Using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format you can manipulate 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.

Smoother performance, HiDPI support, new & improved Live Path Effects & native macOS app

After a little over three years in development, the team is excited to launch the long awaited Inkscape 1.0 into the world.

Built with the power of a team of volunteers, this open source vector editor represents the work of many hearts and hands from around the world, ensuring that Inkscape remains available free for everyone to download and enjoy.

In fact, translations for over 20 out of all 88 languages were updated for version 1.0, making the software more accessible to people from all over the world.

A major milestone was achieved in enabling Inkscape to use a more recent version of the software used to build the editor's user interface (namely GTK+3). Users with HiDPI (high resolution) screens can thank teamwork that took place during the 2018 Boston Hackfest for setting the updated-GTK wheels in motion.

Smoother performance & first native macOS application

This latest version is available for Linux, Windows and macOS. All macOS users will notice that this latest version is labelled as 'preview', which means that additional improvements are scheduled for the next versions. Overall, 1.0 delivers a smoother, higher performance experience on Linux and Windows, and a better system integration (no more XQuartz!) on macOS.

So many new bells and whistles

One of the first things users will notice is a reorganized tool box, with a more logical order. There are many new and improved Live Path Effect (LPE) features. The new searchable LPE selection dialog now features a very polished interface, descriptions and even the possibility of marking favorite LPEs. Performance improvements are most noticeable when editing node-heavy objects, using the Objects dialog, and when grouping/ungrouping.

Color-managed PDF export using Scribus

An experimental Scribus PDF export extension has been added. It is available as one of the many export formats in the 'Save as' and 'Save a Copy' dialogs.

To be able to get a correct and color-managed CMYK PDF file with text converted to curves that corresponds to your drawing in Inkscape, you must:

  • have Scribus 1.5.x installed (the Scribus executable must not be called scribus-ng)
  • have enabled color management for your document
  • have selected one color profile to use for the colors in your file
  • assign all colors in the document with the color managed color selector in the Fill and Stroke dialog
  • not use filters in your drawing (this includes blur)
  • not use any transparency if you're exporting to PDF/X-1, PDF/X-3 or PDF 1.3
  • not include any bitmap images
  • not use markers
  • not use any other SVG features that are not supported by Scribus

The page size corresponds to the document size in Scribus. When you add a bleed, an area of the given width outside the page area in Inkscape will be included in the PDF file.

Please test the extension, and always carefully check the result before you send it to a print service. You can leave your feedback about what works / doesn't work at https://inkscape.org/inbox.

Selectors and CSS dialog unhidden

The Selectors and CSS dialog that had been hidden and labelled as 'experimental' in Inkscape 1.0 is now available from the Object menu.

The dialog makes it possible to add, remove and edit CSS properties that are saved within an element's 'style' attribute, as well as styling objects in the document using CSS classes and other CSS selectors. These additional styles are written into a style tag in the SVG document.

It can also be used to select all objects that belong to a specific class, so users will again be able to create collections of objects that are independend of the document structure (e.g. they belong to different groups in the drawing).

This dialog replaces the Selection Sets dialog that had been removed for Inkscape 1.0.

What's New

With version 1.3 of Inkscape, you'll find improved performance, several new features, and a solid set of improvements to a few existing ones.

Complete release notes here.

This version is squarely focused on helping users get organized and work more efficiently with our free and open source vector-editing software.

In fact, our project developers, most of them volunteer contributors from around the world, have been working hard behind the scenes on the code base to improve the performance of the software. Some of the heavy rendering tasks have been separated internally, to help with performance when zooming, panning and transforming objects. By default, Inkscape will now leverage the power of all your computer's cores when it renders objects, but you can also choose to limit its powers in the preferences.

As always, there are a few new features in this release, which have been tested by users during the beta release.
Many thanks to everyone who lent a hand with this important step in the process!

Among our favorites are several that focus on helping you get things organized and work more efficiently when using Inkscape.

Shape Builder tool

Inkscape's new Shape Builder tool helps get the job done quickly and efficiently. You'll enjoy the overview of all shapes and the ability to select multiple overlapping shapes – click, or click and drag them. Your objects will retain their original color, too. Shortcuts for this tool include Shift for quickly switching between adding and subtracting parts. There is one caveat for the tool at this time, as it is still pretty new. When you use it with curved shapes, you can end up with paths with a large number of nodes. If you don't need to be really precise, use Ctrl+L or the 'Simplify' LPE to simplify the result. This is on the list to be addressed in a future version of Inkscape.

Document Resources Dialog

If you like to efficiently organize your Inkscape documents, this is the tool for you. There are times when being able to quickly see an overview of elements is key – when sharing a file for commercial printing, for instance. It's a checklist of resources contained in your document, including patterns, filters, colors, fonts, symbols, markers, and much more.

Font collections

Still on an organizing path, this new button helps those who wrestle with many fonts to categorize them by collections – and easily and quickly identify which font(s) to grab for which contract or client or custom project. Or you can organize them by style – cursive, funny, serif, sans-serif... There's a new icon to help you find those collections.

Patterns

Not only do you have access to a funky and practical library of patterns within Inkscape, there's a new pattern editor that enables you to adjust a pattern. In addition to being very useful, it's also fun to explore... have fun playing with shape, size, and rotation with these repeats. Change colors for your version of a pattern and adapt the offset, too.

For your inner organizer, the patterns are now categorized into collections here, so they're easier to find a second time.

Layers and Objects dialog

The search box is back! Create and filter by name. The improved Objects dialog allows you to once more use the slider to adjust the opacity or blending mode of a layer, and drag multiple objects to hide or lock them in a single swipe; done. You'll also enjoy the shortcuts for navigating and tweaking – the arrow keys, space bar and shift key all have roles.

Persistent snap bar

For those of you who use snapping, you'll be able to once again quickly adjust the snap settings. For those of you who haven't played with this feature, now's the time to test it out.

Page margins and bleed

When you're prepping your document for print (in RGB, of course), you now have more control over margins and bleed. You'll spot the new round handles in the middle of the page borders. Simply click and drag them to set your margins. When it comes to the red boundary for the bleed margin, you can edit it from the tool controls bar, in a fly-out menu that allows you to customize your document.

Lasso selection for nodes

Being a node ranger just got easier! You'll appreciate being able to hold the Alt key and draw to select nodes that are hard to select with rectangle selection.