5 Things Inkscape Can Do That Illustrator Can't

[@Beryesa.]

6: Share its code 😎

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

6a. Modify or extend it if it doesn't do something you need/want it to do

[@softwarelivre2389]

6b. Recompile from source

[@XDRosenheim]

6c. You will own the software, and be happy.

[@Beryesa.]

6d: Contribute back and work together with your community. :)

[@softwarelivre2389]

@@Beryesa. 6e: LogosByNick Masterclass

[@sleepib]

One thing I'll mention is you shouldn't make barcodes red, as they need to still have contrast when illuminated by only red light(many barcode scanners use red LEDs or lasers). Yellow is problematic as well.

[@IceCrematorium]

Correct. As a barcode uses the dark lines to scan the spaces in-between those lines.

[@microcolonel]

Does that really matter? A lot of beverage cans have barcodes where the bars just pass through to the bare aluminium. I think barcode scanners rely on zero crossing/edges, not on specifically having the brighter part be the backdrop. I think UPC scanners will work as long as there is sufficient contrast (in the red spectrum of the emitter) between the background and foreground color/finish of the barcode.

[@sleepib]

​@@microcolonel The issue is using colors that look the same under monochromatic red light. The more contrast there is, the easier it is to scan. Using bare metal as one of the colors can work, but it's not as consistent as black and white because the brightness can change significantly depending on the angle you hold it. This can lead to the metal part reading both brighter and dimmer than the colored part at different parts of the scan.

[@microcolonel]

@@sleepib aluminium cans are a little bit rough, they are essentially retroreflective in the range of angles involved, and when this technique is used on soda cans, the barcode is oriented vertically (so that the scanner can scan the whole code on a single plane).
White and slightly deep red should have enough contrast to work with laser scanners.

[@sleepib]

@@microcolonel I have one of those in front of me, the printing is white, with the bare aluminum being used as the dark color. If the scanner is dead on, the direct reflection off the aluminum will cause a scan failure, but it works at an oblique angle.

[@appolity]

Damn, Inkscape has come a long way! When I first used it, I didn’t like it and stuck to illustrator. Looks like I’ll use Inkscape as a compliment to my work process

[@LogosByNick]

The great thing about already being an Illustrator user is that you don't have to choose. Inkscape is free so you can use them both, which is what I do personally.

[@ithamarlowe6158]

I’ve used Inkscape on and off, it’s good to have an alternative and the good thing is that the improvements are made almost yearly now or every few months.

[@UpUpDnDnLtRtLtRtBAStart]

I literally said the same thing just now.

[@hasibmahadi8858]

Inkscape filters are a unique feature that illustrator doesn't have and it's very powerful feature if you how to use them.😊

[@hipflipped]

Many Path effects are also exclusive to Inkscape.

[@murdakajhonta]

explain more?

[@ynnebbenny]

Hey Nick, I am a chronic RUclips watcher. I probably watch 30 videos per evening.
I just gotta say you are by far the cheeriest and most lovable presenter on RUclips. You videos are direct to point with no fluff, but better to that, you make me smile at your presentations. I just love everything about you. Well done you !!! Oh and thank you!!

[@ekids.bassment]

The best Inkscape youtube channel, keep rocking Nick

[@yvanvan3729]

We all now know everything that the next versions of illustrator will integrate...
Inkscape is such a great software.
Your channel is amazing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@androidfarmer8863]

Adobe users wish the development happened that quickly. I think it would take a seismic industry even to cause Adobe to adapt much that's actually useful to most users so quickly. There isn't much incentive for them to do so.

[@LeatherHubPatterns]

I'm an Inkscape zealot for 10 years and today I learned a lot of new things. Thanks!

