L1 RESOURCE –

GET INTO SHAPES

VECTOR GRAPHICS
SETUP: PART 1

These instructions will guide you through creating and saving a new .svg file
in Inkscape, as well as zooming in and out of your canvas.

The latest version of Inkscape was used at the time of creating this resource
(Inkscape 0.92). Note that there may be differences between versions.

Task 1: Create a new .svg file

Steps Instructions

1.Run Inkscape (vector graphic

editing program).
2. Save a new .svg file.
Use the menu: File ▷ Save AS
Choose your Vector Graphics folder.
Enter a suitable file name for your
new .svg file.
Make sure you set the type to
‘Inkscape SVG (*.svg)’.
To finish, click the Save button.
SETUP: PART 2
Task 2: Zoom in and out
Steps
Zoom in and out on the canvas.
Zooming in and out is something that
you will need to do very often when
working with vector graphics.
Instructions
There are several ways to zoom in
and out using Inkscape.
Method 1:
Click on the middle mouse button
(mouse wheel) to zoom in. Hold the
Shift key and click the middle mouse
button to zoom out.
Method 2:
Hold the Shift key and press the ‘+’
key to zoom in. Hold the Shift key
and press the ‘-’ key to zoom out.
Method 3
Use the Zoom tool:
Click on the Zoom tool then click on
the canvas to zoom in.
Click on the Zoom tool then hold the
Shift key and right click on the
canvas to zoom out.
Method 4
Use the menus: View ▷ Zoom
in/Zoom out
CREATE AND MANIPULATE RECTANGLES AND
SQUARES: PART 1

These instructions will guide you through creating and manipulating shapes
in Inkscape, including altering the fill, stroke, and any shape-specific
attributes.

The latest version of Inkscape was used at the time of creating this resource
(Inkscape 0.92). Note that there may be differences between versions.

Task 1: Create a new rectangle/square

Steps Instructions

1. Drag a rectangle/square shape Select the rectangle/square tool

onto the canvas. from the tool bar on the left side of
the screen (the square icon).

Click and hold the left mouse button

on the canvas.

Drag the mouse to draw a

rectangle/square to the required
size.

Release the left mouse button to

finish drawing your
rectangle/square.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE RECTANGLES AND
SQUARES: PART 2
Task 2: Alter the fill of a rectangle/square
Steps
1. Select the rectangle/square you
wish to alter.
2. Select the required fill colour.
Instructions
Select the selection tool from the tool
bar on the left side of the screen
(the black arrow icon).
Click on the required
rectangle/square to select it.
Black double-ended arrows will
appear around the selected
rectangle/square.
Click on the fill tab from the fill and
stroke window on the right side of the
screen.
Choose a paint type by clicking on
one of the options shown as squares.
Options include: No paint, Flat color,
Linear gradient, Radial gradient,
Pattern, Unset paint. Use flat colour
for now.
Below the text that reads ‘flat colour’,
select the wheel option.
Select a colour from the outer wheel.
Select the required tone from the
centre triangle.
Tip:
You can also choose a fill colour for a
selected shape using the bar at the
bottom of the page.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE RECTANGLES AND
SQUARES: PART 3
Task 3: Alter the stroke of a rectangle/square
Steps
1. Select the rectangle/square you
wish to alter.
2. Select the required stroke colour.
Instructions
Select the selection tool from the tool
bar on the left side of the screen
(the black arrow icon).
Click on the required
rectangle/square to select it.
Black double-ended arrows will
appear around the selected
rectangle/square.
Click on the stroke paint tab from the
fill and stroke window on the right
side of the screen.
Choose a paint type by clicking on
one of the options shown as squares.
Options include: No paint, Flat color,
Linear gradient, Radial gradient,
Pattern, Unset paint. Use flat colour
for now.
Below the text that reads ‘flat colour’,
select the wheel option.
Select a colour from the outer wheel.
Select the required tone from the
centre triangle.
Tip:
You can also choose a stroke colour
for a selected shape using the bar at
the bottom of the page, once a paint
type has been selected.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE RECTANGLES AND
SQUARES: PART 4
Task 3 Continued
Steps
3. Select the required stroke style.
Instructions
Click on the stroke style tab from the
fill and stroke window on the right
side of the screen.
Change the width to the required
size.
Select a suitable dash pattern.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE RECTANGLES AND
SQUARES: PART 5

