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We used Inkscape for a print asset in 2010. At the time it really struggled with: a) Lots of layers, large resolution b) Rendering accurate printable colors af

We used Inkscape for a print asset in 2010. At the time it really struggled with: a) Lots of layers, large resolution b) Rendering accurate printable colors after calibration After many long nights we gave up and redid it in Illustrator. Inkscape is a fantastic product though, so it was extremely disappointing. Does anyone know if these features have improved since?

jofer 7y ago
I've used inkscape regularly for large print scientific posters for many years. It definitely used to struggle in that regard. It's gotten significantly better about handling high resolution figures and using many layers in recent years. At least on Linux, it's quite capable of handling complex files, though deeply nested layers are fundamentally a bit clunky in the UI. (Inkscape is more focused on using groups the way layers are sometimes used in Illustrator. Layers are really just a named group under the hood, if that makes sense. At any rate, it's often best to rethink your workflows a bit if you're used to having illustator files with several hundred nested layers. The UI in Inkscape semi-deliberately discourages that workflow, while Illustrator deliberately encourages it.) Printing calibrated colors isn't it's strongest suit -- I'd recommending exporting and using something else for the actual final print. However, that may have changed too. I haven't tried recently -- I've mostly taken the "export to PDF and tweak the profile when printing the PDF" approach.
protonfish 7y ago
I recently had a major struggle with it's inability to export to CMYK. I eventually found a way to get my graphics into CMYK by exporting to PDF plus an assortment or ad-hoc scripts for conversion. That seems like a real deal-breaker for most professional print applications. I still love Inkscape though.
- grawprog 7y ago
  Inability to export to CMYK seems like a huge drawback for the printing industry. RGB colours cannot be represented correctly in print. Being able to work in and export to CMYK is pretty much necessary for any kind of professional printing work.
- ris 7y ago
  When necessary, my trick has been to export inkscape graphics to Scribus when print colour support is needed. Scribus has extremely good spot/CMYK colour support, but a rather weird UI (I'm told it's modelled on QuarkXPress).

jofer 7y ago

I've used inkscape regularly for large print scientific posters for many years. It definitely used to struggle in that regard. It's gotten significantly better about handling high resolution figures and using many layers in recent years. At least on Linux, it's quite capable of handling complex files, though deeply nested layers are fundamentally a bit clunky in the UI. (Inkscape is more focused on using groups the way layers are sometimes used in Illustrator. Layers are really just a named group under the hood, if that makes sense. At any rate, it's often best to rethink your workflows a bit if you're used to having illustator files with several hundred nested layers. The UI in Inkscape semi-deliberately discourages that workflow, while Illustrator deliberately encourages it.) Printing calibrated colors isn't it's strongest suit -- I'd recommending exporting and using something else for the actual final print. However, that may have changed too. I haven't tried recently -- I've mostly taken the "export to PDF and tweak the profile when printing the PDF" approach.

protonfish 7y ago

I recently had a major struggle with it's inability to export to CMYK. I eventually found a way to get my graphics into CMYK by exporting to PDF plus an assortment or ad-hoc scripts for conversion. That seems like a real deal-breaker for most professional print applications. I still love Inkscape though.

grawprog 7y ago
Inability to export to CMYK seems like a huge drawback for the printing industry. RGB colours cannot be represented correctly in print. Being able to work in and export to CMYK is pretty much necessary for any kind of professional printing work.
ris 7y ago
When necessary, my trick has been to export inkscape graphics to Scribus when print colour support is needed. Scribus has extremely good spot/CMYK colour support, but a rather weird UI (I'm told it's modelled on QuarkXPress).