Vector Graphics Editor

Inkscape (Mac, Win, Linux) Link

Inkscape, an open-source vector graphics editor, is similar to Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW, but its use of Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), an open XML-based W3C standard, as its native format sets it apart from others. Inkscape supports many advanced SVG features (markers, clones, alpha blending, etc.), and great care is taken in designing a streamlined interface. In Inkscape, it is very easy to edit nodes, perform complex path operations, trace bitmaps and much more. Inkscape has a powerful command-line interface and can be used in scripts for a variety of tasks, such as exporting and format conversions.

Inkscape provides binary packages for Linux, Windows 2000/2003/XP (in a fully self-contained installer) and Mac OS X (in a .dmg package). We know that Inkscape is successfully used on FreeBSD and other Unix-like operating systems. Note that Windows 98/ME is no longer supported. Its latest version is 0.46.

Summary. Inkscape has a powerful command line interface and can be used in scripts for a variety of tasks, such as exporting and format conversions. It is a very mature and advanced editor that can serve as a good alternative for well-known commercial vector graphics editors.

DrawIt (Mac) Link

DrawIt is an easy-to-use, powerful vector drawing application designed for the Mac. It features entirely non-destructive editing, live filters, powerful vector tools, a standard collection of basic shapes and a clear and intuitive interface.

DrawIt is a powerful vector tool that is also very easy to use. Users familiar with other tools will feel right at home. Also coming standard with DrawIt is a large number of ready-to-use and easily customizable special vector shapes: circles, stars, rounded rectangles and polygons are just a few of the shapes that can be added to your document. There is also support for an unlimited number of nested groups, masks and custom overlays.

DrawIt Pro and DrawIt Lite require Mac OS 10.5 Leopard. If you’re still running Tiger, then use DrawIt 3.3.3 or DrawIt Lite for Tiger. It will cost you approximately $40.

Summary. The application includes a large number of easily customizable, ready-to-use shapes; circles, stars, rounded rectangles and polygons, as well as support for an unlimited number of nested groups, masks and custom overlays.

SK1 (Linux) Link

SK1 is an open-source illustration program for the Linux platform that can substitute for professional, proprietary software like CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator. Unique project features are a CorelDRAW formats importer, a tabbed multi-document interface, a Cairo-based engine, color management, etc. SK1 also includes CMYK colorspace support and CMYK support in Postscript.

SK1 can export documents to Adobe Illustrator 5.0 (based on PostScript), PDF, PS, SVG, SK/SK1, CGM and WMF. It can also import formats such as CorelDRAW versions 7 to X4, Postscript (PS) and Encapsulated Postscript (EPS), etc. Download SK1.

Xara Xtreme (Mac, Linux) Link

Xara Xtreme is a powerful, general-purpose graphics program for Unix platforms, including Linux, FreeBSD and (in development) Mac OS X. Formerly known as Xara LX, it is based on Xara Xtreme for Windows, which is the fastest graphics program available. Its latest version is 0.7.

Xara Xtreme for Linux is very fast and very slick to use. It offers some of the most powerful graphics tools available. Xara Xtreme has a small learning curve and is able to create a huge range of outstanding graphics. Xara Xtreme has behind it a huge amount of learning materials, tutorials, movies, tips and a very active, enthusiastic and growing user community.

The developers of the application claim that Xara Xtreme uses “the world’s fastest vector rendering engine”. And since performance matters when it comes to graphic editors, it is definitely a significant advantage. Download Xara Xtreme.

Skencil (Linux) Link

Skencil, formerly called Sketch, is a free vector graphics editor, released under the GNU Lesser General Public License. Running on GNU/Linux and other UNIX-compatible systems, it is a flexible and powerful tool for illustrations, diagrams and other purposes. A somewhat rare feature of Skencil (for a drawing program) is that it is implemented almost completely in Python, a very high-level interpreted language. Python is powerful, object-oriented, and yet easy to use. The rest of the program is written in C for speed. The software is now in version 0.6.17. It has versions compatible with Linux on the i386, DEC Alpha, m68k, PowerPC and SPARC architectures, as well as with FreeBSD, Solaris, IRIX64 6.4 and AIX.

In addition to the standard features that you expect from a vector drawing program, Skencil also has more advanced features, such as the possibility of bending text along a path. The current stable release is 0.6.17. Skencil is quite usable already, even for production use. The low version number is mainly due to a lack of some important features, such as good text support.

Some of its other distinguishing features are that rectangles, ellipses and bezier curves (in addition to ordinary horizontal and vertical lines) can be used as guides; text can be converted to bezier curves, though only if Skencil has access to the PostScript Type 1 font files (pfa or pfb); and blend groups allow for automatically updated interpolations of arbitrary objects.Download Skencil.

