Inkscape Tutorial

A lil' introduction

Inkscape is like illustrator, but free and open source. You can easily draw with it, and I’ll show you how.

I’ll use the test I did for my press-fit construction kit to show you how it works.

Step 1 : install Inkscape

Here is the link to download it : https://inkscape.org/fr/

and a link to its documentation : https://blogs.lyceecfadumene.fr/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2012/02/inkscape2.pdf

Step 2 : open your file or create a new one

Like most of the software, if you want to use a previous work you just have to click in File > open file.

If you need to do a new document, just go on File > New document.

Step 3 : create shapes

To create new shapes, you have to go to the left side of your screen and choose between the different shape's tools : square, circle, polygones, etc

Once your shape is drawn, you can find on the upper side of your interface the toolbar that will allow you to change the sizes and radius of your shape.

When you play with the radius of your shape, with the rectangle for exemple, you plan with the angles of it. For exemple, in a rectangle you can have sharp angles or more round angles. Try it and you'll see !

You can also play with the angles by moving the lil' circle on the edge of your shape. Just click on them, and you'll see the shape move in front of you :) Look on the images below to understand better.

Step 3 : create holes in shapes

Now, I need to create my notches in order to make it a press-fit construction kit. How do I do that ? By using one of Inkscape's function : the difference.

You'll find that function in the menu, in Paths > Difference.

But first, do not forget to select both shapes you want to change (like shown in the capture below)!

Now select the "difference" function and voilà ! :)

Repeat those actions as much as needed :)

With those simple functions, you can easily create your own press-fit kit now :)

Step 4 : merge two shapes

To merge two shapes, you repeat kinda the same process used to make holes. You create your two shapes and go to the menu, and click on Paths > union. Here you go :)

Step 5 : finish your project

Now you can draw everything you need for your pressfit kit. Here are my first results !

Wanna go further ?

Here are some tutorials :

Name of the website Link
Inkscape tutorial [FR] https://inkscape.org/fr/doc/tutorials/basic/tutorial-basic.html
Inkscape tutorial [ENG] https://inkscape.org/learn/tutorials/
Inkscape video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUIOEXssTSE