Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape from Coursera

By the end of this project, you’ll be able to import and convert raster images, including photos and old logos, to a vector graphic with Inkscape. Inkscape is a free and open-source vector graphics program, and it offers built-in tools that help you turn images into vector graphics, making them easy to resize and edit. These vector versions can be used for all kinds of projects, from web images to stickers.

To convert raster images to vector graphics, you’ll learn about and use two of Inkscape’s tools: Trace Bitmap and the Bezier Pen Tool. You’ll also practice editing those images to customize them for later use. Finally, you’ll practice exporting what you’ve created.

Note: This course works best for learners who are based in the North America region. We’re currently working on providing the same experience in other regions.

What's inside

Syllabus

Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape

By the end of this project, you’ll be able to import and convert raster images, including photos and old logos, to a vector graphic with Inkscape.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides learners with hands-on labs and interactive materials, helping to develop practical skills

Focuses on the conversion of raster images to vector graphics, catering to specific learner needs in graphic design

Utilises Inkscape, a free and open-source software, making it accessible to learners without additional expenses

Targeted towards learners who have some background in graphic design or image editing, but accessible to beginners

May be less suitable for learners seeking a comprehensive study of graphic design principles

Reviews summary

Inkscape vector graphics course

Learners say this Inkscape course is very good. One student said it was "very nicely explained" and another said it was "very excellent."

Course materials are well-explained.

"very nicely explained"

"Very excellent graphic course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape with these activities:

Practice with image editing tools

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Sharpen your skills in image editing before class starts so you can hit the ground running when we dive into vector graphics.

Browse courses on Raster Image Editing

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Open your preferred image editing software.
Import a raster image into your software.
Practice basic editing techniques, such as cropping, resizing, and adjusting brightness and contrast.
Try out more advanced techniques, such as using layers and masks.
Save the edited image in various formats.

Organize Your Course Materials

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A well organized workspace will help you stay on top of your course materials and improve your learning experience.

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Create a dedicated folder for your course materials
Organize your materials into subfolders
Make copies of important materials and store them in a safe place

Watch tutorials on Inkscape

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Familiarize yourself with the basics of Inkscape, the software we'll be using in class, by watching some introductory tutorials.

Browse courses on Bezier Pen Tool

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Search for beginner-friendly Inkscape tutorials on YouTube or other online platforms.
Watch a tutorial that provides an overview of Inkscape's interface and basic tools.
Find a tutorial that specifically covers the Trace Bitmap Tool and the Bezier Pen Tool.
Follow along with the tutorial, pausing to practice the steps yourself.
Experiment with the tools on your own to get a feel for how they work.

14 other activities

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Review general image editing concepts

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Review the fundamentals of image editing to strengthen your foundation before beginning this Inkscape course.

Browse courses on Raster Graphics

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Define key concepts like resolution, color modes, and file formats.
Examine different image editing tools and their functions.
Practice basic editing techniques such as cropping, resizing, and adjusting brightness and contrast.

Review Computer Basics

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Mastering basic computer skills will make following along with this course much easier.

Browse courses on Computer Basics

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Go over basic computer terminology
Describe how a computer operates a GUI
Practice using a mouse and keyboard

Review previous coursework on graphic design basics

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Brings to mind the fundamental concepts that underlie graphic design

Browse courses on Design Principles

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Review notes and assignments from previous graphic design courses
Go over practice materials such as exercises and quizzes

Explore Inkscape tutorials

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Inkscape offers a variety of tutorials to help users navigate the program

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Search for Inkscape tutorials on YouTube or other video-sharing platforms
Locate tutorials that cover concepts relevant to this course, such as importing images, tracing bitmaps, and using the Bezier Pen Tool
Follow along with the tutorials, pausing and replaying as needed

Join an Inkscape study group

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Studying with others can enhance understanding and provide support

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Find or create an Inkscape study group
Meet regularly to discuss course materials, share tips, and work on projects
Provide feedback and support to other members of the group

Trace Bitmaps

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Tracing bitmaps is a fundamental skill for converting raster images to vector graphics. Practice makes perfect!

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Import a raster image into Inkscape
Use the Trace Bitmap tool to convert the image to a vector graphic
Edit and modify the vector graphic to your liking

Practice tracing and editing images in Inkscape

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Inkscape provides tools for tracing images and editing them to suit your needs.

