Back by popular demand, and thanks to a lot of positive feedback from our Partners and blog readers, we bring you another helpful and informative tutorial straight from our design experts in the Asset Management team. This time, we’re hoping to give you a helping hand in creating good, high-quality vector designs with an amazing free online program called Inkscape. Follow the instructions step by step to create a simple cat motif, and then see where your skills and imagination can take you. Have fun!
Before we get started, download Inkscape here and install it on your computer. Start the program and follow the steps below. Here we go!
1. Create a circle (1) and choose a color (2). Then create a path for the object (3).Tip: press Ctrl to make the circle is symmetric. Press Shift to have the circle created from the middle.
2. With the nodes (1) editor, add three additional nodes to the path by double-clicking (2).
3. Change the form by moving the nodes. Use the different options (1). You can move the nodes directly or grab the handle (2). It may take some getting used to, but you’ll find it much easier when you do it for a second time. Try different options. Press Ctrl + Z to undo an action.
4. Select the outline with the selector (1), copy it (Ctrl + C) and paste it in the same place (Ctrl + V). Then flip it horizontally (2).
Move the figure to the right by pressing the Ctrl key. Select 2 figures and merge them (3).
5. Select the cat’s head, copy it (Ctrl + C) and paste it in the same place (Ctrl + V). Give the new figure a different color (1) and shrink it slightly by holding the Shift and Ctrl keys.
By adding nodes and moving the handles (2) you have to change the shape of the small figure.
Use the ‘blur’ option in the color menu to create a more natural effect (3).
6. To add a layer, press Shift + Ctrl + L to open the “Layers” tool and click on the plus sign (1). Select a name for the new layer, in our case “ears”. Double-click on “Layer 1” to rename the layer, here “head”. Place the “ears” layer below the “head” layer. Lock the top layer by clicking the lock icon (2). This will prevent the head of our future cat to be inadvertently distorted.
7. Select the “ears” layer and create the first ear. Use the bezier curve tool (1) and create a triangle (2). Then move in the ear shape by adjusting nodes and cuffs (3). In the color menu, choose a color (4) and deactivate the outline (5). Then repeat the instructions (see 4.) to create the second ear.
8. Select the ear (1) before you copy (Ctrl + C) and paste it in the same place (Ctrl+ Alt+ V). Give the new shape another color and shrink it. You may want to modify the shape by adjusting the nodes and handles, and finally add a little blur as mentioned above in point 5.
Then repeat the instructions (see 4.) to create the second ear. No need merging the shapes here, though.
9. Add a new layer and name it “face”. Place it above the other 2 layers. Then lock the layer “ears”.
Add an ellipse (shortcut: F5) to create the cat’s muzzle. Assign a color to the muzzle and transform the path for the object (see point 1).
Add two nodes (1) and move them down while holding the Ctrl key (2).
10. Follow the steps as described in point 5 to continue creating the nose. Then add a small ellipse, blur it and place it on the nose.
11. For the eyes, create a black circle (don’t forget to turn the object paths), add nodes and change the shape (1). Add a white circle over it (2). Above the white circle, add a green circle (3) and Blur it slightly. In the last circle, add yet another circle, and soften it by blurring the colour (4). If you wish, you can of course add more circles. Finally, draw the iris with a black circle (5) and small white and blurry circle to create a shiny effect (6). When you’re done with the eye, select all the eye elements, copy and paste them in the right place. Then mirror them to create a second eye. Then just the second eye in the right place.
12. Let’s do the mouth now. Take the bezier curve tool (1) and select the option “ellipse” (2). Create the first lip (3). Adjust the nodes until the object has obtained the desired shape. For whiskers, you can use the style option “Descending Triangle” (4). Thanks to the “Fill and outline” tool and the “Outline pattern” menu, you can thicken the outline (5). Add a few small circles (6). Now select all the items, and copy and paste them. Mirror them and place them in the right position. With the bezier curve tool, you can now create the tongue (7). Move nodes to give it the desired shape. Select the tongue with the “pg dn” (page down) button until it is positioned under the lips.
13. Select the text tool (1) and enter a text. Then open the tool “Text and Font” by pressing Ctrl + Shift + T. This option allows you choose a font you like. Apply the changes (2). Create a curve (3) to define how the text should be bent. Select the path and the text and choose text menu option “Fit to path” (4).
14. Finally, switch off the outline of thecurve (1). You can now change the text color.
We hope this tutorial was not only informative, but that it provided you with some helpful tips and tricks to get you well along the road to vector design success. Do you have some questions or suggestions for aspiring designers? We look forward to your comments!
I testet svg and uploaded, i made two simple circle 1.5mm, made them to path and combine, so the two circles circle had only 8 nodes. And then i loaded the image and delete image from shop. When i openet the loadet circle image in inkscape it has like 2000 nodes??
Hi Aiderson,
please send your question and the Design ID to partner@spreadshirt.com. My colleagues can help you.
Best regards,
Sandra
Is there anyway a PNG or PDF be converted to Vector?
Is that possible?
Hi Aurelio,
unfortunatly no. There are some tools that can convert a pixel file into a vector file, but the result does not meet our requirements. A vector graphic must always be created manually.
For more questions or just the general exchange with other designers you can check out our forum.
Best regards,
Sandra
Thanks Leila.
Yes, I’m familiar with pixel graphics: PNG, JPG, Bitmap, GIF and use them here as needed. PS can open Inkscape .eps files correctly as long as (like you said), filters are not applied to the design.
I’m sure this article will help people.
Jay
Hi Jay,
You’re absolutely right, Inkscape effects can’t unfortunately saved as a .eps file. That’s why the blur effect in can’t be rendered into a vector graphics file as transparency can’t be displayed in terms as a vector. Photoshop can’t read the Inkscape effects since these two programs are incompatible, as for example other Adobe software.
You can save a file containing such effects as a pixel graphics file and use digital direct print for T-shirt printing. Find an overview of printing techniques here: https://www.spreadshirt.com/help-C1328/categoryId/9
Best of success!
Leila
I’ve been using Inkscape for almost 2 years. Very Good beginners article on Inkscape , but filters cannot “correctly” be saved as .eps (vector) files. After reading this blog, I got excited about the possibility of using blur (filters) on a vector design.
I tested the blur function on a graphic a few minutes ago. I drew a circle, put another small circle inside. I blurred the small circle, then saved it as an .eps file.
Results: You can still save the design as an .eps file, but if you open in PS, a white background is attached to the design AND the blur is gone. *PS has no problem opening .eps (vector) files correctly with NO background when no filters have been used.
If anyone else can tell me how to use Inkscape designs with blurs, gradients, etc and still output a real vector, please let me know.
Thanks.
Jay