this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2026
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Inkscape needs help (programming.dev)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) by Orwi@programming.dev to c/programming@programming.dev
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The incoming version of Inkscape is a brilliantly engineered masterpiece designed to punch Adobe Illustrator in the face.

The scale of Inkscape 1.5 is hard to put into words.

  • A full port from GTK 3 to GTK 4
  • A new rendering engine
  • The Unified Font Browser becoming default,
  • Document Tabs being introduced,
  • Many long-standing issues finally being addressed,
  • New and changed dependencies across multiple target platforms.
  • UI/UX improvements

GTK 4 unlocks several possibilities, but it also exacts its own costs. This transition is definitely being felt in the amount and complexity of the work the developers have had to undertake.

Inkscape developers have been pouring their nights and weekends into 1.5 but they are currently feeling overwhelmed.

If you’re a C++ developer, particularly with graphics experience, Inkscape could use your help in pushing 1.5 forward.

https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inkscape/-/work_items

Adobe has unlimited ressources. Inkscape relies on us

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

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[–] HerbGrower@slrpnk.net 2 points 20 minutes ago

I dont do much graphical stuff in general but inkscape (and gimp) has been nice to use when I have needed it.

[–] Koarnine@pawb.social 1 points 3 hours ago

I love love love Inkscape, use it on a daily basis. This is so exciting, is there a way to donate perhaps?

[–] bananabenana@lemmy.world 15 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

God I love Inkscape. One of my top pieces of software. I use it for scientific publications too

[–] maniacalmanicmania@aussie.zone 2 points 3 hours ago

For layout or for something more scientific?

[–] spartanatreyu@programming.dev 8 points 12 hours ago (5 children)

I love the idea of inkscape but can't get into it due to a continent sized papercut:

I can't put my cursor on part of the image then scroll to zoom in or out, not even holding a button while scrolling.

The only zoom it lets me do is drag a box on the screen (which is useless for fine details, or annoying when I only want to zoom in a few %), or zoom in/out by a large fixed amount then need to pan to find where I wanted to focus on in the first place.

I sure hope the new version fixes that.

Otherwise, I'm holding out for graphite

[–] Nindelofocho@lemmy.world 4 points 4 hours ago

That is weird ive always zoomed with i think ctrl+scrollwheel its almost my main way of navigation: zoom out from cursor move cursor where I want to zoom and then scroll back in

[–] Slashme@lemmy.world 3 points 4 hours ago

I primarily zoom in incscape in two ways:

  1. Using the mouse - it zooms to mouse position, so control-scroll is brilliant - even for navigating: scroll out until you see where you want to go, put the mouse there and scroll in.

  2. Using the keyboard (this is incredibly powerful):

  • 3: Fit selected object in the window
  • 4: Fit all objects in the window
  • 5: Fit the page in the window
  • 6: Fit page width.
  • 1 and 2: I seldom use these, but they're for 50% zoom and 100% zoom.
    • and -: They zoom in and out.

So often, I'll click on an object, then press 3 to fit in in the window, and then hit - a few times to see the context better. Perfect.

[–] schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 5 hours ago

Not sure I understood your problem well and I don't have Inkscape in front of me right now, but I am pretty sure Ctrl+scrollwheel does zoom?!

[–] vala@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 5 hours ago

On my system (arch+gnome) the mouse wheel zooms the image.

[–] shawarma@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

looks like an interesting project but it's a web app?

[–] jasory@programming.dev 1 points 3 hours ago

Currently yes. I think they have some builds for desktop, but it's still early in development.

[–] CoopaLoopa@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 10 hours ago (4 children)

I realize this is a FOSS post, but does anyone also use Affinity?

It's been my go-to for vectors and layouts. Not sure if there are other things that Inkscape does better.

[–] ilinamorato@lemmy.world 5 points 4 hours ago

I'm not willing to put all my eggs into another proprietary basket. Fool me six times...

[–] Slashme@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

does anyone also use Affinity?

Nope, only you.

[–] Symphonic@lemmy.world 3 points 6 hours ago

Yes, I use it regularly. And it's a very capable program. I use it in conjunction with GIMP.

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 10 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

Affinity only works (easily) on Windows and Mac, from what I know it's difficult to get running on Linux.

Affinity was also bought out by a large investment company, so while it may be the better option now, it's virtually guaranteed to become just as enshittified as Adobe if they become popular. Only FLOSS protects us long-term.

[–] CoopaLoopa@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, I know it's owned by Canva.

They've added a bunch of AI stuff that's behind their subscription, but for at least the last year, the program has been getting regularly improved with the promise of an iPad app soonβ„’.

It will for sure turn to shit in the future, but is pretty good in its current state.

[–] PokerChips@programming.dev 4 points 5 hours ago

I would assume that budding artists would have better time spent learning the techniques of a lasting open source tool like inkscape rather than a proprietary tool that will eventually disappoint you and waste your time.

