How To in Inkscape

In this section I've listed common questions that users have when using Inkscape. I hope to be adding new How To questions often, so check back to see what's new.

As with the Flyer Tutorials, there are also detailed explanations of each step with images where necessary.

To find out how to do these simple tasks with Inkscape, choose a link to the right of the screen.

Be sure to check out the other How To sections below:

How To in Microsoft Word
How To in Corel Draw
How To in OpenOffice Draw
How To in Microsoft Publisher
How To in Adobe Illustrator

To insert an image go to File > Import.

This will open up the Select File To Import Window.















Select your image and click on the Open button in the bottom right corner.

This will then open the Link or Embed Image Window.

An Embedded Image stands alone, but results in a larger SVG file.

A Linked Image references a file outside the SVG document you are working on resulting in a smaller SVG file.

Make your selection and click the OK button in the bottom right.

The image will be surrounded by 8 arrows. They allow you to Resize your image.

Select the object that you wish to Rotate. 8 arrows will be around it when it is selected.

Clicking on the object again will change the Resizing arrows to Rotation and Skew arrows.

The Rotation arrows are at the 4 corners of the object. Move the cursor over any one of them, hold the mouse button down, and turn the mouse in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to free rotate.

Go to the Menu Bar and select Object > Transform.

This will open the Transform Window which has five tabs, namely Move, Scale, Rotate, Skew, and Matrix.

Select the Rotate Tab.

Where you see Angle you will type in the amount of degrees you would like to rotate the object.

Keep in mind that to rotate the object clockwise you will have to enter a negative number. Vice versa to rotate the object counter clockwise you will have to enter a positive number. Remember to hit the Apply button.

Go to the Menu Bar and select Object > Rotate 90 Deg CW.

This will move your object forward in a clockwise direction 90 degrees each time you use it.




To rotate in a counterclockwise direction go to Object > Rotate 90 Deg CCW, which will move your object in a backward position.