you to get started with. A fully satisfied user.
It is very very good collection.Besides these Node Box,Karbon,CreativeDocs.Net are the advanced free graphic editing tools also.It is really important to know about these advanced free graphic editing tools.
It was off my hard drive in 10 minutes. It has a typical lazy-programmer fatal flaw: online and NON-SEARCHABLE manual only. If you don't have a home isp, or don't like the eco-hit of going internet every time you need some help, like GIMP, this is a hopeless task. Unless of course you're one of those geniuses who can figure out complex programs just by poking around.
Are you talking about the "lazy-programmer" or "programmers" who have provided a quite excellent software for free? (There were a lot individuals who have freely given of their time to develop the inkscape project) I agree that it would be much better to include a off-line searchable manual, but I don't think that calling the code contributors lazy is really warranted. Writing documentation is not easy, but nether is writing quality code. Many commercial softwares I have used have manuals which are very brief often don't answer your questions anyway and I still end up searching online. Writing thorough documentation takes a lot of skill and time.
You really do not need to be genius or to go online. All you gotta do is read. I use Inkscape for two years but you have really surprised me - it has no manual! You need to be creative, not to read manuals. To use any graphics editor, all you need is to know some basic things about graphics.
need to read - I mean menus, menu items, properties settings...
DrawPlus SE has been surpassed by DrawPlus Starter Edition on the Serif site (not freeserifsoftware). It's still free, more feature rich, is based on the new DrawPlus X4, and supports SVG like Inscape.
I'm disappointed with Inkscape, simply because the filters don't seem to do a thing. I don't like doing every vector line manually all the time, hence the disappointment.
I like InkScape too. Actually, it is better with gradients and transparencies (alpha) than Corel Draw. But I agree that some filters doesn't work very well and make the final image slower to load. In this case, I simply don't use filters. I'm still using it and hoping it gets better and better.
I forgot to say: there is a portable version of InkScape in the Portable Apps site.
Wow really? I really like Inkscape but I agree some of the filters do seem a bit pointless: maybe it depends on what one is trying to achieve, as to their usefulness? Who knows? Still well impressive for free software. I should add that, at best, I am a novice with this type of software so I can only really judge it by the "can I get it to do what I want fairly easily" standard. :)
Check out InsightPoint, available from download.com. Has a lot of capability for a free editor.
InkScape 0.47-3 has been released.
Anupam
I have just tried Inkscape for repeat cloning to use as bitmap images in an aimp2 player skin. It works really well.
Managed to create one within 5 mins without reading any documentation at all. Intuitive with an attractive interface. Good recommendation.
By the way aimp2 player is very good too and the skinning programme very easy to use but with a few quirks.
Your website is excellent, am using many of your recommendations. I find that a lot of the free programmes are much easier to use than the payed for ones, which are often very bloated. The essence of all good design is simplicity.
Apparently Serif DrawPlus 4.0 has been superseded by Serif DrawPlus SE (95.1 Mb, requires registration).
lloonn
Here is a review of 20 vector graphics editors by Smashing Magazine.
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/05/20-vector-graphic-editors-rev...
Definitely worth a look.
in here we talk about freeware...
not payware...
isn't?
Is there a vector graphics program, that can handle multiple pages?
This is my biggest difficulty in finding a free successor to Freehand.
Is pencil the sort of thing your looking for?
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Category Editor for Gizmo's Tech Support Alert
ZonerDraw 3 is worth of mentioning too
Thanks for this pointer.
I've just checked with Erik from Zoner about ZonerDraw 3 as some websites reckoned this wasn't freeware, but he has confirmed that although this is quite an old product it is freely available from their website
I will be adding this to my list of reviews in the next few weeks.
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Category Editor for Gizmo's Tech Support Alert
Well, having to pay for DrawPlus does not classify it as *Free* software, does it?
DrawPlus ver 4 has been released for free. Ver 6 is $9. If you want the free one download the older version.
Do these work with VIsta???
I have used both Inkscape and serif products successfully on Vista Home Premium
Note: the mentioned cheap update for DrawPlus is to v6 from v4, NOT to the current version. Version 6 is quite a lot more capable than v4, but the current -- and very capable indeed -- version is DrawPlus X2. (I have heard suggestions that a registration of the free version may attract offers of discounts on X2, but can't substantiate them.)
I have received offers of substantial discounts on serif products by registering
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