It surprises me that so many graphics programs let you easily make 'stars' and provide no simple 'triangle' tool. I've never found myself in need of a star, but most graphic layouts use triangles all over the place without realizing it (arrows and pointers mostly). I really like Inkscape, and this is not just an Inkscape thing - most graphics programs lack triangles. It's a pain in the butt to freehand isosceles and equilaterals, and really makes a visible difference when it's not perfect.

I can't imagine how many hours of my life I've wasted trying to make clean triangles in other programs, it would be nice if Inkscape would be the program to change that. Just an idea...

PS

if I'm just not seeing where the tool is, I'll really kick myself.

will allow you to create an equalateral triangle. Just set the number of sides to 3 and be sure to set the polygon option rather than the star option.

Any other type of triangle can be just as easily drawn with three click of

yeah, star/poly tool will do equilateral. About the first thing I ever coded for inkscape that polygon checkbox.

Right angled are easiest done with by creating a rect and then deleting one corner in the node tool.

Of course - I should have been able to see since the beginning...

...but I must have hidden the 'Tool Controls Bar'


Like my unkle once said:
"Helps if it's plugged in."

Thank you much for pointing out the obvious.

You can also make isosceles triangles accurately without much fuss by using guides. (Guide snapping needs to be on in your preferences.)

1. Click on the horizontal ruler and drag down to create a horizontal guide.
2. Now drag another horizontal guide down, spacing them for the height of the triangle.
3. Drag a vertical guide out from the vertical ruler. You can put it anywhere.
4. Switch to the pen tool (Shift-F6).
5. Click on one of the vertical/horizontal guide intersection points. You want to click and release immediately, so you'll draw a straight line.
6. Now hold Ctrl while you move the cursor toward the other horizontal guide. Notice that it constrains you to particular angles.
7. Choose a pleasant angle and double click the guide to make a line.
8. Move the cursor back to intersection, where you should see a square at the end point of the line. Notice that the square turns red when you hover over it. That means that if you click in the square, the next line you draw will be added to the one you just drew, which is what you want.
9. Click (and release) in the square.
10. Hold Ctrl again, and move the cursor to the other guide. Here's the important part: use the complement angle to the first line.
11. Click once on the guide this time so that you can keep drawing.
12. Move the cursor over to the open line end and click inside the square to complete the triangle.

As long as you choose the complement angle for the two sides, you'll get an isosceles triangle.

It seems wordy when written out, but it's pretty quick to do once you've done it a time or two.