Why isn't inkscape stickied here?

[Mark70]

Why isn't inkscape stickied here?

I messed around with inkscape and found it to be a very comprehensive, capable program.

...and it's free.

Why isn't everyone vectorizing their artwork in inkscape.  It will even trace over a bmp to give  you an automatically vectorized verstion, but I suggest you read the tutorial on this for it's limitations.

[mahuti]

I think some people have griped about spotty support for large amounts of layers, difficulty reading AI and PDF formats (sometimes) and stability issues.

I'm sure that for the casual user it's a great tool, and has been mentioned here a number of times, as has sodipodi and gimp.

I personally have never used it... and don't plan on it. I own illustrator... as a professional it's a requirement. A know a number of other master tracers also have easy access to illustrator as well, so I think it's just a preference thing.

[Mark70]

Well, it seemed like a good thing for free. 

If I'm going to use a vector graphics just to do side art for my one time cabinet, it seemed a good option

[mahuti]

It still sounds like a good option. I don't think anyone SWEARS by inkscape like they do Illustrator, but I know a lot of people use it, and to good effect.

If you like it, use it.

[Grasshopper]

It's a shame the artwork on the arcade art library can only be manipulated in vector format if you own Illustrator which of course is prohibitively expensive. This must be shutting a lot of people out who would otherwise be able to benefit and perhaps make a contribution to the library themselves.

The solution would be for the artwork to also be made available in a format that can be read by one of the popular PD or shareware vector art programs.

[mahuti]

The solution is to download Adobe's Full featured 30 day demo, do what you need to convert the file and then open it with the (free) editor of your choice. OR politely ask someone here to convert the file to an EPS or SVG or PDF for you. It's not a big deal.

I initially tried making sure everything up there was an EPS file, but the reality is... close to a million people have visited the site, and I've never had one email asking me to provide the files in a different format, and have only very rarely answered complaints here about cross-program difficulties.  I have to spend enough time reviewing, modifying, and then vailidating new images, deleting all the worthless 200k gifs that people upload (for some unknown reason) so I just don't care if the odd user has to spend a little of their time making the files work for them. At any rate, to some degree the files will open in Inkscape, as many of them are PDF compatible, and I just have no desire to spend extra time trying to support marginal applications.

As far as contributing... there's no reason someone can't contribute regardless of the file types available at the AAL. There are literally hundreds of JPGS and PSDs that could be downloaded, traced in inkscape and uploaded that require no use of Illustrator at all. Most people don't make modifications or improvements to existing art, so again, I'm not too concerned if a hypothetical user doesn't have access to their pet format.

However, if you feel strongly about it, feel free to convert the hundreds of files available and resubmit them. We certainly won't complain.

[Mark70]

Is there a list of free or shareware vector art progams as a topic here....

I'll go use the handy dandy search function.

[Grasshopper]

The solution is to download Adobe's Full featured 30 day demo, do what you need to convert the file and then open it with the (free) editor of your choice. OR politely ask someone here to convert the file to an EPS or SVG or PDF for you. It's not a big deal.

I initially tried making sure everything up there was an EPS file, but the reality is... close to a million people have visited the site, and I've never had one email asking me to provide the files in a different format, and have only very rarely answered complaints here about cross-program difficulties.  I have to spend enough time reviewing, modifying, and then vailidating new images, deleting all the worthless 200k gifs that people upload (for some unknown reason) so I just don't care if the odd user has to spend a little of their time making the files work for them. At any rate, to some degree the files will open in Inkscape, as many of them are PDF compatible, and I just have no desire to spend extra time trying to support marginal applications.

As far as contributing... there's no reason someone can't contribute regardless of the file types available at the AAL. There are literally hundreds of JPGS and PSDs that could be downloaded, traced in inkscape and uploaded that require no use of Illustrator at all. Most people don't make modifications or improvements to existing art, so again, I'm not too concerned if a hypothetical user doesn't have access to their pet format.

However, if you feel strongly about it, feel free to convert the hundreds of files available and resubmit them. We certainly won't complain.

Hey man chill. I'm not criticising anyone here. It was just a suggestion.

Providing the images in PDF or EPS format isn't really a solution (not sure about SVG) because few if any of the cheap/free art programs can import files in those formats and still allow the image to be edited in vector format. I know there are a few PD programs that will convert an EPS file to a bitmap image but that really defeats the purpose of having a vector library.

As far as using the trial version of Illustrator, that's fine if you're able to download everything you'll ever need in the 30 days permitted. But supposing a new piece of artwork you want appears in the library after you've used up your 30 days? You could I suppose re-install the program (assuming it will let you) but I seem to recall that in an earlier thread you said this would be "unethical".

[mahuti]

A few points.

1. The aal lives off of contributions of peoples time. If you want to make something better, provide your time to answer your issue. It would only take about 6 hours of downloading, opening, converting and reuploading to convert everythign to SVG. We'd also need to check everything to make sure the SVG export worked correctly. If you want, I will even give you bulk access to the files to save your download hassle.

2. There are options for people to get the file in the format that they want. Namely, asking someone here, or asking me to convert a file. Rather than spend hours changing things, and possibly introducing bugs in the files by using the export feature, we could simply put a note on the site telling people about what they could do to get a file converted.

3. SVG Is the "open" standard. Unfortunately, it's implimentation in Inkscape is a bit spotty, spotty enough that there are disparities when viewing inkscape images in other vector editors ... like Batik for instance.. especially with gradient and alpha blends and text flowed into shapes. So up to this point I haven't really considered it worth extra time to convert everything if there will still be compatibility issues.

4. It was somewhat tongue-in-cheek when I said it, but I still maintain that it would be unethical to redownload demo software.  In which case feel free to download the Macromedia Freehand 30 day trial and go nuts for another 30 days. Speaking of ethics though... none of us that a) have a pile of roms b) trace and share copyrighted works have much of an ethical leg to stand on.

Ultimately, it's not that I'm wholesale against making things more accessible, it's just that no one has been clamoring for it. Up to this point, it hasn't been an issue, so I think your suggestion is misplaced. As far as criticism goes, I think the word "shame" spells that out. There's no shame in us contributing stuff in the format that works for 98% of the people that actually do vector work. For the casual passers-by that just want to get the file and print it or add the word "mame" to it, they can ask for the file to be converted, or spend a few bucks on an older version of Illustrator. On a personal level, I feel that any vector drawing program that can't edit the vector information in an EPS or  PDF file is not worth its salt. EPS is the industry standard for sharing vector information. If inkscape can't handle EPS yet, then it just needs some more time in the hands of its developer community. EPS is just another language... you can even write EPS by hand (not that you'd ever be inclined to...) so I don't understand why a vector drawing program wouldn't be able to use EPS. It could be a proprietary language... I don't know, but regardless it is much more common than SVG and the horse I'm betting on for the long run.

[Felsir]

Is there a list of free or shareware vector art progams as a topic here....

I'll go use the handy dandy search function.

In fact, there is a FAQ that answers the question and shows links to 3 topics about (free) software.

Another reason to use EPS, PFD and AI files is that every print-shop can handle the format. If you want your vector art printed these formats are your best bet.