Task 4: Alter the height and width of a rectangle/square

Steps Instructions

1. Select the rectangle/square you

wish to alter.
2. Select the rectangle/square tool Select the rectangle/square tool from
the tool bar on the left side of the
screen (the square icon).

White nodes will appear on the top

left, top right, and bottom right
corners of the selected
rectangle/square.

3. Alter the height and width of a There are two ways to alter the
rectangle/square. height and width of a
rectangle/square.

Method 1:
Click and drag the nodes in the top
left or bottom right corner of the
selected rectangle/square.

Method 2:
To alter the height and width more
accurately, change the W: (width)
dimension and the H: (height)
dimension at the top of the screen by
using the up and down arrows or
entering the required height and
width.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE RECTANGLES AND
SQUARES: PART 6

Task 5: Add rounded corners a rectangle/square

Steps Instructions

1. Select the rectangle/square you

wish to alter.
2. Select the rectangle/square tool Select the rectangle/square tool from
the tool bar on the left side of the
screen (the square icon).

White nodes will appear on the top

left, top right, and bottom right
corners of the selected
rectangle/square.

3. Add rounded corners to your There are two ways to add rounded
rectangle/square. corners to a rectangle/square.

Method 1:
Click and drag the vertical and
horizontal radius nodes in the top
right corner of the selected
rectangle/square. These nodes alter
the Rx: (horizontal radius) and Ry:
(vertical radius) of the ellipse.

Method 2:
To alter the vertical and horizontal
radius nodes more accurately, change
the Rx: (horizontal radius) and Ry:
(vertical radius) dimensions at the top
of the screen by using the up and
down arrows or entering the required
height and width.

NOW COMPLETE TASKS 1 AND 2 IN YOUR

L1 WORKSHEET – GET INTO SHAPES
CREATE AND MANIPULATE ELLIPSES: PART 1

Task 1: Create an ellipse

Steps Instructions

1. Drag an ellipse shape onto the Select the ellipse tool from the tool
canvas. bar on the left side of the screen
(the circle/ellipse icon).

Click and hold the left mouse button

on the canvas.

Drag the mouse to draw an ellipse

to the required size.

Release the left mouse button to

finish drawing your ellipse.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE ELLIPSES: PART 2

Task 2: Alter the fill of an ellipse

Steps Instructions

1. Select the ellipse you wish to alter. Select the selection tool from the tool
bar on the left side of the screen (the
black arrow icon).

Click on the required ellipse to select

it.

Black double-ended arrows will

appear around the selected ellipse.
2. Select the required fill colour. Click on the fill tab from the fill and
stroke window on the right side of the
screen.

Choose a paint type by clicking on

one of the options shown as squares.
Options include: No paint, Flat color,
Linear gradient, Radial gradient,
Pattern, Unset paint. Use flat colour
for now.

Below the text that reads ‘flat colour’,

select the wheel option.

Select a colour from the outer wheel.

Select the required tone from the

centre triangle.

Tip:
You can also choose a fill colour for a
selected shape using the bar at the
bottom of the page.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE ELLIPSES: PART 3
Task 3: Alter the stroke of an ellipse
Steps
1. Select the ellipse you wish to alter.
2. Select the required stroke colour.
3. Select the required stroke style.
Instructions
Click on the stroke paint tab from the
fill and stroke window on the right
side of the screen.
Choose a paint type by clicking on
one of the options shown as squares.
Options include: No paint, Flat color,
Linear gradient, Radial gradient,
Pattern, Unset paint. Use flat colour
for now.
Below the text that reads ‘flat colour’,
select the wheel option.
Select a colour from the outer wheel.
Select the required tone from the
centre triangle.
Tip:
You can also choose a stroke colour
for a selected shape using the bar at
the bottom of the page, once a paint
type has been selected.
Click on the stroke style tab from the
fill and stroke window on the right
side of the screen.
Change the width to the required
size.
Select a suitable dash pattern.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE ELLIPSES: PART 4

