Soon, I'm going to make a book about Inkscape. I always wanted to make one, but daunted by the task, I would discard any material and start back anew. This time I will make to the end, and since I don't have any ambitions about an in-depth guide I will be happy with anything I will come up with.
The resource will be freely available as svg/html, however, it will be sold in paper form.
I want something colorful but simple enough to be read by any age; and if possible, with a twist that would set it apart from other books.
I will share all the progress and hope, to receive some honest opinions as well as critics. How do you feel an Inkscape resource should be done? Are some informations essential? Or do you think we have already everything and nothing is going to add?
This post is also going to be a log to keep track of the progress.
I'd like to see something set up like how a CBT course would be, a new user could sit down and learn the basics by following along. I'd love to see a CBT course really. I remember for far longer than I'd like to admit that I couldnt figure out how to do the rubber band stretch for selecting objects! And i still have trouble selecting items under other ones!
That's an interesting idea; maybe too complex to build? Did you made any of these CBTs or know where to find some free examples?
I'm making some layout decisions and I think will go for a square grid. This will allow me to move the squared page without hassle both for a vertical (common a4) and horizontal (web) formats.
See picture attached. Looking for type at the moment I like Plex, Literata and Arvo. There's also Squad but it's not free,
I prefer the white background by a longshot. I've never done Inkscape training. I dont think a CBT exists which is why it's needed! It's interactive. Used at work but dont know if any free or otherwise places to show as an example. Oh wait, i just started using Duolingo to attempt to learn a little spanish. It's free. You can either download the free app from the Google play store, or easier to just use the website duolingo.com. If you go far enough into it, you get to speak the words after them, and try to write them. It starts out easy, letting you choose pretyped words, and there are pics too. Wouldn't be the exact same thing for inkscape of course, but you get the idea. Ex, The course would show how to draw a square and color it, then the user would try it on screen do it for themself. I actually think it'd be something to sell to an end user vs being free, to be honest. It'd take a long time to even do the basics.
The problem with youtube vids is that it's too small to really see it well, so you are constantly pausing and replaying, or it's too fast to catch at all, or the teacher omits something they assume you know. CBT is so much better. I have no idea what platform to use.
I get it! Years ago I used a service called codecademy; there were lessons about making webpages and the system would correct any mistakes.
I think it's a wonderful idea but needs tons of work and I will try to mix it with the fact that I don't want to make a tutorial book. People suggested to insert a lot of illustrations and informations..
Isn't a book with personal thoughts missing? That seems like the simpler way to write about something and I really want to talk about it rather than teach.
Yes, your idea would work too! It just needs to be in logical steps vs tav's manual which is by alphabet.
I'm hoping the user kirstie will pop in here as she's co authored a book on inkscape. You might want to read a few already written books, though i think her's is in dutch...
Hi Flamingolady and Roberto! So, exited to see the ideas here!
Last 3 years I have been making a course on Inkscape in Dutch. Before that I indeed coauthored a book on GIMP, Inkscape and Scribus. This Inkscape course is finished now. The first part is for beginners and the second part for people who know a bit more. It is a pdf or a printed book, with a lot of illustrations, exercises, files and videos. I decided to use pdf, so people can print their own copy, or read it on a screen while working in Inkscape. Other options were technically waaay to difficult. I also looked into courses online, but then the student needs a constant internet connection. I used Libre Office and Inkscape for the book.
Kirstie would you mind to open a topic and talk about your course and book authoring? I'm curious to know more. I was also interested in online courses but I'm not a good speaker so I can't really make it that way. I'm writing the first lines of text both in English and Italian. If I keep at this pace won't finish it before I'm 80. 🤣
Hi Roberto, Yes, that is a good idea. I will have to see when I have some extra time. It was not my intention to take over your thread here. Not finished until you're 80? Hmm that depends on your age now of course. :-)) You are right though, you have to make choices.
But you need to go through a process yourself to find the techniques you want to work with. So if you know html, that is a good choice for online.
You could just start with an online blog to post some of your writings and let it grow. Then people can write a reaction too, what makes the process of writing easier. When you have made a good amount of posts, you can bundle them into a book.
It was not my intention to take over your thread here.
I didn't mean it that way; I don't know if it sounded rude, but that wasn't the intention. We need more work showcases so anything done with Inkscape can only encourage other to do the same. We have a community always willing to help when problems arise, yet when things get done people become..shy?
Not finished until you're 80? Hmm that depends on your age now of course. :-))
That gives me almost 50 years! Phew..plenty of time!
I discarded the idea of blogging. I used blogging/website platforms for a few years between 18-24 and they were never satisfying. I know html5/css but as for know I think I will keep on posting here and build the content. Here are some ideas:
The book will start in black and white and will finish in color
Make a tangram or other puzzles/math games
Build posters and business cards
Design icons and logos
Make a family of typography characters - This will probably be a combination of Inkscape and Fontforge
Pixel art - Build a spritesheet
Color - Custom palettes (gpl) and some color theory
Sounds like you have some good ideas! I personally would love to see a chapter kn creating fonts in inkscape and fontforge. I really struggled to create a test font using them both, and need to continue on, but I have prob forgotten half of what I learned. There's also a group of crafters and card majers that use it to make objects as glyphs, so covering that would be really good for them. I'm not an expert in anything, but happy to help out or be a tester for you where feasible.
Reading your line about cards made me remember I had some drawings lying around of poker cards. How would that be? I don't gamble, but I used to enjoy playing different games with my family.
The problem with FontForge is.. you just have to use it a lot. With trials and errors I was able to make some fonts to work. Will share my method as soon as I have more time to write!
I have some news and chapters that i'll start to (slowly) post from january on. At the moment they are still mindmaps (rather than complete writings) but should give you an idea of how the project is evolving. In the attachment there's the first example.
I've come to understand that I really wanted a book with puzzles and quizzes, a lot of exercises and some game that you could still play with after the book would be finished. I'm definetely inspired by Dudeney, Gardner and Smullyan.
There's also a preview of the logo.
Here are the .svg with the games at the end of this chapter
File and import/save as formats (check image in attachment)
It was curious to see Inkscape can save documents as formats it cannot open back. In need to research most of these as I didn't know about them and would like to know about incompatibilities (if any) and use cases, for exercises. An example: we can save GIMP palettes as .gpl but we can only use them when they are on the palettes folder? (there doesn't seem to be an import function for .gpl but yes, for GIMP gradients?) Side note: I uploaded one palette about contrast on the gallery; if you are curious check https://inkscape.org/~RM./%E2%98%85wsc
Also curious to know how Inkscape compares to other softwares when it comes to import/export.
One of the things I didn't trought about was localization. I made some comparisons between the Italian and the English; the Italian version is very accurate, but in some parts I think the words could be misleading for beginners(?) and I found some sentences not translated, yet.
So you are busy with making your book? And as I read, it is full of quizzes and puzzles or games? It sounds like a playful book!
Yes, it takes a lot of time to collect all the information that you find useful. The next step is to reduce it to a level that others might need. In my own Inkscape course I refrained to the information starters will need. Keep in mind: the questions that most people ask on this forum tend to be advanced/ very advanced.
This is what I included about importing, saving and exporting: - Opening and saving as Inkscape svg. - Importing pdf and bitmapfiles such as png/ jpg. Importing eps needs Ghostwriter - that I put in the appendix at the end of my book. - Saving as svg and some explanation of the other svg options (plain svg etc) - Exporting as a bitmap, and as pdf. - Common settings like dpi/ ppi for screens and for print. - What is rasterisation (when exporting to pdf). - Saving a custom palette as gpl I included, although I think that is not beginner's stuff. It is at the end of my course.
The big question is: Who do you write for? Then you can choose what to include and what not.