[@chuksniky]

If there's anything I've loved about inkscape more than illustrator for a long time, it's the colour wheel always available ❤❤❤

[@chuksniky]

@@TheGameMakeGuy yes we can but Adobe's colour wheel is to recolour artworks. If underneath the colour tab we could choose to change the colour bar to a colour wheel, it would be interesting

[@Pixelgun]

While Inkscape has the clear advantage, it's totally possible to make isometric grids in Illustrator. If you know how to use Transform it can also be fairly quick. You can create your own guides out of lines, shapes, grids etc. For an iso grid you might start by drawing a straight line using the line tool, use Transform>Rotate to rotate it 60º, use Transform>Move to move and copy the line a specific distance, and then just hit Command or Control D to duplicate it as many times as you need. Then repeat the process for other axes of the grid. Once you build your grids you then select them and choose Make Guides from the Views>Guides menu. Your grid will turn into those cyan colored guide lines that you can snap to as you normally would.

[@lemonline3719]

Sounds like a lot of work! 😪😮‍💨

[@funlabsdesignstudio]

I can definitely see how useful the Cloning could be greatly beneficial and not just for pattern making either! Thanks Nick!!! 👍🏼

[@guigazalu]

An example I faced some days ago: drawing a traffic light.
1. draw the base
2. draw one light and some details, and then set all colours as "unset"
3. make 3 clones, and set their locations and positions.
4. adjust the original light's size, which automatically changes the clones sizes as well.

[@rajendrameena150]

Please add a series about explaining different useful extensions.

[@victorwestmann]

That would be really interesting!

[@lummsmusik3219]

I also would be interested

[@lawmc7619]

Inkscape is the future. I sm going to download all your RUclips Tutorials on Inkscspe and stick with you. Not to sound rude but most guys on RUclips cant tutor, teach and demonstrate as you do

[@Qexilber]

You continue to blow my mind with every other video I am watching from your channel. I have never even considered there being such an option for costum fonts or some of the other functions you have showed here despite surely having seen their names and tabs in Inkscape before.

[@chriss.6787]

Very interesting to see this comparison. I would have expected a few features in a program like Illustrator that surprisingly aren't there. I also like your disclaimer that no program is "the best", it's all about the choice of tool for the problem at hand.

[@hipflipped]

You don't even have to create a custom folder for fonts.
Next to the "USER FONTS" directory on the systems page, click "Open" icon to open the pre-existing custom font folder and then simply drag your custom font files to that folder.

[@raulnavarrete8776]

switched away from adobe all together and could not be happier I did, thanks for all the great tutorials

[@avdp76]

Thanks Nick, that is some awesome stuff!

[@francescopenasa5916]

Inkscape is beautiful and does things Illustrator doesn't do (...and honestly illustrator does things Inkscape doesn't do too...), but I think for now the biggest difference between the two software is stability. Unfortunately there is still no history and the game is unequal, but if development continues at this rate the future will be bright!

[@madzoo4399]

Great point!, great point! ... thank you for share! From your Brazilian friend!

[@victorwestmann]

Nick, if you Ctrl + A and then hit 3 on the keyboard you wont have to zoom in to the selected object on te screen. Give it a try! ❤

[@doctormo]

Also hold down q

[@Mariam-Mina]

Thank you Nick!! Can you plz do tutorial explaining reapply transformation (Ctrl+Alt+T) then (Ctrl+Alt+D) and examples how this function can be useful. Thanks heaps

[@qunas101]

QR-code in a vector form is actually really cool. You can set the error correction a bit higher and make a custom design on your QR-code

[@arale1402]

Just deleted my question as your comment has answered it. Thanks 😊

[@alexhetherington8028]

A custom design on QR code that is absolutely brilliant. Going to try that for my products

[@beer1for2break3fast4]

Knowing nothing about how these codes work can you explain what you mean? Are you saying you can create those codes in any shape?

[@qunas101]

@@beer1for2break3fast4 no, it still has to be square, but with enough error correction you can obstruct some of it's parts with your design/logo/etc.

[@qunas101]

@@beer1for2break3fast4 I think you can also change the shape of individual pixels, make round corners or something. That's pretty much my understanding

[@altrogeruvah]

Another excellent video on Inkscape, thank you!

