Chapter 3. How to Manage Files

This chapter is all about files and managing them. Inkscape can import a number of file formats, edit them, and save them in a number of formats. We will discuss all of that as well as the native Inkscape SVG format, benefits of using projects folder, and embedding versus linking image files.

The following topics will be discussed in this chapter:

• Creating new files
• Saving Inkscape files
• Creating a customized default document
• How to structure project files
• Importing non-native Inkscape files
• Embedding and linking image files

Creating new files

As previously, stated when you first open Inkscape, a new document is opened and ready to start. However, it uses a default size of A4. You will likely need a whole array of other sizes for print, web design, or even custom sizes. Here's how to access all of the predefined document dimensions Inkscape offers and details on how to adjust them manually for your needs.

Using predefined-sized document dimensions

To see all predefined document dimensions Inkscape has to offer, go the main menu and choose File and then New.

Inkscape has many predefined sizes already generated for you.

For web design, you can choose from the following:

• Desktops with sizes 1024 x 768, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, or 800 x 600
• Web banners with sizes 468 x 60 or 728 x 90
• Icon sizes ranging from 16 x 16, 32 x 32, and 48 x 48

For print, there are many sizes you can choose from:

• Letters: Standard US, A4
• Business card sizes: 84 x 54mm, 90 X 50mm
• CD Cover_300dpi: 343 X 340
• CD label: 120x120
• DVD covers: Regular...

Time for action — creating a new CD cover

Imagine that you would like to use Inkscape to design and create a simple CD cover for a new music compilation you created. Here's how to get started and open a predefined template in Inkscape:

1. Open Inkscape, and from the main menu, select File | New | CD_cover_300dpi.
   
2. A new document opens to the correct dimensions.
   

What just happened?

Quite simply, these steps just opened up a new file in Inkscape to the exact dimensions of a CD cover.

With the autodefined templates, it takes the guesswork out of dimensions and lets you jump right into the design. We'll get back to this CD cover and design in Chapter 4, How to build your first graphic.

Pop quiz — how do you change the dimensions of a predefined graphic?

1. Once you open a predefined template and start working, what do you do if you need to change the dimensions?

   a. Start the design all over in a new document (from the main menu, select File | New).

   b. Copy and paste the design into...

Custom document dimensions

In the last section, we discussed creating a document that uses a predefined size already provided in Inkscape, but what if you need to create a file that is custom or not listed in the template list?

It's easy. You start with the default page size in Inkscape and then use the Document Properties window to adjust to the exact size you need.

Time for action — creating a new custom file size for a postcard

We're going to create a file that will be the exact size for a postcard.

1. From the Inkscape main menu, select File | New | Default. This opens a file with the default dimensions of A4.
   
2. Now we want to customize those document dimensions. To do this, go to the main menu and choose File | Document Properties. You'll see the Document Properties window displayed with a number of options for customizing your canvas and printable page, as shown in the following screenshot:
   
3. To change to the custom postcard size of 7 x 5 inches, we need to change the following fields in the following order: Units to in (Inches), Width to 7, and Height to 5. The changes on the Document Properties window should look similar to the following screenshot:
   

   Remember to change the Units first; otherwise the Width and Height fields will adjust to the new unit of measure and you will have to readjust them.

   Tip

   Changing page orientation

   Also note that...

Saving Inkscape files

As you begin working on your projects, it is always good practice to save files often. Inkscape has a number of save options, in a number of formats, as well as ways to export into other common file formats.

By default, Inkscape typically saves files to your main documents folder. However, you are given an option to change this during the saving process each and every time you save a file.

Saving in Inkscape SVG

By default, Inkscape files are saved as SVG files. The native Inkscape SVG format allows editing at a later time. If file size is a concern, you can also save in the Inkscape-compressed format of SVGZ and you will have no issues editing the file and resaving it for future use.

Inkscape can save as SVG, SVGZ, PDF, PostScript/EPS/EPSi, Adobe Illustrator (*.ai), LaTex (*.tex), POVRay (*.pov), HPGL, and others. This is important because you can share files with others, which they are able to then open and manipulate.

If you work in web design, note that it is possible...