Indeed, the abundance of informations can be overwhelming. The last month I was able to bring the "skeleton" to GitBook, a collection of all the topics I'm interested about (see a picture preview attatched) As of now, I'm collecting and writing anything I can come up with, both on Gitbook and on paper. So I'm still brainstorming and researching, but it's going well (I think)
One thing that I'm a bit annoyed with, are screenshots. Although they are useful, I have to find a solution to limit their use! 🤔
Like Rob, I took the dive into making a computer-based Inkscape course. The primary reason for writing it is to help myself learn Inkscape. I used to teach years ago and I created a lot of visual materials using Inkscape. Now that I no longer teach, I decided that I like Inkscape and its community so much that I want to say thank you for having created it.
I keep the tutorials simple in format, step-by-step, so if you need a break, sit back with a cup of hot sjokolade, maybe with some whipped cream on top to give you a white moustache (let's face it, we're special). Please feel free to use what I have put up to help the imagination stay well-ignited. The tutorials are at:
Thank you for the kind words! The quantity of pictures is part of my style. If your results look close enough to mine, then you're doing well. It helps with the emotional security. Sometimes, results are just cool and neat to look at, and you can say, "Look, mom! I did this!" I hope you are having a good time writing. There are times when time evaporates away, and then I wake up to the fact that I'm hungry, or that my wife is hungry (I'm the cook). I wish you many good times doing great accomplishments, Roy
Community Café Primaria Inkscape
Inkscape.org
Hello,
Soon, I'm going to make a book about Inkscape. I always wanted to make one, but daunted by the task, I would discard any material and start back anew. This time I will make to the end, and since I don't have any ambitions about an in-depth guide I will be happy with anything I will come up with.
The resource will be freely available as svg/html, however, it will be sold in paper form.
I want something colorful but simple enough to be read by any age; and if possible, with a twist that would set it apart from other books.
I will share all the progress and hope, to receive some honest opinions as well as critics. How do you feel an Inkscape resource should be done? Are some informations essential? Or do you think we have already everything and nothing is going to add?
This post is also going to be a log to keep track of the progress.
Share you thoughts..
Thank you <3
Good luck on this.
I'd like to see something set up like how a CBT course would be, a new user could sit down and learn the basics by following along. I'd love to see a CBT course really. I remember for far longer than I'd like to admit that I couldnt figure out how to do the rubber band stretch for selecting objects! And i still have trouble selecting items under other ones!
Actually, I think I never heard of CBT books. I made some researches; is it related to behaviour or something else?
Oh sorry. CBT is an acroynm for computer based training.
That's an interesting idea; maybe too complex to build? Did you made any of these CBTs or know where to find some free examples?
I'm making some layout decisions and I think will go for a square grid. This will allow me to move the squared page without hassle both for a vertical (common a4) and horizontal (web) formats.
See picture attached. Looking for type at the moment I like Plex, Literata and Arvo. There's also Squad but it's not free,
I prefer the white background by a longshot. I've never done Inkscape training. I dont think a CBT exists which is why it's needed! It's interactive. Used at work but dont know if any free or otherwise places to show as an example. Oh wait, i just started using Duolingo to attempt to learn a little spanish. It's free. You can either download the free app from the Google play store, or easier to just use the website duolingo.com. If you go far enough into it, you get to speak the words after them, and try to write them. It starts out easy, letting you choose pretyped words, and there are pics too. Wouldn't be the exact same thing for inkscape of course, but you get the idea. Ex, The course would show how to draw a square and color it, then the user would try it on screen do it for themself. I actually think it'd be something to sell to an end user vs being free, to be honest. It'd take a long time to even do the basics.
The problem with youtube vids is that it's too small to really see it well, so you are constantly pausing and replaying, or it's too fast to catch at all, or the teacher omits something they assume you know. CBT is so much better. I have no idea what platform to use.
I get it! Years ago I used a service called codecademy; there were lessons about making webpages and the system would correct any mistakes.