[@neontuts5637]

Thanks for sharing Nick. Most of the features you showed in this video are new to me.

[@TheSillybits]

I am absolutely delighted by your video’s, they are very clear, to the point, cheerful and keep me focused until the end. Thank you so much because I am convinced now leaving commercial software behind.

[@geoffphil]

Excellent video thanks Nick. I think your QR code had small squares with slightly rounded corners. You can set sharp corners or the degree of rounding in the QR code settings. (I prefer sharp squares.)

[@ShadowSliph]

Those appear to be the defaults, which are probably fine for most people, unless you plan on printing it using an ink or surface that behaves differently than expected.
I took a screenshot of it on my phone, zoomed in a little by cropping, and the photos app had no problem recognising or decoding it. From memory the QR code spec includes quite robust error correction, due to the nature of its expected use.

[@erik-benz]

This is magic. Thank you Nick. Its actually a really fight between ink. & Illu. The Winner is ???

[@productivitybydesign9368]

Thanks Nic everything I know about Inkscape I have learned from your videos and I love it

[@KevinCastillo-hh1fn]

awesome video! the qr and barcode function are great!. would love to see part 2 of this ;)

[@joeynelson1609]

There is indeed, no tool panel or palette to create and adjust an isometric grid in Illustrator. However, you can, in fact, still create one in illustrator and set the angles you want. It takes a little setup at first but can be automated using the actions palette and used and adjusted for future projects.

[@ShadowSliph]

Oooor you could just use the built in one in Inkscape and get on with your day 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@apatsa_basiteni]

Amazing stuff. This Inkscape is a beast!

[@andrewpullins8817]

How have I not come across the grid and circles options in the align and distribute menu? 😮 I had no idea that was there.

[@alexhetherington8028]

I noticed them but didn't know what they did. Now thanks to this video my mind is blown yet again

[@andrewpullins8817]

@@alexhetherington8028 oh it's so helpful. I have manually duplicated things around a circle and into a grid so many times 🤯

[@TheEx404]

Thanks Nick for demonstrate in this video and great job to the Inkscape team for bringing this features...❤😊

[@ondrejprinda]

I have learned some much new things, thanks Nick!

[@thingsiplay]

BTW please create a Mastodon account too. I share your video, but wish you was on that platform.

[@FlickDeep]

Didn't know these features!

[@spriggantine]

Thank you so much for these tutorials, I can't wait to use these features!

[@flowupdesign]

you should use the perspective tool in illustrator. it creates a customizable axo/2point perspective grid within the tool

[@柯禮安G]

Tiled clones is great!

[@ReddishKorppi]

Great to know all of this. Thanks

[@soul.rebel1986]

Awesome as always!

[@CKDesigner2525]

As I said to my friend, it's not necessary to have a brand or paid products to become a true artist or designer. My best two parts were the cloning part the render part. Thanks Nick!

[@ShafaqIftikhar-pw9ld]

Alway top tutorials!!!! Thankyou for the upload

[@jeremiahbullfrog9288]

Inkscape grids are awesome, i wish gimp and blender had this much flexibility. Looking forward to radial grids, logarithmic grids, etc some day... sky's the limit

[@Epinardscaramel]

6:04 I hadn’t even noticed the “gird” and “circular” tabs of the align tool 😮

[@user-ds5hp8fc6v]

That is so cool, Nick! Thanks for making this video. I love Inkscape, but it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of brush options compared to Illustrator's brushes. Do you think there's a workaround?

[@dffeqq]

I prefer to use a combination of Affinity for illustration and Inkscape for finishing touches when creating something drawn vs pen tool or shapes. Hope this helps!

[@doctormo]

I would use Krita for a brush focused art tool. Though I wish we had more brush work in Inkscape, my sponsors (who pay for me to work on Inkscape) have so far never asked me to improve it. Though I think some other devs were looking into the slow response times of the calligraphy tool at least.

[@fanialivio2522]

great video!

[@Poundy]

I love your content. This one is a great one as well. Thanks for keeping producing these !

