The Best Open Source Vector Graphics Programs

Vector graphics have become very common in todays industries. The ability to create an image once and then convert it to any size needed while preserving maximum quality is a real time saver. While Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW or standards for the vector graphics designer, they do not come cheap. Here is my list of the best open source vector graphics editors.

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Inkscape

Inkscape is by far the most popular and most used open source vector graphics program. It is also my personal choice!

Inkscape uses the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format and supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.) and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. It is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more.

Inkscape is easy to use and comes with several tutorials that teach the interface. It has an active community and many tutorials online. It is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.

The icons used by most open source Linux/Unix systems are done with Inkscape.

Inkscape is also used for designing websites.

Inkscape homepage - inkscape.org

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OpenOffice.org Draw

The popular open source office suite OpenOffice.org includes Draw, an easy to use vector graphics editor. While not as powerful a Inkscape, it is easier to use and can still handle big tasks.

It can handle many file formats and can also export pictures as flash .swf files.

OpenOffice.org homepage - openoffice.org

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KOffice Artwork

KDE's office suite KOffice includes Artwork, formerly known as Karbon-14. Artwork is comparable to OpenOffice.org Draw and has many of the same features. It has loading support for ODG, SVG, WPG, WMF, EPS/PS files and writing support for ODG, SVG, PNG, PDF, WMF files.

KOffice homepage - koffice.org

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Alchemy

Alchemy is a little different but a very neat graphics editor. It is made for creative or abstract design. The following is a quote from their website:

Alchemy is an open drawing project aimed at exploring how we can sketch, draw, and create on computers in new ways. Alchemy isn’t software for creating finished artwork, but rather a sketching environment that focuses on the absolute initial stage of the creation process. Experimental in nature, Alchemy lets you brainstorm visually to explore an expanded range of ideas and possibilities in a serendipitous way.

 It is a very nice program to fool around with and I enjoy using it.


Alchemy homepage - al.chemy.org

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Well that sums it up, please tell me about your favorite editor in the comments!