Inkscape is an open source drawing tool that uses the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) scalable vector graphics format (SVG). Some supported SVG features include basic shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, and grouping. In addition, Inkscape supports Creative Commons’ metadata, node-editing, layers, complex path operations, text-on-path, text-in-shape, and SVG XML editing. It also imports several formats like EPS, PostScript, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.
To install Inkscape 0.48.1 open a Terminal window (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal) And copy+paste the following lines:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ricotz/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install inkscape
When installed you can find Inkscape under Applications -> Graphics -> Inkscape Vector Graphics Editor.
Inkscape Homepage
Many small regressions in the node tool were fixed. Here are some examples:
Shift will turn off snapping in the node tool. Bug #588628
Duplication of nodes in the node tool using Shift+D works again. Bug #555449
Changing all selected segments into straight lines in the node tool using Shift+L works again. Bug #532905
Changing the type of nodes to cusp will retract their handles only if all selected nodes are already cusp. This improves usability when working with selections that contain both cusp and smooth nodes.
Important bugfixes
Exporting of masks has been substantially improved in all Cairo-based output formats.
Several crash bugs in the node tool have been fixed. Bug #544599, Bug #591986, Bug #605575
Rulers are redrawn properly with recent versions of GTK. Bug #627134
Unlinking an orphaned clone no longer causes a crash. Bug #675309
Problems with extensions sometimes not working at all on Mac OS X have been fixed. Bug #482993
Inkscape should no longer crash due to missing icons at startup or when opening the document properties dialog. Bug #658055, Bug #651678
Shift-clicking on the top rounding handle of a rectangle will no longer cause a crash. Bug #680520
Inkscape builds correctly with recent versions of Poppler. Bug #676271