[@barkingbandicoot]

Go Inkscape! Thanks Nick!

[@柯禮安G]

The QR code generator is great too!

[@haresheranga]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@srobson8875]

Thank you...I learn SO much from you.😊

[@LMC-jk2yp]

Great video! Thank you, Nick!

[@AnimalsMatterMorally]

Great tutorial, thank you!

[@lajawi.]

The only problem with Inkscape I've noticed, is it's performance (on Windows at least). Often it responds in weird and slow ways, sometimes even crashing, especially with somewhat bigger projects...

[@syedahmadali4352]

Very useful tricks.. thanks a lot

[@Ken10001000]

Another great. Ideo.
Inkscape I'd free and allows you NOT to be on an endless "rent" (payment) cycle such as with Illudtrator. Comparisons between software tools will always show slight or major differences because they are two different set of tools.inform Inscaoe developers of your desired needs and are how they move along to implement them. I do not hear the same fromIlly folks. Main thing is create and explore and use ... draw freely . . to express yourself. Thanks, Nick.

[@mekaclaude]

Amazing tips !

[@behramcooper3691]

Thanks for this video Nick. If only Inkscape had better bevels and other 3D options, I would not use any other design software. It is just that in my designing, I use a lot of bevels.

[@testtest-bb2dt]

Did you check the 'Corners' LPE?

[@PASHKULI]

'Gradient mesh' is the feature in Illustrator that sets it apart and above any competition.

[@ricnyc2759]

Inkscape has it.

[@hipflipped]

I use the inkscape gradient mesh all the time.

[@invaderzim1964]

Many QR codes I see have custom logos in the center. Can Inkscape create these kinds of QR's as well?

[@MrMoon-hy6pn]

QR codes have error correction built-in just in case it gets scratched or something. So as far as I know you should just be able to draw over it as long as the custom design doesn’t cover too much area and you up the error correction level.

[@MAHWL]

I need to download the latest version! I've been learning snd using inkscape more often lately and looking for ways to create qr codes! Do you know if the qr codes are dynamic or not?

[@Efraim28]

Could you start a tutorial on using scribus?

[@riel4553]

Scribus is great, but everytime I touch it it feels like I have to re-learn everything.
It does get along great with Inkscape.

[@Efraim28]

@@riel4553 yeah I just can't figure out how to actually use it properly

[@riel4553]

@@Efraim28 Try editing a PDF for practice.
I've used it to do translations/replicas of user's manuals (Eng > Spa) for personal use. Some illustrations were "extracted" thru Inkscape, for others I had to trace them.
Scribus' only weakness is tables: even the tutorials say 'nah, make it in Excel or something then import it'.
The trick is to have all your elements pre-made and only use Scribus to organize everything.

[@Efraim28]

@@riel4553 ok thanks I'll let u know how it goes

[@clintquasar]

Now bring us Part II 🤤

[@benzakonium]

Illustrator can do Repeat Grids which are similar to tiling.

[@MarinaArtDesign]

Can you combine rotation and trace cloning? I want to create halftone 05:37 but using dots that are placed isometrically. Not sure how to achieve that with a single dot.

[@ahmadsyaoqi1034]

how to change the stroke permanently?

[@IronMan-yg4qw]

i am trying to install a living hinge extension with no luck. can you tell me how to do this? i tried everything i can think of.

[@ddade11]

You should change the name to "5 Things I feel Inkscape does better than Illustrator". While I agree the interface feels modern and easier to use than Illustrator, very few of these (barcodes needs a plugin download) that are not in Illustrator. For example, radial repeat under Object>Repeat>Radial (or grid, or mirror) in the Illustrator top menu allows you to do everything you showed in Inkscape. In fact, Illustrator only needs one triangle to start the repeat and then allows the user to modify the number, rotation, etc. as they see fit.
I think the main difference is Inkscape is making these tools less opaque than Illustrator. I absolutely applaud the dev teams at Inkscape for doing this. Illustrator needs to modernize and simplify. Inkscape presents their tools to the user much better. That is how you should present these videos. I would agree with you under that presentation.

