VIDEO: Create a vector graphic on GIMP

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Pixels or vector graphics

If you are into graphics editing, you will know the problem that pixel-based graphics are sometimes unwieldy and very large. Vector graphics offer advantages here.

  • If you photos edit, you usually use pictures on a pixel basis, which you can use with common graphics programs starting with Paint, Gimp and Photoshop can edit.
  • The advantage of pixel graphics is that you can work pixel-precisely and thus have enormous possibilities of creating / painting, changes and manipulation. However, the drawbacks are that pixel graphics cannot be scaled well.
  • The main difference between vector graphics is that they are not made up of pixels, but of mathematical constructs (vectors). Contents are described mathematically. You can use it to scale objects without any loss of quality without changing the file size.
  • You usually edit vector graphics with graphics programs that are specially made for this purpose: Illustrator and Corel Draw are well-known representatives.
    • Create vector graphics - here's how

    A vector graphic has several advantages over conventional pixel graphics. So ...

  • GIMP is a pixel-oriented program and cannot handle vectors.

Opportunities with GIMP

If you want to create vector graphics with the GIMP, there are only certain detours to do so, since the GIMP itself is a pixel-based program. Nevertheless, GIMP offers the possibility of using paths that come from the vector world.

  • You can use the library "librsvg"Import vector graphics files in the common SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) format. You can choose whether the GIMP imports the vector graphics as a bitmap (i.e. pixels) or as a path. The latter would be a vector format. With the GIMP you can also export graphics to SVG. You can also convert a GIMP selection to a vector path. Then you can export them to SVG again.
  • Alternatively - and also the better choice for creating vector graphics - the tool is available inkScape at. Download it from the website and install the program. inkScape offers many, quite powerful options of typical vector graphics programs and is more suitable for creating vector graphics than GIMP.
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