Inkscape is a professional vector graphics editor that uses SVG as its native format. It’s free, open-source, and capable of professional work.

Installation

brew install --cask inkscape

The Canvas

When you open Inkscape, you’ll see a blank canvas. The toolbar is on the left, tool options at the top, and color palette at the bottom. Right-click the canvas for quick actions.

Essential Tools

  • Select (F1) — Click to select, drag to move, click again to rotate/skew
  • Node Edit (F2) — Edit individual points on a path
  • Rectangle (F4) — Draw rectangles and squares. Hold Ctrl for squares
  • Ellipse (F5) — Draw circles and ellipses. Hold Ctrl for circles
  • Text (F8) — Click to type text, drag to create a text box
  • Bezier (B) — Draw custom paths with curves

Working with Shapes

Draw a shape, then use the Node tool (F2) to edit its points. Convert any shape to a path with Path → Object to Path (Shift+Ctrl+C). This unlocks full node-level editing.

Colors and Gradients

Select an object, then click a color in the palette at the bottom. For gradients, open Object → Fill and Stroke (Shift+Ctrl+F). Choose Linear or Radial gradient and adjust the stops.

Boolean Operations

Select two shapes and use Path → Union, Difference, Intersection, etc. These combine shapes in different ways — essential for creating complex icons.

Exporting

File → Export PNG. Choose “Selection” to export only what’s selected. For SVG (native format), just save normally. Inkscape files are .svg and can be opened by any vector tool or browser.