Task 4: Alter the height and width of an ellipse

Steps Instructions

1. Select the ellipse you wish to

alter.
2. Select the ellipse tool
Select the ellipse tool from the tool
bar on the left side of the screen (the
circle/ellipse icon).

White nodes will appear at the top,

left side, and right side of the
selected ellipse.

3. Alter the height and width of an There are two ways to alter the
ellipse. height and width of an ellipse.

Method 1:
Click and drag either of the nodes on
the left side or top of the ellipse.
These nodes alter the Rx: (horizontal
radius) and Ry: (vertical radius) of the
ellipse.

Method 2:
To alter the height and width nodes
more accurately, change the Rx:
(horizontal radius) and Ry: (vertical
radius) dimensions at the top of the
screen by using the up and down
arrows or entering the required
height and width.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE ELLIPSES: PART 5

Task 5: Create a segment

Steps Instructions

1. Select the ellipse you wish to

alter.
2. Select the ellipse tool

3. Change your ellipse to a segment. There are two ways to create a

segment.

Method 1:
Click and drag the node on the right
side of the selected ellipse. As the
ellipse changes to a segment, another
node appears. These nodes alter the
Start: and End: angles of the ellipse.

Method 2:
To alter the start and end angles
more accurately, change the start and
end angles at the top of the screen
by using the up and down arrows or
entering the required start and end
angle.

Tip: You can quickly switch between

segments, arcs, and ellipses using the
blue icons to the right of the end
angle.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE ELLIPSES: PART 6
Task 6: Create an arc
Steps Instructions

1. Create a segment. See page 14 for instructions on

creating a segment.
2. Switch to an arc.

Click on the ‘switch to arc’ icon.

The missing segment will close up, but

the nodes will remain.

3. Alter the start and end of an arc. There are two ways to alter the start
and end of an arc.

Method 1:
Click and drag the nodes on the right
side of the selected arc. These nodes
alter the Start: and End: angles of the
arc.

Method 2:
To alter the start and end angles
more accurately, change the start and
end angles at the top of the screen
by using the up and down arrows or
entering the required start and end
angle.

Tip:
You can quickly switch between
segments, arcs, and ellipses using the
blue icons to the right of the end
angle.
NOW COMPLETE TASKS 3 AND 4 IN YOUR
L1 WORKSHEET – GET INTO SHAPES
CREATE AND MANIPULATE POLYGONS: PART 1

Task 1: Create a polygon

Steps Instructions

1. Drag an polygon shape onto the Select the star/polygon tool from the
canvas. toolbar on the left side of the screen
(the star/polygon icon).

Select the polygon icon at the top of

the screen. The shape-specific
attributes for polygons will appear.

Click and hold the left mouse button

on the canvas.

Drag the mouse to draw a polygon to

the required size.

Release the left mouse button to finish

drawing your polygon.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE POLYGONS: PART 2

Task 2: Alter the fill of a polygon

Steps Instructions

1. Select the polygon you wish to

alter.
See page 5 if you need a reminder
2. Select the required fill colour.

Task 3: Alter the stroke of a polygon

Steps Instructions
1. Select the polygon you wish to
alter.
2. Select the required stroke colour. See page 6 if you need a reminder

3. Select the required stroke style.

CREATE AND MANIPULATE POLYGONS: PART 3

Task 4: Alter the height and width of a polygon

Steps Instructions
1. Select the polygon you wish to
See page 8 if you need a reminder
alter.
2. Alter the height and width of a Here are two ways to alter the height
polygon. and width of a polygon.

