Can anyone direct me to instruction on how to save an image in the PDF format.

It's really understanding what the notes mean in the dialogue box that appears when you choose the PDF format that I'm looking for.

I've checked out the Inkscape manual but personally I've always found instructions on saving work to be a bit sparse (which is why we've done tutorials on this) and I can't find anything on this in there.

I've had a look here in the forum but haven't found anything that takes me through these settings.

Thanks for your help.

Caroline

Hi Caroline,

You could do print and select a PDF option (most computers have a PDF printer built in, or I love Bullzip or CutePDF), and do it that way. It might be a quick fix until one of the more knowledgeable people on here can better answer you question

I've never seen them explained either. But I could give it a try....although some of them I don't understand either.

Restrict to PDF version -- I've always skipped that one, and never had any problems saving an Inkscape image as PDF. But I guess there must be certain features that 1 PDF version has, that the other one doesn't. I don't know what those might be. Maybe someone else can say?

Convert text to paths -- That's the same thing as using Path menu > Object to path on text, in Inkscape (as far as I understand). If you used flowed text in the Inkscape image, you definitely want to convert to path, whether you do it in Inkscape or use this Save As dialog option. If the file with text is destined for the internet, you also should probably convert to paths.

PDF + LaTeX -- I can't explain this one, since I've never use LaTeX. If you used LaTex (Inkscape extension) you'll need to learn about this, and maybe someone else can explain. If not, you can skip it.

Rasterize filter effects -- If you used any filters in the Inkscape image....well, I can only say that if I used filters in an image, and I don't check this option, the filter won't be displayed when I view the PDF with Adobe Reader. But I can't say, across the board, that this option should be used whenever filters are in the Inkscape image, or that all PDF viewers can't display the filters. Maybe someone else can clear this up.

Resolution for rasterization -- I'm pretty sure this setting applies to rasterizing filter effect. If you want the filtered objects displayed at the same size in PDF as in Inkscape, leave it at 90. If you want the objects with filters larger or smaller, then change the dpi setting.

Output page size: Use document's page size or Use exported object's size -- Do you want the PDF to be the same size as the Inkscape document's page size? Or do you want to ignore the size of the page, and only export the objects on the page?

Bleed/margin (mm) -- I have no idea what this is. Maybe someone else can explain?

Limit export to object with ID -- This allows to to export only the object with the ID number entered in the field.


Maybe that can help you a little bit? And hopefully others can fill in the gaps?

Edit
What kind of tutorials do you make?

Bleed is the safe area in printing that ensures the whole image appears on the paper.
By adding a bleed area, you can create graphic that goes to the paper edge.
The mentioned topic had this link, to an explanation on the use -how the bleed and a slight bit of the graphic has to be trimmed off; so that the drawn parts have to go over the final paper edges.

Haven't used that feature myself, but it sounds it expands the page area of the pdf with the given values.


As far as I know it is the pdf format that doesn't support filtering.
Meaning, rasterisation is the only choice to preserve a drop shadow effect for example.
Regular printing resolution is no lower than 300 dpi.

Brynn! You are a complete star and so now between the 2 of us (me, with my little bit of knowledge) and you with your boatload, have cleared up most of the questions I had.

Lazur - thanks for your thoughts also. I will do some more testing but what a fantastic Forum this is.


Brynn - amongst other things we create Inkscape video tutorials. We've a fair number on YouTube.

Caroline