Time for action — saving an Inkscape SVG

Since you have just started using Inkscape, let's use an example file to learn about the save features of Inkscape. Open your browser and go to the following link:

http://www.openclipart.org/people/kuba/LGM_poster2.svg

Right-click on the image and select Save As. When prompted, save the file to a location on your computer (for example, your desktop). We will use this OpenClip Art Inkscape file for this exercise:

1. Open the example file in Inkscape.
2. Once open, from the main menu, select File | Save.
   
3. In the Select file to save to window, type a new name for your file (for example, drawing.svg).
4. Choose a folder to save the file to—including choosing Browse for other folders if you'd like to choose another location.
5. Again, note, by default the file will be saved as Inkscape SVG (*.svg), but there are a number of other formats to choose from in this menu. However, as stated, you may lose editability of the file once saved in another...

Time for action — exporting to PNG

Let's give this Export functionality a try. We'll use the postcard file we created in the previous section with a very simple design added to show how this is done.

1. With the postcard file open from the previous section, from the main menu, select File | Export Bitmap.
   
2. The Export Window is displayed, as shown in the following screenshot:
   
3. On this window, you will see a number of options along the top that detail how you might want to export the screen contents.
4. If you want to export the entire document, as shown in one bitmap image, then select Page.
5. If you want to export all objects in a drawing, including those placed outside the canvas/page, select Drawing.
6. If you want to export only a selected object (which you would see with an outline and nodes on the screen), select Selection. However, this option is only available if items are selected in the drawing before you start the export process.
7. Click Browse to change the default filename and/or...

Creating a customized default document

When working in print design, often you might need to create a particular size document again and again. Perhaps, Inkscape does not offer this as a default size. You can then create a custom document and force Inkscape to use it as the default document size.

Time for action — creating a new default document

We're going to create a new default document with a custom size.

1. From the Inkscape main menu, select File | New | Default. This opens a file with the default dimensions of A4, as shown in the following screenshot:
   
2. Now customize those document dimensions. From the main menu, choose File | Document Properties. You'll see the Document Properties window displayed, as shown in the following screenshot:
   
3. Change the Units to in (Inches), Width to 7, and Height to 5. The changes on the Document Properties window should look similar to the following screenshot:
   

   Remember to change the Units first; otherwise the Width and Height fields will adjust to the new unit of measurement and you will have to readjust them.

4. Close the Document Properties window/dock by clicking the X at the upper-right corner.
5. From the main menu, select File | Save As. Choose the following directories to save as a new default:

   For Windows, save to the share directory...

How to structure project files

The last section was about saving individual files. However, you may find yourself designing entire web pages or large projects that require more than one Inkscape file. To do this, it requires some basic organization of files within directories or folders to make finding (and using) the Inkscape files easier to use—specifically when saving entire pages of content as individual graphic files. The following section details how best to manage multiple file projects.

Managing multiple file projects

Simply put, if you create one directory or folder where you store all of the files for one project, you can minimize mismanagement of files. Within that directory, you will have more control over how you structure your files for revisions and drafts for work.

As stated, it starts with a project folder placed on your computer in an easy-to-access location. Whenever you create a new file in Inkscape for this project, you can save those source Inkscape files in...

Time for action — exporting a batch of images

We're going to look in detail at how to save an entire page or canvas of images as separate graphic files. This practice is common in web design when each image needs to be called to action in the HTML code. It can also be useful if you have developed a print design and want to save a logo, a block of text, and some graphical elements for use in another piece of the same client.

1. We will use the sample file from the previous section again for this exercise. If you have not downloaded the file, open your browser and go to the following link:

   http://www.openclipart.org/people/kuba/LGM_poster2.svg

   Right-click the image and save to a location on your computer.

2. Open the example file in Inkscape.
3. On the main menu, select Edit | Select All in All Layers. Now all the objects within this example file will be selected. You should see dashed borders around each object.

   Note

   We will discuss Layers in detail in Chapter 5, Working with Layers.

4. It&apos...

Importing non-native Inkscape files

In the previous section, we imported a previously-created Inkscape SVG file into the program. Inkscape supports a number of other graphic formats too. It can open or import SVG, SVGZ (gzipped SVG), PDF, and AI (Adobe Illustrator) formats. In particular, it can import bitmap-based graphic formats such as JPEG, PNG, and GIF, but it can only export PNG bitmaps.