I think it's a wonderful idea but needs tons of work and I will try to mix it with the fact that I don't want to make a tutorial book. People suggested to insert a lot of illustrations and informations..
Isn't a book with personal thoughts missing? That seems like the simpler way to write about something and I really want to talk about it rather than teach.
Yes, your idea would work too! It just needs to be in logical steps vs tav's manual which is by alphabet.
I'm hoping the user kirstie will pop in here as she's co authored a book on inkscape. You might want to read a few already written books, though i think her's is in dutch...
Hi Flamingolady and Roberto!
So, exited to see the ideas here!
Last 3 years I have been making a course on Inkscape in Dutch. Before that I indeed coauthored a book on GIMP, Inkscape and Scribus.
This Inkscape course is finished now.
The first part is for beginners and the second part for people who know a bit more.
It is a pdf or a printed book, with a lot of illustrations, exercises, files and videos.
I decided to use pdf, so people can print their own copy, or read it on a screen while working in Inkscape.
Other options were technically waaay to difficult. I also looked into courses online, but then the student needs a constant internet connection.
I used Libre Office and Inkscape for the book.
I intend to sell it in the Netherlands/ Belgium.
Roberto, do you make your book in Italian?
Kirstie would you mind to open a topic and talk about your course and book authoring? I'm curious to know more. I was also interested in online courses but I'm not a good speaker so I can't really make it that way. I'm writing the first lines of text both in English and Italian. If I keep at this pace won't finish it before I'm 80. 🤣
Hi Roberto,
Yes, that is a good idea. I will have to see when I have some extra time. It was not my intention to take over your thread here.
Not finished until you're 80? Hmm that depends on your age now of course. :-)) You are right though, you have to make choices.
But you need to go through a process yourself to find the techniques you want to work with. So if you know html, that is a good choice for online.
You could just start with an online blog to post some of your writings and let it grow. Then people can write a reaction too, what makes the process of writing easier.
When you have made a good amount of posts, you can bundle them into a book.
I didn't mean it that way; I don't know if it sounded rude, but that wasn't the intention. We need more work showcases so anything done with Inkscape can only encourage other to do the same. We have a community always willing to help when problems arise, yet when things get done people become..shy?
That gives me almost 50 years! Phew..plenty of time!
I discarded the idea of blogging. I used blogging/website platforms for a few years between 18-24 and they were never satisfying. I know html5/css but as for know I think I will keep on posting here and build the content. Here are some ideas:
The book will start in black and white and will finish in color
Make a tangram or other puzzles/math games
Build posters and business cards
Design icons and logos
Make a family of typography characters - This will probably be a combination of Inkscape and Fontforge
Pixel art - Build a spritesheet
Color - Custom palettes (gpl) and some color theory
Sounds like you have some good ideas! I personally would love to see a chapter kn creating fonts in inkscape and fontforge. I really struggled to create a test font using them both, and need to continue on, but I have prob forgotten half of what I learned. There's also a group of crafters and card majers that use it to make objects as glyphs, so covering that would be really good for them. I'm not an expert in anything, but happy to help out or be a tester for you where feasible.
Reading your line about cards made me remember I had some drawings lying around of poker cards. How would that be? I don't gamble, but I used to enjoy playing different games with my family.
The problem with FontForge is.. you just have to use it a lot. With trials and errors I was able to make some fonts to work. Will share my method as soon as I have more time to write!
A couple yrs ago i finally made a font in inkscape, then uploaded it to FF to do the checks, that was so much easier than starting in FF!
Sorry, double posted.
Hi everyone; it's been a while.
I have some news and chapters that i'll start to (slowly) post from january on. At the moment they are still mindmaps (rather than complete writings) but should give you an idea of how the project is evolving. In the attachment there's the first example.
I've come to understand that I really wanted a book with puzzles and quizzes, a lot of exercises and some game that you could still play with after the book would be finished. I'm definetely inspired by Dudeney, Gardner and Smullyan.
There's also a preview of the logo.
