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Inkscape kicks Illustrator's butt

Ranked #2,050 in Computers & Electronics, #39,467 overall

HERE'S WHAT I THINK

Inkscape kicks Illustrator's butt

Now don't get me wrong... Illustrator is a fine program that's been around many years... but that's part of the problem. It's a tremendously bloated application at this point, it's very space/memory hungry, and even on a relatively new system, it can lag quite a bit when working on a large illustration.

Inkscape, by comparison, has come quite a ways in the last few years -- every release is more and more stable, stronger than the last and adding more features. The shape/vector optimization in inkscape is excellent, as is the trace functionality.

Did I mention that it's free?
Did I mention that it's open source?
And that it runs on Windows, OS X *and* Linux?

HELP ME PROVE MY POINT

If you agree, add links (proof!) that help me make my case

Add a link that makes my case.

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Inkscape. Draw Freely.

Inkscape is a Vector Graphics Editor, similar to A more...1 point

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Inkscape vs adobe Illustrator : your thoughts ?? - Ubuntu Forums

Inkscape vs adobe Illustrator : your thoughts ?? C more...1 point

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Forums - Illustration - Inkscape VS CS2? | iStockphoto.com

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Inkscape for Adobe Illustrator users - Inkscape Wiki

Intro/Info to Inkscape for Illustrator Users1 point

DISPROVE MY POINT (fine, be that way)

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What can Inkscape do that Illustrator cannot?

(from the Inkscape Wiki)


  • Edit SVG source directly

  • Clones, tiled clones, edit clones on canvas

  • Keys to move/rotate/scale by screen pixels

  • Shapes as objects

  • Edit gradients with handles on-canvas

  • Edit nodes with keyboard

  • One-click paint bucket fill

  • Color painting over objects

What can Illustrator do that Inkscape cannot?

(from the Inkscape Wiki)

  • Gradient meshes

  • Multiple strokes and fills for one object

  • Color management for print (ICC Profiles, etc.)

  • PMS color

  • Natively work with graphs based on data

  • Free transform and perspective transform (only via extension)

  • Blends (only via extension)

YOUR TURN!

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

ascent says:

Thanks for the comments!

Logemon1: Yes, it was a "text" module and I used standard UL/LI html elements for the bullet point list.

Posted November 08, 2011

Logemon1 says:

I have never used Inkscape, seing that I have just always used Illustrator. Looks like I'll have to check it out! Thanks for the informative lens. By the way, how did you create a bulleted list? Did you use html? Thanks.

Posted July 01, 2011

CarolMerc says:

Incscape really rocks, I have to agree. Has lot of advantages, options and it is for free. I find it amazing.
Carol at LeapFrog Leapster

Posted December 21, 2010

xNephilimx says:

I've been an illustrator user for a couple of years,but I have to say that in these last month that I've been trying inkscape, I'm pretty much falling for it.
I don't like the way it works as corel (kinda hate corel), but I can get used to it, the only downside I see right now (and I hope they'll fix it in a near future) is it's incapability to handle opentype as powerfull as Illustrator does (and I'm needing that for a project right now, so I'm using illustrator for font retouches).
On the other hand, I just love how the Inkscape grids work, and how you can even make axionometric grids! That is just awesome.
Note that I'm not a heavy user, I just design some stuff every now and then (I'm a programmer actually), but I do not make any complicated vectorizations. So for me, Inkscape is a great alternative, AND I can use it on linux (I spend 90% of my time on linux).
I also noted that when exporting images as bitmap (non-vector in general) Inkscape renderizations are a hell lot better on a pixel level that Ilustrator's. So yeah, if they add the open type features, I'll forget completely about Illustrator for good.

Posted February 11, 2010

lggboy says:

I think Illustrator is way better than inkscape, it more professional, and stable. but inkscape its better than freehand.

Posted April 28, 2009

GarciaGadget says:

Last time I tried Inkscape was about five years ago. It wasn't really "there" yet. I recently started a project and was having some difficulty with Illustrator. I turned to Inkscape out of frustration and it's a Godsend! Way easier and faster for what I'm doing! It's come a looong, looong way in the past five years.

Posted November 19, 2011

Warp_9 says:

I'm not a professional and Illustrator it's not a cheap product, so I prefer Inkscape because it's free (I don't want use pirated software) and powerful.
The day that Adobe will make a sort of "Illustrator Elements" like Photoshop, I will buy it and I will use both. :-)

Posted September 22, 2011

damoocow5000 says:

Both are powerful programs, but illustrator is a lot more professional, can edit PDFs directly, has tons more filters, much better navigation, better layout customization, more efficient tools, and by far the best raster exporting options. However, Inkscape still has some good features like rounded rectangles and gradient editability, and I love that it's for linux, but overall, inkscape just can't beat illustrator's professional awesomeness.

Posted February 13, 2010

 

Inkscape books on Amazon

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ascent

I'm a 35 year old computer guy who lives in Memphis, TN.  I have a wife, a toddler, and another on the way. I love researching things and collecting... more »

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