Inkscape 0.44 - Faster, Bigger, Better

bbyakk writes "After 6 months of development, Inkscape 0.44 is out. This version of the SVG-based vector graphics editor brings improved performance and tons of new features: Layers dialog, docked color palette, clipping and masking, native PDF export with transparency, configurable keyboard (including Xara emulation), Outline mode for complex drawings, innovative 'node sculpting' and lots more. Check out the full release notes, enjoy the screenshots, or download your package for Windows, Linux or Mac OS X."

Comments

Excellent.

[hullabalucination]

I've really enjoyed watching the progress of this app, along with Scribus and the GIMP. Inkscape has become one of the tools I use day in and day out (especially in conjunction with Scribus) and even though I can run older versions of CorelDraw and Illustrator on my FC5 box, I've really come to value Inkscape even though it doesn't have the collection of power tools that the Windows vector apps have (in all honesty, some of the "power tools" in those other guys are just imagesetter-chokers and you're better off leaving them be).

Now that Krita supports CMYK tiff files (with color management) the day has pretty much dawned in which I no longer have to jump over to my lone remaining Windows box to do some sort of previously-necessary file format conversion.

Screenshot of .44 in action

[TheModelEskimo]

Been using it for the past few days for a hobby project so I thought I'd post this. It shows the new layers and color palettes.

http://www.friendlyskies.net.nyud.net:8080/inksc reen.png (Mind the space in the address)

Sorry it's in KDE, seeing how Inkscape is GTK...at the moment Skype isn't working in Gnome, so... :(

Did anyone see this?!?!

[RickBauls]

http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/gallery/inksca pe-0.44-outlineview.png thats just purely... simply... insane! I wish I had enought time/patience to do something like that.

Re:Did anyone see this?!?!

[MenTaLguY]

Yes, that's exactly right. A lot of beginners try to draw mostly with their wrist and fingers, which doesn't work well and tires you out fast. Most practiced artists do a lot of their drawing motion from their upper arm/shoulder. Of course, you also have to draw larger for this to work well; beginners also tend to draw too small.

Illustrator

[Compuser]

Can someone post a detailed comparison of features between Inkscape and Illustrator.
Which features are still missing (aside from PDF capabilities)?

Re:Illustrator

[Wylfing]

Can someone post a detailed comparison of features between Inkscape and Illustrator. Which features are still missing (aside from PDF capabilities)?

I am not exactly an art guru, but I do use both Inkscape and Illustrator all the time. The three things that have historically bugged me most about Inkscape have been the huge difficulty of locking/unlocking objects, the poor import/export of EPS and PDF, and the inability to add custom colors and gradients onto the swatch palette (I use that in Illustrator a lot to save and reuse colors and gradients). Actually, the editing of gradients is really clunky in Inkscape, so I guess that is another thing that bugs me.

I don't want to paint an overly grim picture of Inkscape, though. It's really quite good, and I am very eager to get my hands on this new version (but I'll wait for the debs).