Hello,

Im an Adobe Illustrator User who is considering switching to Inkscape permanently... im currently evaluating what inkscape can offer over illustrator... I have to say that the things I hate about illustrator (gradient tools, no cloning and no transparent color as gradient color are OK in inkscape so it starts in a good way for my switch !)

My question is :

If I select multiple objects at once... is there a simple (and preferably mouse driven or hotkey) way to lock them all ?

My second question :

Are mesh gradients something coming soon in Inkscape... this is so usefull to design realistic light effects in Adobe Illustrator ! I think this is the only thing that will really miss me in Inkscape !

You can find a list of all default keyboard shortcuts at http://www.inkscape.org/doc/keys046.html -- unfortunately it doesn't include one for locking an object.

But there is a keyboard definition for Illustrator CS2 users. You can read how to change your keys here at http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... -Shortcuts -- if you know the shortcut in Illustrator it may be the same.

A little way down this page you'll see screenshot of a proposal on how Inkscape might be able to create gradient meshes - http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/ind ... rsion=0.45

However, I wouldn'ta dvise holding your breath waiting for Gradient Meshes in Inkscape

microUgly wrote:You can find a list of all default keyboard shortcuts at http://www.inkscape.org/doc/keys046.html -- unfortunately it doesn't include one for locking an object.

But there is a keyboard definition for Illustrator CS2 users. You can read how to change your keys here at http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... -Shortcuts -- if you know the shortcut in Illustrator it may be the same.

A little way down this page you'll see screenshot of a proposal on how Inkscape might be able to create gradient meshes - http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/ind ... rsion=0.45

However, I wouldn'ta dvise holding your breath waiting for Gradient Meshes in Inkscape

Thank for your reply.... unfortunately, the key bindings of Illustrator CS2 works well but do not provide keybindings for the lock feature (usually alt +2 or ctrl + 2....dont remember exactly)...plus it have a bug : deleting an object dont work by hitting del or backspace... you have to manually add these keys to the XML file yourself if you use IllustratorCS2.xml key binging set... anyways... i like Inkscape generally... just got to get used to it ! im getting back to work for all my tests for production use !

And big thanks for the link about meshes... the blur feature seems quite impressive and powerful... ill give it a try to see what it can do !
Big thank you !

One of the ways to quick lock a selection of objects:

Create a layer and lock it. Select your objects and hit Shift + PgUp (this moves the selection to the layer above). The layer is locked so the objects will be locked too.

A new effect will probably be available in the next version - Lattice. It creates a help grid over the object so you can drag the points to deform it, but it only deforms the shape, not the color. Maybe some day... Until then Meshes are a great workaround.

I also used to work with illustrator. Locking objects and having visible thumbnails of objects in layerwindwos was also one of the features I instantly missed using Inkscape.
However Inkscape does offer unique ways of selecting objects; Since I learned to change my habits I hardly miss this feature any more.

In Incape you can enter a group in various way: ALT+Enter, or double click, or right click etc.
Once you entered the group (See layer information in the Status Bar) you can select objects within this group using the keyboard.
And you can create other objects as long you are in this group.

When you mouseklick on any filled object not belonging to this group, you´ll leave this group.
One way to get a around this is to change the view to outline mode.
Would be very handy to have a feature to block this kind of behaviour; what I mean is, you should remain in this group
no matter which obects you click on.
Does anyone know, if this kind of feature does already exist?