Scribus (Mac, Win, Linux, OS/2) Link

Scribus is a desktop publishing (DTP) application. Scribus is an open-source program that brings professional page layout to Linux/Unix, Mac OS X, OS/2 and Windows desktops with a combination of “press-ready” output and new approaches to page layout. Scribus is designed for flexible layout and typesetting and allows you to prepare files for professional-quality image-setting equipment. It can also create animated and interactive PDF presentations and forms. Example uses include writing small newspapers, brochures, newsletters, posters and books. Scribus supports professional publishing features, such as CMYK color, separations, ICC color management and PDF creation.

Scribus is known for its broad set of page layout features as compared with leading commercial applications, such as Adobe PageMaker, QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign. Scribus supports most major graphic formats in addition to SVG. Although written in C++, it has built-in scripting using Python. It is available in more than 24 languages.

It also comes with a lot of support options to help you achieve the best results. There is an enthusiastic and friendly community around Scribus that assists beginner and pro alike through a mailing list, IRC channel, wiki, contracted support and a bug tracker. Download Scribus.

Ipe (Linux, Mac) Link

Ipe is a drawing editor for creating figures in PDF or (encapsulated) Postscript format. It supports making small figures for inclusion in LaTeX documents as well as making multi-page PDF presentations that can be shown online with the Acrobat PDF reader. Ipe 6.0pre31 (November 2008) is the most recent version of Ipe. This extensible drawing editor is free, which means that everyone is free to use it and free to redistribute it on certain conditions. But Ipe is not in the public domain.

Ipe allows the entry of text as LaTeX source code. This makes it easy to enter mathematical expressions and to reuse the LaTeX macros of the main document. The integrated picture environment is well suited to preparing graphics for LATEX documents. In the display, text is displayed as it will appear in the figure. Ipe produces pure Postscript/PDF, including for text. Ipe converts the LaTeX source to PDF or Postscript when the file is saved. Users can provide ipelets, which are small, dynamically loaded plug-ins that interact with Ipe and can modify your drawing in some way. The Ipe system comes with a number of ipelets pre-installed; for example, there are ipelets for aligning objects in various ways, for precise stretch and rotation and so forth.

Summary. Ipe’s main features are tight integration with LATEX, sophisticated snapping modes, extensibility via ipelets, an easy yet flexible user interface, customizability with style sheets and the ability to export to PDF and EPS file formats. Download Ipe.

VRR (Linux, Win) Link

VRR was started as a student project in the Faculty of Math and Physics at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic. In September 2005, it was defended successfully. However, it is still being developed in the author’s free time.

The goal of the VRR project is to create a vector image editor designed especially (but not only) for making illustrations of mathematics articles. Its main features are many types of geometric objects and the preservation of their dependencies, cooperation with TeX, scripting in Scheme, real-size dimensions and support for a wide range of file formats (including PS, EPS, PDF and SVG). It latest version is VRR 0.9.4. You can also download the user’s manual here.

Summary. Although TeX text objects are one of VRR’s main features, you do not need to know TeX to work with VRR or to create valuable and sophisticated images with it. TeX is a typesetting system written by Donald E. Knuth that was “intended for the creation of beautiful books, and especially for books that contain a lot of mathematics.” Download VRR.

ConceptDraw PRO (Win) Link

ConceptDraw PRO is powerful business and technical diagramming software that supports the creation of business diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, floor plans, technical drawings, home and office layouts and the like. ConceptDraw 7 charts can be exported to a variety of file formats, including images, CAD documents and HTML. It also supports importing and exporting of Microsoft Visio XML files.

With ConceptDraw PRO, you can design professional-looking graphics, diagrams, high-end flowcharts, floor plans, engineering drawings and other intricate illustrations in minutes. ConceptDraw’s libraries include thousands of scalable objects. You can maintain business processes with clear visual documentation and present and communicate information in a clear and vivid way.

Through ConceptDraw Office, ConceptDraw PRO provides you with the tools you need to generate reports, documentation and presentations that entirely reflect project performance. It is a comprehensive tool that can be used to create a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and to track a project’s status on an intelligent dashboard. It has the huge set of vector drawing tools that can compete with any professional illustration program. It runs on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Its latest version is 7.2 and costs $299.

Summary. ConceptDraw Professional is designed for people who need to create high-end flowcharts, engineering drawings, and other intricate illustrations. ConceptDraw’s libraries include thousands of scalable objects. If you have enough resources for a powerful leading vector graphics editor, ConceptDraw is definitely an option worth considering.