Inkscape

How do I draw an unfilled circle or rectangle

Asked by Lew Mammel

I want to create a Wikipedia entry and I need a diagram for a geometry theorem. Of course, MS paint makes a horrible mess, and Wikipedia pointed me along a path ending at Inkscape. I downloaded Inkscape, and I managed to draw a line, but the circles are defaulted to red, and the rectangles to blue. How do I draw unfilled circles and rectangles ? My question really is, How do I translate my MS Paint habits into Inkscape?

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Krzysztof Kosinski
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Best Krzysztof Kosinski (tweenk) said : 		#1

You need to use the Fill and Stroke dialog (Shift+Ctrl+F or select it from the Object menu, it's the first item). In the Fill tab press the button labeled "X", it means "no fill".
Paint has little in common with Inkscape. First and foremost Paint is a raster program - when you draw a circle and then a rectangle that obscures it, you can't move the rectangle away to uncover the circle, or resize any of those objects without drawing them again, while it's easy in Inkscape. With Paint you think about pixels, while in Inkscape you need to think about objects.

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Lew Mammel (l-mammel) said : 		#2

Thanks for the answer. I had just found the X, which didn't register with me at first. My Paint habits are more or less object oriented, as I tend to create a pallet of shapes and drag them into my drawing. Inkscape has many more options, and I just have to get used to the basics. Thanks again.

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dconnell (connelld9) said : 		#3

What if I want to make an unfilled Rectangle or other object the default?

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Mc (mc...) said : 		#4

Double click on the rectangle tool icon to show up the preferences about that tool, which lets you choose between "last used style" or some style you can define. (same with other tools) (also accessible in preferences (ctrl+shift+p))

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dconnell (connelld9) said : 		#5

Ok, I just tried that. Now when I left click and drag I don't see anything. When I release the left button an empty noded box appears. When I click outside the box even that disappears.

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dconnell (connelld9) said : 		#6

I'm using Inkscape 0.91 and have Windows 7 if that makes a difference