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Import an image into Inkscape
Use the Trace Bitmap tool to convert the image into a vector graphic
Edit the vector graphic using the Bezier Pen Tool and other tools

Create a vector logo

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Apply your newfound Inkscape skills to create a vector logo that you can use for personal or professional projects.

Browse courses on Logo Design

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Sketch out a design for your logo.
Open Inkscape and create a new document.
Use the Bezier Pen Tool and other tools to create the vector shapes for your logo.
Add colors, gradients, and other effects to your logo.
Export your logo in a high-quality format.

Attend an Inkscape Workshop

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Inkscape workshops can provide you with additional training and support to help you master the software.

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Search online for Inkscape workshops in your area
Register for a workshop that fits your schedule and needs
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the activities

Mentor new Inkscape users

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Share your Inkscape knowledge and skills by mentoring new users, helping them overcome challenges and reach their creative goals.

Browse courses on Inkscape

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Join online communities or forums dedicated to Inkscape.
Identify beginners who are asking questions or seeking guidance.
Offer your assistance and provide clear and concise answers.
Create tutorials or resources that address common challenges faced by beginners.
Encourage and support new users as they develop their skills.

Create a custom logo using Inkscape

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This activity allows you to apply the skills learned in the course to create a practical design

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Brainstorm ideas for a custom logo design
Sketch out the design on paper
Create the logo in Inkscape using the tools and techniques covered in the course
Export the logo in a suitable format for use

Contribute to open source Inkscape projects

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Deepen your understanding of Inkscape and contribute to the community by participating in open source projects related to the software.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Find open source Inkscape projects on platforms like GitHub.
Review the documentation and codebase of a project that interests you.
Identify an area where you can contribute, such as bug fixing, feature development, or documentation improvement.
Follow the project's contribution guidelines and submit a pull request.
Collaborate with other contributors to refine your changes and get them merged into the project.

Contribute to the Inkscape community

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Inkscape is an open-source project, so you can contribute to its development and support

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Visit the Inkscape website to learn about contributing
Identify an area where you can contribute, such as reporting bugs, translating documentation, or writing code
Make your contribution and submit it to the Inkscape community

Attend Inkscape meetups or conferences

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These events provide opportunities to connect with other Inkscape users and learn from experts

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Search for Inkscape meetups or conferences in your area
Register for the event and attend
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your experiences

Career center

Learners who complete Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Graphic designer

As a Graphic Designer, you are going to be working with many different kinds of images. You will need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to meet the needs of your clients. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for a variety of purposes, such as logos, illustrations, and website graphics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Web Developer

Web Developers are responsible for designing and developing websites. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and user-friendly websites. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for website graphics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer

User Experience Designer

User Experience Designers are responsible for designing and developing the user interface for websites and apps. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and user-friendly interfaces. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for user interface design.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Art Director

Art Directors are responsible for overseeing the visual aspects of a project. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and effective marketing materials. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Illustrator

Illustrators are responsible for creating images for a variety of purposes, such as books, magazines, and websites. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and effective illustrations. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality illustrations that can be used for a variety of purposes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Photographer

Photographers are responsible for taking pictures for a variety of purposes, such as marketing, journalism, and art. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create high-quality photographs. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality photographs that can be used for a variety of purposes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and effective marketing materials. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Social Media Manager

Social Media Managers are responsible for managing social media accounts for businesses and organizations. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and effective social media content. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for social media content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Art teacher

Art Teachers are responsible for teaching art to students in schools and other educational settings. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational art lessons. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for art lessons.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Librarian

Librarians are responsible for managing and preserving library collections. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational library exhibits. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for library exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Archivist

Archivists are responsible for preserving and managing historical documents and artifacts. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational archival exhibits. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for archival exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archivist

Anthropologist

Anthropologists are responsible for studying the behavior and culture of humans. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational anthropological exhibits. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for anthropological exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Museum curator

Museum Curators are responsible for managing and preserving museum collections. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational museum exhibits. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for museum exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Historian

Historians are responsible for researching and writing about history. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational historical exhibits. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for historical exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Archaeologist

Archaeologists are responsible for studying past human societies through the excavation and analysis of artifacts. They need to have a strong understanding of how to create and edit images in order to create visually appealing and educational archaeological exhibits. This course, Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape, can help you build a foundation in image editing. You will learn how to import and convert raster images into vector graphics. This skill will be essential for creating high-quality images that can be used for archaeological exhibits.

See salaries and explore the career path for Archaeologist

Make Any Image into a Vector Graphic with Inkscape

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Inkscape vector graphics course

Activities

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