With the help of extensions and plugins, Inkscape can also open a number of other vector formats. The following are some examples:

• For importing PostScript or EPS, install Ghostscript (http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/)
• For formats of Dia, XFig, or Sketch, you need to have those programs installed on your computer
• For CorelDraw, CGM, and SK1 files, install Uniconverter (http://sk1project.org/). For Windows users, Uniconvertor is pre-installed with Inkscape and no additional installation is needed.

See this version of the Inkscape manual for the fully-supported formats and the caveats of importing each...

Time for action — importing a PDF into Inkscape

Let's import a non-native Inkscape SVG file into Inkscape—as you may need to do this for client logos, photographs, and any number of other real-world examples. Open a browser and go to this link: http://db.tt/xR0ZlBRL

A PDF will be downloaded and saved to your computer. It will be our sample file to work with during this exercise.

1. Open a document in Inkscape. This can be any in-progress file that we have used previously in this chapter, or a new document.
2. From the main menu, select File | Import.
   

   The Select file to import window displays, as shown in the following screenshot:

   
3. Locate and select the sample PDF file you just downloaded and select Open.
4. When the PDF Import Settings screen displays, adjust settings as needed and click OK.
   
5. Within Page settings, you can choose whether you want all pages of the PDF to be imported or just a specific page number. The Clip to field has various options (media box, crop box, trim box,...

Embedding and linking image files

When you import files into Inkscape, you are prompted about linking or embedding them. Linking a file means that the file is essentially displayed within your Inkscape document and there are associated properties (location, size, and so on) to that linked object. The original file must remain in the exact location on your computer or you will not be able to view it in the Inkscape file and any changes you make to the original file will be seen in the Inkscape file.

Embedding a file means that the file itself is brought into the Inkscape document and it resides there. All changes made to that file within your project stay within your project and the original source file can be moved to any location on your computer.

The advantage to embedding images is that they are not tied to the original source. You can move the source file or the Inkscape file anywhere on your computer or even send a co-worker the Inkscape file and there is no need to worry about the...

Time for action — embedding a logo into your design

Let's learn how to embed a logo file into a design. We'll start by downloading a sample logo. Open a browser and go to this Open Clipart sample logo at the following URL:

http://www.openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/vetlogo.png

Right-click on the logo and save it to your computer.

1. Open a document in Inkscape.
2. From the main menu, select File | Import. Alternatively, you can drag-and-drop a file from your desktop onto an open Inkscape file.
   

   The Select file to import window displays.

3. Locate and select the Sample logo file you just downloaded and select Open.
4. When the input screen displays, select Embed.
   
5. Click OK.
6. In a few moments, the logo you selected displays and is embedded within the page of your Inkscape project.

What just happened?

In the preceding steps, you embedded a logo image into your current Inkscape document.

Linking external files in Inkscape

Linking certain files can be useful—particularly if the source...

Time for action — linking a photograph into a brochure design

Now let's try to link external files into an Inkscape project. For this example, we will just use the same logo as the previous example. If you did not download it yet, open a browser and go to the following Open Clipart sample logo:

http://www.openclipart.org/image/800px/svg_to_png/vetlogo.png

Right-click on the logo and save it to your computer.

1. Open a document in Inkscape.
2. From the main menu, select File | Import.

   The Select file to import window is displayed.

3. Locate and select the Sample logo file you just downloaded and select Open.
4. When the input screen displays, this time select Link.
5. Click OK.
6. In a few moments, the logo you selected displays and is embedded within the page of your Inkscape project.

Tip

You moved your source file and now need to change the link path to your file?

Right-click on your linked object in your Inkscape file and select Image Properties. Change the URL field to match the new path to the file...

Summary

We spent the majority of this chapter discussing how to create new files in Inkscape. You learned how to use predefined page/canvas sizes in Inkscape, how to customize the file size, and even how to create print bleeds and the setup for print-safe space on your documents.

Then we jumped into saving Inkscape files—paying close attention to discuss the advantages of keeping a source version of all documents in Inkscape's native file format of SVG, so you can continue to edit your files. Along with that topic, we jumped into managing multiple file projects and best practices, the details regarding which formats in which Inkscape can save, as well as importing file types. Finally, we talked about embedding and linking files and images in your Inkscape files. We detailed the advantages and disadvantages of each approach as well as how to work with both in your files for the best experience.

All of this is leading up to the next chapter, which deals with starting your very first...