Inkscape Drawing Program Brings Joy to Many

Inkscape is a free vector drawing program that brings joy and robust drawing tools to millions of people who could never afford Adobe Illustrator. You can use Inkscape for fun or for thousands of different practical purposes including designing your own business card, CD cover, advertising layout, and countless other tasks.

Inkscape runs on all computer platforms -- Linux, Macintosh and Windows. Mac OS 10.4 users need to install some free software called X11 to use Inkscape. You can find X11 on the CD (or DVD) disk that comes with new Macs. Search for X11. You'll want to install the program called x11usr.pkg

Want to see the wide range of drawings you can create with Inkscape? You can browse the galleries of drawings from the link on the left side of the Inkscape web site, or you can take a gander at some of the best Inkscape drawings that I've assembled in this YouTube video. I created this YouTube video using the slideshow feature of iPhoto, exporting the slideshow to QuickTime. (Summary instructions of how I made this kind be found in the note on the right side of the YouTube video.)

At the very end of this video is a gorgeous drawing of an Easter bunny that was sent by an artist as a thank-you to the talented and generous programmers who created Inkscape. That artist deserves a standing ovation -- as do the programmers who have created Inkscape. As an open source software project, Inkscape is destined to keep getting better and better -- and it's and outstanding tool already.

You can learn more about how to use Inkscape from the many screencasts that have been uploaded to YouTube. My favorite is Inkscape - Screencast 5 - Photo Popping Fun. Search YouTube for the word Inkscape to find all the other wonderful screencasts.

Josh Andler, one of Inkscape's developers and an artist himself, curates this collection of outstanding Inkscape drawings. Josh's own drawings can be seen on DeviantART, too.

As you can see, Inkscape is limitless in drawings and art it can make. Get together with your friends to pass along Inkscape tips and techniques. Some of your friends will surprise you with how artistically talented they are. Let them surprise you.

By the way, which magazine is going to the be the first to offer an annual "Screencaster of the Year" award? I bet there are many people, myself included, who would love to chip in money so that the award winners walk away with a nice chunk of cash. Blessed be the screencasters, for along with programmers, they create a land of milk and honey for the rest of us.

I nominate these two screencasters (the same folks who created the Photo Popping screencast above) for a Screencasters of the Year award. These talented people keep hitting home runs right out of the ballpark.

And any award moneys collected ought to be shared equally with the programmers who create Inkscape. If we can get them a little gas money, that will make all of us the richer. They are heroes, thru and thru.

Lastly, if you'd like to be in touch with other Inkscape enthusiasts, sign up for the Inkscape users email list. I recommend getting the daily digest.

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Phil Shapiro

The blogger has been working to bridge the digital divide for 20 years in the Washington DC-area. He loves Macs, adores Linux and likes Windows. Reader responses welcome in the comments below or at philshapiroblogger@gmail.com

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