[@miguellimon8197]

I have a question. Is there a way to put subsequent numbers? Like for lottery tickets. Only Coreldraw has that feature?

[@nathanielalderson9111]

Illustrators only boon is native integration into Abode suite.

[@banjo6685]

Inkscape is a wonderful program, the best part is that's free.

[@CCoburn3]

There's ONE thing that Adobe Illustrator can do that Inkscape won't -- and never will. That's bankrupt you by charging a monthly rental fee.

[@doctormo]

You might bankrupt yourself funding my Inkscape development work, but please don't. Pay for work to be done on open source code, don't pay over and over for the same work that was done in the past.

[@CCoburn3]

@@doctormo Exactly. Why not pay for progress instead of paying over and over again for software that remains the same? You've hit the nail on the head.

[@lionelkamuzu5150]

😂😅😂😅 amen

[@ThisFinalHandle]

I can think of one thing Illustrator has that Inkscape doesn't. A monthly bill holding the user hostage in Adobes "industry standard" bubble.

[@cjshortsnsnips]

I understand that but some people drop 3 or 4k in car rims and 80k for trucks so 59/monthly subscription is not that bad. Think about it

[@androidfarmer8863]

I suspect that if InDesign weren't needed for a lot of relatively complex longer-form docs, many would abandon Adobe altogether. I probably would.
Adobe has stopped improving existing software in a meaningful way, leaving huge gaps which have existed for many years - while purchasing companies but still not allowing users to create an a-la-carte suite.
Inkscape may not be "better" than Illustrator - I honestly don't know - but NOT being a part of Adobe certainly gives it bonus points.

[@Krishanjot]

How i make interface like your screen inkscape

[@mikeprice820]

perspective grid tool in illustrator.

[@dougrodrigues]

Can i save and open .AI files in inkscape?

[@KushCreates]

Nope, but you can export AI files as SVG files and then use them in inkscape

[@LogosByNick]

Inkscape can open .AI files but any Illustrator-specific features won't transfer. Plain vector paths work just fine though. As for saving as .AI, there's no need to. Inkscape SVGs open just fine in Illustrator. I do it all the time.

[@doctormo]

The AI import project is still ongoing. It is targeting Inkscape 1.4, so you should be able to preserve much more of the document than the hack we currently use to pull out the PDF from the ai file format.

[@tomr.6107]

Illustrator does have isometric grid tho.. just hit ctrl+shift+i and it will open up. I’ve opened it up by mistake about a 100 times 😂

[@tomr.6107]

Ohh I guess it’s a “perspective “ grid

[@elloh77]

when you work in print production, you can tell inkscape sourced art from illustrator sourced art. illustrator pdfs are often trash if the user doesn't understand the print / production processes involved. Inkscape pdfs on the otherhand, are *always* trash, no matter what.
inkscape also has pisspoor color management. So that's two things that inkscape cannot (easily) do (well) that illustrator doesn't sweat over.
If you're a professional, illustrator is (mostly) worth the cost.

[@doctormo]

I guarantee the PDFs are going to be trash from Inkscape today. They're being rendered by Cairo, in sRGB, with no color management. In fact all the color management is stripped out when saving, so you end up with the silly situation of a color managed SVG that no one else can read and an sRGB PDF that's as you say... trash.
But my work this year is to fix that.

[@JV-pu8kx]

Now, compare CorelDraw!. Does Inkscape give barcodes the correct font? I know CorelDraw!'s barcode generator does. (It only generated 1-D barcodes.)

[@subirdas0]

Woah !!

[@merthyr1831]

The newest version of inkscape has, to me, made it much harder to stick to illustrator. It needs a UX overhaul honestly though!

[@doctormo]

Of you were to fix one small part of the UX today, what would you start with?

