Illustration With Inkscape: Creating a Mouse Illustration

In this tutorial we will learn how to create the above mouse vector graphic using Inkscape. The purpose of this tutorial is to give you a handle on the tools available within Inkscape, and to familiarize you with the technique of creating illustrations from pictures.

Let's take a look at some definitions:

Vector Graphic

An image created using geometric shapes and modified lines. This type of image is reproduced exactly at any size, it has infinite resolution. This is due to the image being, essentially, made up of formulas for shapes and lines - these formulas don't degrade. Vector graphics are used in print materials (where its important that the printed image will look as it does on the screen), they are also used for simple illustrations.

Inkscape

Inkscape is a free application for creating vector graphics. It expots them in the SVG format, which is a standard for vector graphics on the web. SVG files are actually XML files, and you can edit them with a text editor.

Setting Up the Picture

First, download a JPEG picture of our mouse from this site. This is a copyright free picture from gimp-savvy.com/PHOTO-ARCHIVE/.

Then, open up the Inkscape program and import the mouse picture by going to FILE->IMPORT and selecting the picture from the file list. Below is a picture of what your work area looks like - its formatted as a standard page by default (for printing), but we can change the size later.

Go to the top bar, it contains small icons that you can use to modify your shapes and lines. Press the small mouse picture, and then press the "zoom to fit selection in window" icon to focus your work area on the selected picture. You should increase the size of the mouse picture before zooming in on it. You can resize an object by pressing on it, and dragging the "resize arrows" that appear around it.

You need to logically divide the components of the illustration into Layers, at first glance its difficult to see the list of layers, it is at the bottom. Name the current layer "picture" by going to LAYER->RENAME LAYER and entering that name. Next, add a layer for the mouse's outline, go to LAYER->ADD LAYER, name it "outline".