Method 1:
Click and drag any one of the double
arrows around the outside of the
polygon. These double arrows alter
the W: (width) and H: (height) of the
polygon.

Method 2:
To alter the height and width more
accurately, change the W: (width) and
H: (height) dimensions at the top of
the screen by using the up and down
arrows or entering the required
height and width.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE POLYGONS: PART 4
Task 5: Alter the number of corners for a polygon
Steps Instructions

1. Select the polygon you wish to

alter. See page 8 if you need a reminder.

2. Select the polygon tool Select the star/polygon tool from the
toolbar on the left side of the screen
(the star/polygon icon).

One white node will appear on one

of the corners of the polygon.

Tip:
You can use the node to change the
size or rotate the polygon.
3. Change the number of corners of a
polygon.

To alter the number of corners of a

polygon, change the Corners: value
at the top of the screen by using the
up and down arrows or entering the
required number of corners.
CREATE AND MANIPULATE POLYGONS: PART 5
Task 6: Alter the sharpness of a polygon’s corners
Steps Instructions

1. Select the polygon you wish to

alter. See page 8 if you need a reminder.

2. Select the polygon tool See page 19 if you need a

reminder.
3. Change the sharpness of a
polygon’s corners.
To alter the sharpness of the
polygon’s corners, change the
Rounded: (how rounded the corners
are) value at the top of the screen
by using the up and down arrows or
entering the required rounded value
(0 for sharp).
CREATE AND MANIPULATE POLYGONS: PART 6
Task 7: Randomly scatter the corners and angles of a polygon
Steps Instructions

1. Select the polygon you wish to

alter. See page 8 if you need a reminder.

2. Select the polygon tool See page 19 if you need a

reminder.
3. Randomly scatter the corners and
angles of a polygon.
To alter the sharpness of the To
randomly scatter the corners and
angles of a polygon, change the
Randomised: (randomly scatter the
corners and angles) value at the top
of the screen by using the up and
down arrows or entering the required
randomised value.

NOW COMPLETE TASKS 5 AND 6 IN YOUR

L1 WORKSHEET – GET INTO SHAPES
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 1

These instructions will guide you through some useful features for
manipulating shapes in Inkscape, including how to move, resize, rotate,
duplicate, and flip shapes, and also how to alter the z-order of a shape.

Task 1: Move a shape

Steps Instructions

1. Select the shape you wish to

move.
2. Move the selected shape. Here are three ways to move a shape to a
different position on the canvas.

Method 1: (Easy method)

Click and drag the shape to a different position
on the page.

Method 2:
To alter the position more accurately change the
X: (horizontal coordinate) and Y: (vertical
coordinate) values at the top of the screen by
using the up and down arrows or entering the
required horizontal and vertical coordinates.

Method 3: (Difficult method)

Use the menu Object ▷ Transform or use the
keyboard shortcut Shift ⊕ Ctrl ⊕ M to open up
the Transform window on the right side of the
screen.

Select the Move tab. Choose a unit of

measurement (this example uses mm). Enter
Horizontal: and Vertical: values for the
distances to move the shape. Click on the Apply
button to move the shape. Each time the Apply
button is clicked the selected shape will move
according to the values entered.
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 2

Task 2: Resize a shape

Steps Instructions

1. Select the shape you wish to

resize.
2. Resize the selected shape. Here are three ways to resize a shape.

Method 1: (Easy method)

Click and drag any one of the double arrows
around the outside of the shape. These double
arrows alter the W: (width) and H: (height) of the
shape.

Method 2:
To alter the height and width more accurately,
change the W: (width) and H: (height) dimensions
at the top of the screen by using the up and
down arrows or entering the required height and
width.

Method 3: (Difficult method)

Use the menu Object ▷ Transform or use the
keyboard shortcut Shift ⊕ Ctrl ⊕ M to open up
the Transform window on the right side of the
screen.