[@inksight]

❤

[@LORDSofCHAOS333]

aw damn

[@user-mr5pu8zg2m]

Kind of funny, all the new things Inkscape can do, was possible with CAD a very long time ago, I have done many designs on fusion360 and used the render tool for the past 10 years, so after I do the Designing in CAD, I export to Photo Shop and add all the arty stuff.

[@brodriguez11000]

CAD underlies a lot of software. e.g. CC3+, etc, but needs to be usable for those not born under the sign of the drafting table.

[@PASHKULI]

Inkscape 1.3 64bit does not open up on my Windows 10 Pro 64bit machine. Never ever happened in he last 15 years!

[@brain_respect_and_freedom]

👍

[@MikeNugget]

Furthermore, Inkscape can export A4 pdf file with much smaller size than Illustrator.

[@GraphicDesignStudio]

now Inkscape is more powerful.

[@theophylndz]

Just the filter tool alone in inkscape defeats illustrator to me😂

[@alovera8592]

INKSCAPE IS BETTERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! HARD R

[@KuraKurd96]

🌹🌹🌹

[@lummsmusik3219]

Meanwhile Inkscape is impressively powerful and I often use it for isometric Illustrations to show relations in complex environments. I never thought Illustrator can’t do isometric grid 🤣🤣🤣

[@M0DFATH3R]

you would think there were some ex adobe employees, that worked on this and made it better

[@bazwillrun]

Too many people still convince themselves they need to use Adobe....

[@creatiw]

There is a much better ways to create isometric grids in illustrator than the example shown here. Anything can be turned into a grid. But I agree it's much easier to do it through a dedicated menu

[@desnou]

You have one in Illustrator too - Construction Guides in preferences. Just set the angles and turn Smart Guide on.

[@LV4EVR]

🔢Inkscape + Affinity + DaVinci Resolve = No Adobe Software *RENTAL* Ever Again 😁

[@guitarbrad]

Affinity is still vector tho right? Its also pay; Inkscape is free. If you want free raster image software get GIMP with the G'Mic plugin. Those along with Resolve (or a dozen other free editors) will give you a complete free editing package.
Adobe thought it'd be good idea for users to rent their software - only if they are top level users. The free & open source apps are becoming just as good!

[@dakara4877]

@@guitarbrad Affinity might as well be free. One payment. They have only charged once for upgrade in over 7 years. It is far better than free as far as performance and professional interface. Also combines vector, raster and desktop publishing all on multiple platforms and devices.

[@LV4EVR]

@@guitarbrad I'm not against *buying* software-I don't work for free, nor do I expect others to. I *am* against *renting* software as Adobe requires. Once you stop paying, you can no longer edit, natively, your own files ... your creative work is held hostage. Prior to switching to the *rental model* I was very involved in the Adobe community, heavily promoted their products, and was responsible for Adobe receiving a significant amount of money through regular updates for a Fortune 500 company.
Regarding Affinity, no, it is definitely not vector only. The Affinity suite (Designer, Publisher and Photo) all have advanced raster creation/editing capabilities, unlike the Adobe suite. Though there are some serious shortcomings with Affinity, hence my "supplementing" here. However, you are never forced into perpetual *rental* expense or even purchasing future version upgrades. Despite it's limitations, it is a very powerful set of apps, and one that I happily support in the community-and with my money. If/when they add the features they're missing, Adobe will truly have something to be concerned about.
As for GIMP, I've never been too thrilled using it, though I know it is very capable. Not familiar with the G'Mic plugin, but at first glance it looks interesting, but I don't think it would benefit my particular needs.

[@alternatuber6698]

Blender surpassed Maya,
Inkscape and GIMP will surpass competitors as well.
I belive!

[@iamlinux]

For inkscape yes, for gimp I'm not sure

[@qunas101]

@@iamlinux there's hope for the 3.0 release

[@rajendrameena150]

Actually blender doesn't surpass Maya but I will say now for 3d animation work blender is fully capable to complete projects even Disney now hires blender artists.
If inkscape and gimp integrate anyhow with blender then they will gain compounded growth. I think community is already doing great in those areas.