Akasha Inkscape Tutorial

Intro
This is a quick tutorial that was basically made just to demonstrate some of the differences between normal pixel based art like one would create with photoshop or the Gimp and vector based art that one would create with illustrator or Inkscape. Inkscape is free and open source and will run on most platforms so thats my application of choice for vector drawings.

Ok, lets get started.

Getting Started
I took a picture from Akasha of DeviantArt. I basically treated it the same way I do most work in Inkscape. First I load Inkscape and select File->Import... I choose the image I want to make a vector of (Usually for me this is a sketch that I've scanned in)...this time it is a piece called Worship Me.

Here is a side by side comparison of the before picture and the finished picture:

Original

Vector Based

I tried to stay as true to the original artwork as possible. I did not use any tracer helper programs. I did it all by hand. So some of it may not be exactly like the original (but it will be a lot less vectors :)

As you can see from these two images that they look basically the same. From an initial glance you really can't see any benefit to using vector based pictures. You may have noticed that the Vector based one is a bit cleaner when scaled down but I told Inkscape to make a thumbnail version...more on this in a bit.

Scaling

In my opinion the main reason to ever use vectors is if you want crisp clear lines at ANY resolution or zoom. Here are some details of the original imaged zoomed and vector zoomed:

Original

Vector Based

Actually both these images have been scaled down (in a non-vector way). You can click on them to enlarge them.

Original

Vector Based

As you can see, when you zoom in all the detail is preserved. This is a really nice feature. This way you don't have to have your image pre-cropped exactly the way you want it. You can change your mind later but never loose any detail.

Bezier Curve

This is my favorite tool in almost any drawing program...the bezier curve. This can take a bit to master but once you do it is really easy. In inkscape you can use the left hand toolbar or press Shift+F6 to select this tool. The way the bezier curve works is you simply plot out your basic path. Once you are done you will have two circle by each point to dictate how the curve will work. Initially you will have jagged lines but by moving these circles you can have curves that form exactly the way you want them. I use this tool a lot for cutting out objects in the Gimp but in Inkscape I use it for just about everything.

The great thing about Vector art is that each piece you draw is considered an object. It is all math, so it never looses it's information on how it was created. The key here is that you can always go back and re-edit! It's super simple! Say I want to adjust some curves for her earing:

Select the section of the earing you want to modify

This will use the transform tool. You could move the object around by clicking in the center of it and dragging. Or you could grab the arrows to scale the section. Also a single click in the center will change the arrows to rotation arrows. This method is usually for quick and dirty adjustments.

Switch to Edit Paths (F2)

Now you will see grey squares at every point or vertex. If you click on one it will turn green and two circles attached by lines will protrude from that square and the two closest squares to the selected one. If you move the square the whole vector will move. If you move the circles it will change the angle of the curve. Go ahead and move some lines around a bit to see how quickly an image can be adjusted. You can also add and remove vertices with the top toolbar.

Gradients and Strokes

Gradients are actually a lot different in Version .42 compared to .41. These screenshots are in .41. I think you can figure out basically what you need to do though, I just want to point out where the tool is. Each object has a stroke width line that can be adjusted as well as a fill color/gradient. You need to click on the "Fill and Stroke" Dialog to see an objects details.

As you may notice there is an additional object over the gradient of the eye. This is because each object is stacked on each other. This is explained next.

Layers
Most people are familiar with Layers from other paint programs. Vector work is the same with one additional concept. Objects are stacked on the layer. You can move an object up or down on its layer or to another layer. Treat the objects as little lines/pictures drawn on small plastic squares that can be moved on top or below other plastic squares and layers as giant glass sheets that separate the groups of plastic squares.

Fin

That should be enough to get you started. here is my raw SVG (Scalable Vector Graphic) file:

Download SVG file

Any questions feel free to contact me via my Deviant Art Site or by email! Craig Smith.