SubJeff on 21/9/2013 at 12:51
I'm trying to build some simple graphics and I don't know what you'd really call them.
Thinks like arrows and simple logos with shapes and text and so on. At the moment I'm using Powerpoint to make the stuff and then Gimp to finish it off. I realise this is a rubbish way to do it but I don't know what else to get get for it.
Ideally I'd like some freeware but if not I'll buy something (if it's not crazy expensive).
Anyone any idea for this kind of work?
Briareos H on 21/9/2013 at 13:25
You're looking for vector diagramming software. (
http://inkscape.org/) Inkscape is a capable open-source vector graphics editor, however you'll probably have to create some of your shapes yourself, for instance if you want arrows that look a very specific way.
Another tool dedicated solely to diagramming is (
http://sourceforge.net/projects/dia-installer/) Dia, it has a lot of pre-defined shapes, logos and symbols but it has always been pretty unstable in Windows -- though I haven't used it in a long time so it could have changed.
SubJeff on 21/9/2013 at 13:53
Thanks Briareos. Messing with Inkscape now and it seems okay-ish. I can't work out how to export as a png with a transparent background though, and google is no help.
I'll give Dia a go.
Briareos H on 21/9/2013 at 13:59
File > Document Properties
Click on "Background: " and select an alpha value of 0 in the RGBA selector.
Exporting as PNG will give you a transparent background. If it doesn't, you probably have a large shape with opaque background under the others.
SubJeff on 24/9/2013 at 03:04
I have no background image. That's the frustrating thing.
Al_B on 24/9/2013 at 07:14
That's very strange - inkscape (which I also recommend) defaults to a transparent page and will export with PNGs with an alpha channel. What are you using to view the exported image?
SubJeff on 24/9/2013 at 11:11
Gimp.
The white background can't even be selected and cleared without leaving artifacts around the image.
Al_B on 24/9/2013 at 11:50
GIMP should be fine for viewing it. Possibly a daft question but are you actually exporting the image or a portion of it (with File / Export Bitmap) or are you saving the entire file in PNG format? If you're doing the latter then then yes, it will have a white background.
SubJeff on 24/9/2013 at 15:37
The later.
It's a png without a background so why should it export with one?
I'll try exporting as a bitmap and see what happens.
Briareos H on 24/9/2013 at 15:54
That is not the proper way to export your work to GIMP or any other raster editor. The "Save As" window is only there to save your work to be used later by Inkscape or another vector program, ie. a program which works with shapes, arrows, editable text and sometimes interactive contents (vector graphics) as opposed to raster programs which work with bitmaps (bitmap = a rectangular grid --or "map"-- made of individual pixels, each only carrying color and transparency information, like JPEG or regular PNG).
To use your work in any other program for further non-vector editing, use the "Export Bitmap" function. Surprisingly enough if you're used to "bitmap" meaning .BMP files, you'll see that you will actually export your work as PNG, with transparency.
To save your work for further editing in Inkscape, use the "Save" and "Save As" functions and stick with Inkscape's native .svg format.
