Popular free alternative to Adobe Illustrator gets a major upgrade
- Inkscape releases update 1.4 for its Adobe Illustrator alternative
- New functionality and features allow it to be better integrated into workflows
- Quality of life changes have been made to the tools to increase productivity
Inkscape, one of the most intriguing free Adobe Illustrator alternatives, has released its latest update, introducing a range of new tools, improvements and changes aimed at improving user experience and productivity.
Version 1.4 also expands extension and file compatibility to improve workflow integration, including a new filter gallery dialog, allowing users to browse a variety of filter examples and categories and even search for specific filters.
It also adds new modular grids and improvements to axonometric grids, allowing designers to set grid angles by ratio for isometric designs.
New features and improved functionality
New updates to swatches give users quick access to layout controls, color search, and compatibility with multiple palette file formats, as well as more color palette formats, including CIELAB, Adobe Color Book, and Adobe Swatch Exchange.
The toolbar has also been refined, keeping important options visible even in smaller windows. The node tool shortcuts have also been revised, providing better control when working with paths, and the node deletion behavior has been adjusted to provide more flexibility.
This update also includes a unified font browser, which can be activated in the preferences. The SVG Font Editor has also been updated, giving users more control over creating and modifying custom fonts. For those familiar with CSS, Inkscape 1.4 allows customization of handles on the canvas, including the ability to change their size, shape and color.
Inkscape 1.4 also expands file compatibility, allowing users to work across design platforms. Additionally, the PDF export function is being upgraded and internal links are now supported.
New extensions have been enabled, including support for an improved QR code generator that now supports multi-line text. For Linux users, newly installed fonts are now immediately available without the need to restart the software.
Via Phoronix