November 21, 2005 - The Inkscape community today releases Inkscape 0.43, an Open Source Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) drawing tool available for Unix/Linux variants, Mac OS X, and Windows.

The focus of this release is on the exciting new features sponsored by Google through their Summer of Code (SoC) program which provided funding for four individuals to contribute to Inkscape. The primary additions this release are:

* Connectors: A new indispensable connector tool implements creation, editing, and auto-routing (object-avoiding) of connector lines between objects. It is indispensable for drawing diagrams. (Google SoC project) * Inkboard Collaborative Editing: One may now connect to other Inkscape users over a network and edit a shared document, watch changes, and contribute one's own changes. (Google SoC project) * Pressure and Tilt Sensitivity: The calligraphy tool may now use a tablet pen with pressure and tilt support to vary the width and angle of a calligraphic stroke. * Better Node Editing: One may freely drag, bend, and stretch a Bezier curve by any point and not only by a node. Also, one may easily add a new node at any point on the curve. * New Extensions: There are now extensions for envelope distortion, whirling, and adding nodes. * Refinements: Inkscape now supports improved precision, expanded limits, usability improvements and several bugfixes. * SVG Compliance: There is now additional support for the viewBox element improving SVG compatibility.

In response to the release, Tavmjong Bah updated his online book, "A Guide to Inkscape," to cover the Inkscape 0.43 features. This guide is not included with the Inkscape release. Users are encouraged to read the guide in addition to Inkscape 0.43's release notes and the help included with Inkscape.

Currently the Inkscape community is working on the next release which focuses on stability and closing bugs. The next release will add an outline viewing mode, a plan towards SVG Tiny compliance, a fill and stroke interface to the bottom toolbar, and further application refinements.

Inkscape is open to all types of contributions by people with all different skill levels from around the world. Inkscape needs translators, web designers, people to help answer questions, and developers to help reach the project's goal of SVG compliance. Visit Inkscape.org and Draw Freely.

Download Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X packages:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=93438

For many more details, see the complete Release Notes for 0.43:

http://www.inkscape.org/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?ReleaseNotes043

Community submitted screenshots:

http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/

About Inkscape

Inkscape is an open source drawing tool that uses the World Wide Web Consortium's (W3C) scalable vector graphics format (SVG). Some supported SVG features include basic shapes, paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, and grouping. In addition, Inkscape supports Creative Commons' metadata, node-editing, layers, complex path operations, text-on-path, text-in-shape, and SVG XML editing. It also imports several formats like EPS, PostScript, JPEG, PNG, BMP, and TIFF and exports PNG as well as multiple vector-based formats.

Inkscape's main motivation is to provide the Open Source community with a fully W3C compliant XML, SVG, and CSS2 drawing tool. Additional work includes conversion of the codebase from C/Gtk to C++/Gtkmm, emphasizing a lightweight core with powerful features added through an extension mechanism, and the establishment of a friendly, open, community-oriented development process.