I’ve found an easier way to do offsets (shadow layers, mats) in Inkscape, using my old friend the Paint Bucket Tool. Video and written steps included.
Text Warp in Inkscape
If you’ve not yet discovered the Bezier Envelope Extension for Inkscape, a treat awaits you. Here’s a video and written instructions on how to create great shaped text with this cool and easy tool.
Stencilizer: a shortcut for diecutters
My latest web app crush is squarely on Stencilizer, a cool online tool for automatically posterizing, smoothing, vectorizing and color separating photo input. Upload an optimized (clear, close up, cropped, background removed, high contrast) image and Stencilizer first presents you with 9 choices in various brightness levels and number of colors.
How to sketch a photo with your diecutter
Ever wished you could sketch a photo with a pen in your diecutter? Well, I found a way, if you’ve got enough patience. The general steps are as follows: simplify photo, posterize photo, vectorize posterized photo, hatch fill each section with density corresponding to color, randomize the hatching, save as svg, send to cutter.
How to trace using transparency in Inkscape
Ever wonder how to autotrace those hard to handle .pngs with light colors against a transparent background.
Cricut software comparison chart update
IMPORTANT UPDATE: As of March 14, 2011, MTC no longer supports Cricut. With new official releases of SureCutsALot and MakeTheCut finalized in the last few days, I have been busy updating my comparison chart.
Inkscape paint bucket basics video
Here’s the video I should have done first, showing how to tame the Inkscape paint bucket tool.
Video: Make a font in Inkscape
By popular demand, a video on how to create your own TrueType font with Inkscape. Written instructions, files and more information here.
Character map templates for Inkscape and Illustrator
Back in the day, there was a great free program for the Mac called TypeBook, which I used to print specimen sheets and character maps for my fonts. Unfortunately, it didn’t make the leap to OS X.
Make a dingbat font with Inkscape
Buried in Inkscape .47 is the ability to make your own SVG fonts.