Alt + an arrow key moves selected object(s) in small steps.Īll the normal Windows edit keys work in Inkscape (these aren’t specific to Inkscape – they work in most programs and are incredibly useful!):.The arrow keys move the selected object(s) around.

Ctrl + any arrow key moves around the canvas.

These are the ones I use most frequently:

For example:įinally, if you are planning to try Inkscape, I suggest learning at least a few of the shortcut keys because they’ll speed up your work no end. Just do a search for “Inkscape” or “Inkscape tutorial” and you will find some absolutely incredible demonstrations of how to create really professional looking images. My favourite way to learn about more advanced Inkscape techniques and features is through YouTube. Spending an hour or two on these tutorials now could save you 100 wasted hours of frustration down the road (whether it’s in Inkscape, MS Paint, or whatever other drawing tool you might be using). What I love about these tutorials is that they themselves are editable Inkscape documents so you can try out what you’re reading about right there inside the tutorial document itself. They explain the different shape tools, how to navigation around the canvas, and so on. You’ll find them in a submenu inside the “Help” menu. The best way to start learning Inkscape is probably through its built-in tutorials. This was the drawing that I created during the demo:Īlso, here’s a quick sketch of a logo idea for the 2012 RoboSumo tournament, using a technique very similar to that I used for this blog’s banner image: Inkscape is completely free and is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. Admittedly, I’m no Inkscape expert myself, but I have taught myself the basic features and I’ve really found that it has helped me to draw an awful lot faster (and hopefully a bit better too). If you attended the RoboSumo lecture today (DT021/DT081) or yesterday (DT009), hopefully you found the Inkscape demo informative.

Better at drawing with inkscape