[–] Kangae_Hishiryo@scribe.disroot.org 15 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 15 hours ago) (2 children)

I'm not programmer but I'm music producer. I could create one song for them so they can make a video looking to reach more people. Also I can create some SFX for them, like for the UI, the splash screen, etc.

But I also feel insecure whether they'll welcome this or if I'll only add burden to them.

Any advice? I really want to start contributing to FOSS projects but at the same time I don't really feel prepared.

[–] hooferboof@lemmy.world 9 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

Its hard to be totally prepared until you already have enough experience to know, if you show up and put in work and stick with it youd be shocked how quickly you become one of the "experts" propping the whole thing up πŸ˜‰

[–] Kangae_Hishiryo@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 1 hour ago

It sounds reasonable. Thanks!

[–] crypt0cler1c@infosec.pub 4 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

It's open source just send it over or add it to the repository make a pull request. Worst case scenario, it gets ignored and you just did some practice.

[–] Kangae_Hishiryo@scribe.disroot.org 1 points 1 hour ago

It's fair, and now that I think about it that way it's reasonable.

Thanks for the advice!

[–] MonkeMischief@lemmy.today 18 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (2 children)

If you’re a C++ developer, particularly with graphics experience, Inkscape could use your help in pushing 1.5 forward. https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inkscape/-/work_items Adobe has unlimited resources. Inkscape relies on us

I definitely don't fit that criteria, but, we could always stand to pitch a few bucks towards our favorite open source projects to help them thrive! Even in these trying times, we could all skip 1 or 2 takeout coffees for this! :)

Edit: This header picture tho... adventurer has like 6 swords sticking up through him? This isn't slop, right? :( I'm looking really closely but I can't tell anymore.

[–] ztpq@slrpnk.net 3 points 9 hours ago

Yeah the monster's horns don't make any sense either and the arms are off too.

I'm gonna guess OP just took an existing image without looking too closely. It happens, unfortunately a lot nowadays with how the internet is being flooded.

[–] sxwpb@lemmy.world 9 points 16 hours ago

my slop meter is beeping for that image too

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 7 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

im no developer but am a casual Inkscape user, love it. What's the best way to chip in a few $ to help?

[–] lordziv@lemmy.nz 2 points 9 hours ago

A lot of Open Source projects like this will usually have a sponsor button on their GitHub repo where you can choose an amount to give but I think you might need a GitHub account first :)

[–] antianarchist@sopuli.xyz 4 points 15 hours ago

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately I cannot help with the C++ part, but maybe I can improve something with the ci/cd/cs pipeline. Also I hope 1.5 is going to run smooth on linux with GTK4

[–] shawarma@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

i've got c++ and graphics experience but i don't think i've ever used inkscape. i'll dig through the list and see if there's a way for me to be useful here.

also is there a way to see what issues are actually blocking 1.5? this is a list of 2000 things.

[–] neversaydie@programming.dev 94 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Unfortunately I'm neither good with C++ nor with graphics, but Inkscape is a great piece of software, all the best to them

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[–] sxwpb@lemmy.world 8 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago) (1 children)

I think Inkscape’s UI could def also gain some good improvements even just with little technical know-how! I’ve been trying to make a UI style for it from scratch purely through GTK’s CSS layer (no touching internal code or recompiling at all) and I’m pretty impressed of what’s possible. (see here)

If anyone is even just familiar with CSS, you could certainly make good contributions to the UI layer. Or help out in my repo i posted above, I need to port the style to Inkscape 1.5 / GTK4 (aswell as cover some missing stuff e.g. right-to-left) but I don’t find a lot of time to do it.

[–] marf@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

I’m pretty decent with css but have never contributed before. I’d love to get involved in something. Where does a person start?

[–] anarchy79@lemmy.world 3 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

We have GTK4?

[–] ripcord@lemmy.world 3 points 12 hours ago

For 6 years now

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 58 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Inkscape is one of the go-to best-in-class FOSS applications.

[–] grandel@lemmy.ml 13 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Right up there with VLC and GIMP.

[–] riquisimo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (2 children)

"Right up there with VLC..."

Oh awesome! Inkscape must be great!

"...and GIMP."

oh... so is it... good?

[–] mvirts@lemmy.world 8 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Eyyy gimp is amazing, every software has a learning curve :P

[–] Master@sh.itjust.works 2 points 35 minutes ago

The only learning curve gimp has is the one where you learn to hate it.

[–] StillAlive@piefed.world 5 points 6 hours ago

GIMP has a learning cliff.

[–] verily@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

More like "and Krita and Blender" perhaps

[–] nilloc@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 10 minutes ago

Yeah at least with Blender there’s a reward at the end of the learning spike.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (2 children)
  • A full port from GTK 3 to GTK 4

Uh oh. Will it work outside of Gnome? Menubar toggle-able?

Then again, the software itself isn't made by Gnome (unlike Gtk, and SimpleScan, Pavucontrol), so that's likely the case.

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 2 points 10 hours ago

Toolkits don't limit where software will run, it can be used on any distro with any desktop environment.

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