I started using Inkscape because it's free and open source. Prior to that I had been using Adobe Illustrator. (Ummm, a trial edition ) But honestly, I like Inkscape better. For one, Inkscape has the align dialogue, which is incredibly useful, as well as many other seemingly basic things not in Adobe's software. Illustrator is packed with so many things I'll never use that it almost hides the important stuff.

I've never used illustrator but have used old versions of photoshop in the past. The main reason I found inkscape was I wanted to learn to do vector graphics for a project and needed a cheap solution. I guess I just got lucky that Inkscape is so powerful and easy to use.

see http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messag ... 882&page=1

in brief, AI is powerful but incredibly clumsy - awkward tools, cumbersome procedures to do simple things, a pain to use especially for basic things like paths and gradients

bbyak wrote:see http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messag ... 882&page=1

That page nails it. Especially this quote about using Illustrator:

Zuki wrote:… the tools that matter the most like the Pen and bezier tools are downright nerve racking. By the time I finish an illustration I am ready for a full body massage.

That's exactly how I felt. I felt like I was fighting with Illustrator.

I was licensed for Illustrator through my work and I used it heavily for about 6 months before finding Inkscape. After using Inkscape I completely abandoned Illustrator except for work that needed to be in AI format. I started to become a burden on IllustratorWorld.com as I started posting more and more Inkscape stuff and less and less Illustrator stuff

Here's the reasons why I favor Inkscape over Illustrator:

1. Inkscape has larger node handles. With Illustrator I had to hold my fingers on Ctrl + Z because I so frequently mis-selected a node. I believe this has been remedied in CS3.
2. Inkscape gradients can have transparency. Many of my Inkscape colourings would be near impossible to create in Illustrator because it lacks this.
3. Inkscape lets you reposition a gradient. In Illustrator, the quickest method for repositioning a gradient would be to simply relay it. I would frequently swipe the gradient onto the canvas 5 to 10 times every time before I got it exactly where I wanted it. And if I changed my mind later I would have to start the process again.
4. I liked that (previously by default) Inkscape reused gradients. You could do this in Illustrator but at the time I didn't know this so Inkscape's behaviour was instantly appealing as it let me colour something, then if later I changed my mind about skin tones I could easily tweak the whole drawing.

Having said that, I would not recommend a professional illustrator use Inkscape over Illustrator. Inkcape is far more accessible to new users, but is still not as tight and decisive as Illustrator. And, unfortunately, until SVG because an industry print standard, or you can convert SVG (and all it's filter effects) to PDF flawlessly, Inkscape will never replace Illustrator.

Because it's FREE! And it rocks like a hurricane.

Downloaded it this morning and I'm loving it. I almost bought illustrator today, but thought I'd just check out an open source package first.

Found Inkscape and love it! So you guys have saved me £600. Thank you so much. I'll be spreading the word...

It's very easy to use. Better than illustrator generally.Yes less clumsy as was stated.

Although the layers could be a little more sophisticated they still do the job.

The manual is good, it's all good. Anyone who knows illustrator will pick this up very quickly.

Did I mention its free?!! I love that.

inkscape has xml editor, and no other vectorial editor has this...