Today I'm back with the third real episode of my space dedicated to building graphic design using Inkscape. Some weeks ago I launched the topic with an introductory post that you can find CLICKING HERE. Inside, you can get information about the two fundamental elements of this kind of initiative:

1. Creation of hypothetical logos as an example
2. Using the vector graphics program Inkscape

I won't repeat everything you can find there, but - basically - my article will try to show some of the basic actions of Inkscape during the creation of an imaginary logo; a logo that will often have playful features, and therefore I invite you not to take this characteristic as a desire to offend someone.

Let's start with the first part, the tutorial-shaped one.

In this new appointment, I thought I would show two tools that allow you to create shapes, specifically circles and regular quadrilaterals like rectangles. The first step is - certainly - opening the Inkscape program, followed by a search for the appropriate boxes: we find them on the screen, in the column to our left, among the topmost boxes. The first allows you to create squares and rectangles, the second simple circles and other ovoid figures. Like all the other important elements, you can find them in the image, highlighted by double red-black circles. The boxes are marked with the image of a rectangle or a circle.

So, let's create:

• RECTANGLE: we click (left mouse button) on the box representing a square, then we click (left button again) with the cursor arrow on the white page that the application shows; we keep it clicked and start moving the cursor; a rectangle of variable dimensions will appear, which will grow or shrink depending on our movements. Once we reach the correct size for our purposes, we release the left mouse button;
• SQUARE: we can transform the previously created rectangle into a square. How? We need to refer to the boxes you find in one of the top rows in the Inkscape application. The boxes have been highlighted with arrows in the image below. First, you will need to make sure that the icon with the image of a "padlock" placed between the boxes shows an open padlock (this activated tool allows you to maintain the proportions of the starting dimensions, but we need it inactive); if it isn't, click on it. At this point, type in numbers the dimensions you want to give to your shape, identical both in the box on the right and in the box on the left, then finish by pressing the "ENTER" button on the keyboard. The rectangle on the screen will magically take the shape of a square.

• OVOID: same procedure as the rectangle, but starting by pressing the left mouse button once you have moved the cursor over the icon showing the image of a circle (which you will find in the column on your left, immediately below the tool for creating rectangles);
• CIRCLE: same procedure for transforming a rectangle into a square, but carried out on an ovoid shape instead of rectangular shapes.

You can also directly create circles or squares while creating shapes by holding down the "Shift" key while creating. Rather than explain it to you, try it yourself. You will notice that - in this way - shapes of fixed proportions will be created, whether rectangles, circles, squares or ovoids.

Once this is done, we move on to the next decisive moment: the outlines of the shapes. As we created them, the rectangular shapes have "alive" EDGES (the connection points between one side and the other), very sharp. These edges are called NODES within Inkscape, and - in this case - they are the connection points between the sides of the rectangle. We can act both on their position and on their way of connecting. In particular? We can transform these edges into smooth, curvilinear structures.

To do this, we must click (left mouse button) first on our rectangle, then on the "EDIT FROM NODES" tool that you find in the column on your left; it's usually located at the top of this column, represented by an arrow and some dots joined together. Once selected, the rectangular figure will be surrounded by two white-colored smaller rectangles and circles. The white rectangles represent the nodes: if we click on the rectangular nodes and hold down, moving the cursor, we will vary the dimensions of the sides of the rectangle; if instead we do it with the white circles (defined as HANDLES) what will change will be the shape of those edges seen just now. Furthermore, if we move the handles, they will take on a different color (yellow, blue, red).