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Author Topic: Newbie to graphics - question re: software  (Read 828 times)

June 28, 2018, 02:46:40 PM
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junejan20

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Hi,
I am a real newbie to graphics work, I have tried a few ipad apps but they are hard for this beginner to find my way around.  Figured out some stuff on the Graphics app but got a bit frustrated trying to group things together.

I have used Microsoft Publisher as a very basic desktop publishing tool successfully & like the way it makes working with pictures & text together so easy.  I want to create some logos for my work to consider & wondered if Inkscape is a good place to start for a newbie.

Any advice will be appreciated.

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June 28, 2018, 11:12:28 PM
Reply #1

Lazur

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Hi.

Inkscape can be used for drawing logos however logo design in general is just more than popping out ideas and saving them in the right format.
If you are new to graphics design I highly recommend you take some research on logo designing as well.
Inkscape is just a tool you can use efficiently for drawing logos but it won't save any bad concepts from looking awful.

June 30, 2018, 10:23:58 PM
Reply #2

brynn

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Welcome to the forum!

It's hard to advise newbies about whether Inkscape will be easy for them to learn.  Some newbies find it fairly easy, but others do not.  I think it depends on their approach.  If they have their own ideas about what to expect, or for example, they've tried other graphics programs, and expect them all to work them same way - those newbies, I think, find it frustrating.  But if they come to it with an open mind, thinking that not all graphics programs work the same way, and they set out to learn how to use it, I think those newbies are happy with it.

Inkscape is very capable of drawing graphics and text.  It's not a desktop publishing program, so its Text tool is not nearly as sophisticated as in desktop publishing or work processing.  But certainly Inkscape is used to create logos!

If you look into the literature, the definition of a "logo" is fairly narrow.  For example, you'll find things like how many separate objects or colors a logo is supposed to have (2 colors, 3 at the most, is what I've heard), and I think it's not supposed to have any text at all (although I could be wrong about that).  There are websites where people pay artists to make professional logos. 

But as far as I can tell, people often use the word "logo" very loosely, and often use it to describe something like a letterhead.  In any case, Inkscape is perfectly capable of drawing designs, whether they are technically a logo, or a letterhead, or whatever.

I'd suggest starting with Help menu > Tutorials > Basic, Shapes, and Advanced.  Don't worry, the one called advanced isn't really all that advanced.  It's meant for beginners.  After that, you could look on the  Home tab above, where we have a huge list of tutorials, divided into general skill levels.  So you could start with the Beginner section there.
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July 01, 2018, 04:50:56 AM
Reply #3

shawnhcorey

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The advantage of vector graphics is that the resolution does not have to be determined until the image is shown. It doesn't looked pixelated on high-res devices.

Other FOSS you may be interested in:
  • Scribus - desktop publishing (Microsoft Publisher replacement)
  • GIMP - raster image manipulation (Photoshop replacement)
  • Krita - raster image creation
  • Blender - 3D creation
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