Inkscape

Inkscape is a powerful feature-packed open source vector graphics editing tool for Windows, Mac OS and Linux that’s analogous with Adobe Illustrator, Xara X, Freehand, and Corel Draw.

Like most free open source vector design software, it uses Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open source XML-based W3C standard, as its primary and natives file format.

Inkscape is a highly capable vector editor with commendable SVG integration.

It supports a host of advanced features that enable graphic designers to effect alpha blending, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps, edit notes, clone objects, import native Adobe Illustrator files, among other actions.

Some of the most visible features of Inkscape include:

▪ Drawing tools– a pencil tool for freehand drawing; a pen for drawing straight lines and creation of Bézier curves; a calligraphy tool for calligraphic strokes and freehand drawing.

▪ Shape tools for drawing rectangles, polygons, stars, ellipses (arcs, circles, and segments), and spirals

▪ Styling objects

▪ Ease of documentation

▪ Text tool for full on-canvas and multi-line text editing

▪ Embedded bitmaps to create and embed bitmaps from select objects

▪ Cloning tool for cloning, organising and arranging clone objects and patterns

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▪ Transformations– this tool enables a graphic designer to move, rotate, scale, or skew their design via interactive and exact numeric transformations

▪ Z-order operations that allow raising and lowering of designs

▪ Grouping objects

▪ Layering tool which enables the graphic designer to hide, lock, or rearrange individual layers or form a hierarchical layer tree

▪ Distribution and alignment commands

Inkscape supports numerous file format types, features full support for various colour modes and works incredibly well with 3D, and other complex images due to its Bezier Curves feature.

Besides, its interface is flexible and user-friendly, making it a preferential free open source vector design tool for graphic designers.