Here are the .svg with the games at the end of this chapter
Polyomino: https://opengameart.org/content/polyomino
Tangram: https://opengameart.org/content/tangram
Domino: https://opengameart.org/content/domino-av
Researching Inkscape menu | Part 1
File and import/save as formats (check image in attachment)
It was curious to see Inkscape can save documents as formats it cannot open back. In need to research most of these as I didn't know about them and would like to know about incompatibilities (if any) and use cases, for exercises. An example: we can save GIMP palettes as .gpl but we can only use them when they are on the palettes folder? (there doesn't seem to be an import function for .gpl but yes, for GIMP gradients?)
Side note: I uploaded one palette about contrast on the gallery; if you are curious check https://inkscape.org/~RM./%E2%98%85wsc
Also curious to know how Inkscape compares to other softwares when it comes to import/export.
One of the things I didn't trought about was localization. I made some comparisons between the Italian and the English; the Italian version is very accurate, but in some parts I think the words could be misleading for beginners(?) and I found some sentences not translated, yet.
Anyway, updates coming soon :))
Hi RM,
So you are busy with making your book? And as I read, it is full of quizzes and puzzles or games?
It sounds like a playful book!
Yes, it takes a lot of time to collect all the information that you find useful. The next step is to reduce it to a level that others might need.
In my own Inkscape course I refrained to the information starters will need.
Keep in mind: the questions that most people ask on this forum tend to be advanced/ very advanced.
This is what I included about importing, saving and exporting:
- Opening and saving as Inkscape svg.
- Importing pdf and bitmapfiles such as png/ jpg. Importing eps needs Ghostwriter - that I put in the appendix at the end of my book.
- Saving as svg and some explanation of the other svg options (plain svg etc)
- Exporting as a bitmap, and as pdf.
- Common settings like dpi/ ppi for screens and for print.
- What is rasterisation (when exporting to pdf).
- Saving a custom palette as gpl I included, although I think that is not beginner's stuff. It is at the end of my course.
The big question is: Who do you write for?
Then you can choose what to include and what not.
Good day Kirstie! Hope you are doing well.
Indeed, the abundance of informations can be overwhelming. The last month I was able to bring the "skeleton" to GitBook, a collection of all the topics I'm interested about (see a picture preview attatched) As of now, I'm collecting and writing anything I can come up with, both on Gitbook and on paper. So I'm still brainstorming and researching, but it's going well (I think)
One thing that I'm a bit annoyed with, are screenshots. Although they are useful, I have to find a solution to limit their use! 🤔
Hi Everybody,
Like Rob, I took the dive into making a computer-based Inkscape course. The primary reason for writing it is to help myself learn Inkscape. I used to teach years ago and I created a lot of visual materials using Inkscape. Now that I no longer teach, I decided that I like Inkscape and its community so much that I want to say thank you for having created it.
I keep the tutorials simple in format, step-by-step, so if you need a break, sit back with a cup of hot sjokolade, maybe with some whipped cream on top to give you a white moustache (let's face it, we're special). Please feel free to use what I have put up to help the imagination stay well-ignited. The tutorials are at:
https://roy-torley.github.io/Inkscape_Tutorial/Inkscape_Tutorial_Contents.html
I wish you much success with your project. I think it's great. Best wishes, Roy
@Roy_Torley Hi Roy! Well done! I like that you used a lot of pictures, I cannot image my self making so many 🤣
This month I worked with Sigil for the .epub version and I continued with the organization of the Inkscape functions / tools.
Hi Rob,
Thank you for the kind words! The quantity of pictures is part of my style. If your results look close enough to mine, then you're doing well. It helps with the emotional security. Sometimes, results are just cool and neat to look at, and you can say, "Look, mom! I did this!" I hope you are having a good time writing. There are times when time evaporates away, and then I wake up to the fact that I'm hungry, or that my wife is hungry (I'm the cook). I wish you many good times doing great accomplishments, Roy