Select the Scale tab. Choose a unit of

measurement (this example uses mm). Enter
Width: and Height: values by which to change
the selected shape. Click on the Apply button to
apply the new sizes to the shape.
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 3

Task 3: Rotate a shape

Steps Instructions

1. Select the shape you

wish to rotate.

2. Rotate the selected

shape. Here are three ways to rotate a shape.

Method 1: (Easy method)

Click on the Rotate anticlockwise button at the top
of the screen to rotate the shape 90o to the left.

Click on the Rotate clockwise button to rotate the

shape 90o to the right.

Method 2: (Easy method)

Click twice on a shape and the double arrows
around the shape will change direction to point
around the edge of the shape. Click on any one of
the double arrows and drag to rotate the shape in
any direction.

Method 3: (Difficult method)

Use the menu Object ▷ Transform or use the
keyboard shortcut Shift ⊕ Ctrl ⊕ M to open up the
Transform window on the right side of the screen.

Select the Rotate tab. Choose the rotation angle and

a unit of measurement (this example uses 1.000o).
Select the rotation direction as anticlockwise or
clockwise using the buttons. Click on the Apply button
to apply the rotation to the shape. Each time the
Apply button is clicked the selected shape will rotate
according to the values entered.
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 4

Task 4: Duplicate a shape

Steps Instructions

1. Select the shape you

wish to duplicate.
2. Duplicate the Here are two ways to duplicate a shape.
selected shape.
Method 1:
Right click on the shape and select Duplicate from the
popup menu.

The duplicate shape will be placed directly on top of

the first shape, therefore it may look as though nothing
has happened. Simply select the top shape and drag it
to a new position.

Method 2:
Use the menu Edit ▷ Duplicate or use the keyboard
shortcut Ctrl ⊕ D to duplicate the selected shape.

The duplicate shape will be placed directly on top of

the first shape, therefore it may look as though nothing
has happened. Simply select the top shape and drag it
to a new position.
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 5

Task 5: Flip a shape

Steps Instructions
1. Select the shape you wish
to flip.
2. Flip the selected shape.

Here are two ways to flip a selected shape.

Method 1:
Click on the Flip horizontally button at the top of
the screen to flip the shape horizontally.

Click on the Flip vertically button at the top of the

screen to flip the shape vertically.

Method 2:
Use the menu Object ▷ Flip Horizontal or use the
keyboard shortcut H to flip the selected shape
horizontally.

Use the menu Object ▷ Flip Vertical or use the

keyboard shortcut V to flip the selected shape
vertically.
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 6

Task 6: Alter the z-order of a shape

Steps Instructions
1. Select the shape you wish
to change the z-order for.
2. Change the z-order of the
selected shape.
Here are two ways to change the z-order of a
selected shape.

Method 1:
Click on the Lower selection to bottom button at
the top of the screen to send the selected shape to
the back/behind the other shapes on the canvas.

Click on the Lower selection one step button to

send the selected shape one step back/behind the
previously created shape on the canvas.

Click on the Raise selection to top button to send

the selected shape to the front/in front of the other
shapes on the canvas.

Click on the Raise selection one step button to send

the selected shape one step forward/in front of the
shape created directly afterwards on the canvas.
 USEFUL FEATURES: PART 7

Task 6 Continued
Steps Instructions
2. Change the z-order of the
selected shape.
Method 2:
Use the menu Object ▷ Lower to Bottom or use the
keyboard shortcut End to send the selected shape
to the back/behind the other shapes on the canvas.

Use the menu Object ▷ Lower or use the keyboard

shortcut Page Down to send the selected shape one
step back/behind the previously created shape on
the canvas.

Use the menu Object ▷ Raise to Top or use the

keyboard shortcut Home to send the selected shape
to the front/in front of the other shapes on the
canvas.

Use the menu Object ▷ Raise or use the keyboard

shortcut Page Up to send the selected shape one
step forward/in front of the shape created directly
afterwards on the canvas.

NOW COMPLETE TASKS 7, 8, 9 AND 10 IN

YOUR L1 WORKSHEET – GET INTO SHAPES