On Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 12:55:40PM +0100, Tavmjong Bah wrote:

On Mon, 2015-01-19 at 00:42 -0800, Bryce Harrington wrote:

...

One of the major remaining tasks we have is to write up release announcements. The drafts are being developed here:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php?title=AnnouncePlanning091

It needs formal and informal announcements written. To see what we need to make it look like, see:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php?title=AnnouncePlanning046

I started a draft for a formal release announcement (that is what is in the Wiki at the moment). I sent an email last week about this but while it is in my "Sent" box it never made it to the mailing list. My attempt can also be seen (with better formatting) at:

http://tavmjong.free.fr/0.91_Release_Announcement.html

I don't know how useful better formatting is as, I have just found out, most mail programs implement only basic HTML syntax with only inline CSS.

Yeah the formatting might not come through, but I do like the highlighting of key terms for the new features. Very catchy. I wonder if we could include graphics (or animated gifs?) of the item.

The key terms would probably read better if they were all nouns; half of them are nouns already. So maybe 'Cairo Renderer' instead of 'Rendering', 'Symbols Library' instead of Symbols, etc.

I updated the "Announcing Releases" with links to guides on how to write press releases:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Announcing_Releases

They are a a good read for anyone intending on working on announcements.

Brynn submitted an announcement that might be useful as a start of the informal announcement which, I believe, is intended for those who already are use Inkscape. His attempt got promptly shot down on inkscape-devel, including by me. This was due, at least on my part, by confusion over who the intended audience was. I had in mind the formal announcement.

Yes, let's resurrect that as a starting point for the informal announcement.

Bryce

Hi Brynn,

On Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:12:12 -0700 "Brynn" <brynn@...3133...> wrote:

Hi Friends, Even though I do understand a little better now, I still don't want to write this. I've got some projects helping Martin and Maren on the website, that are taking my time right now. But I thought I'd provide the first draft again (attached) just for your convenience. You all are more than welcome to take it apart, change it, put it back together, or whatever you need! And btw, I'm a woman :-)

Commenting on the attached release announcement:

Inkscape version 0.91 is Released!

I think that should be "was Released" instead of "is Released".

A little over 4 years since the last major version release (0.48), which included 5 interim "bug fix" releases, the Inkscape development community announces the release of the new stable version 0.91.

"version" ==> "version, 0.91".

Inkscape is an Open Source vector graphics editor, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format, whicih can be used as a

"whicih" ==> "which".

complement to your other graphics and desktop tools. Perhaps midway through its development, Inkscape has borrowed some user interface ideas from other fine editors, such as Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Xara X. Yet it features many new tools and interface elements all its own.

I would write that as:

«

During its development, Inkscape has borrowed some user interface ideas from other fine editors, such as Illustrator, CorelDraw, and Xara X. Nevertheless, it features many new tools and interface elements, of its own.

»

The shining jewel among the highlights of this new version, is a new renderer based on the Cairo library. Most of the work on it was done during the 2010 and 2011 Google Summer of Code. It will much improve many of the performance issues which followed Inkscape as it has grown over the last few years. (Can you hear fan's cheering?)

"Can you hear fan's cheering?" Should be "Can you hear the fan's cheering?" or "Can you hear the fans cheering?". Or perhaps that sentence should be removed entirely.

In addition to a new Measurement tool, the Node, Text, and Gradient tools have all seen improvements. Among many other new features, is Trace Pixel Art (which is similar to the existing Trace Bitmap), and a new Symbols dialog. Dialog status and position is now remembered between sessions; Guides can now be multi-colored and labelled; and there are new preferences for the size of on-canvas controls. And finally, some more new Snapping options are available, as well as Snap preferences which are more easily understandable.

"And finally," ==> "Finally,".

Several new file formats are supported, including FXG, SIF and HTML5 export; and VSD and CDR import. EMF/WMF are now for all platforms.

"are now" ==> "are now available" and maybe "EMF/WMF" should be "EMF/WMF export and import".

And XCF, PDF,

Remove the "And".

EPS, and PS+LaTeX support are improved. There are 14 new extensions, and ?? new filters!

Please see release notes for details:

"see release notes" ==> "see the release notes".

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Release_notes/0.91

Please find download info on the website: https://inkscape.org/en/download/

Maybe say "Download information may be found on the website: https://inkscape.org/en/download/ ".

====================================

Regards,

Shlomi Fish

As an alternative, I see the tarball at http://sourceforge.net/projects/inkscape/files/inkscape/0.91pre4/

On Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 6:08 AM, Shlomi Fish <shlomif@...2985...> wrote:

Hi Bryce!

On Mon, 19 Jan 2015 00:42:56 -0800 Bryce Harrington <bryce@...961...> wrote:

...

Download it at:

https://inkscape.org/en/download/

It's not there:

<rindolf> Hi all . inkscape-0.91-pre4 was announced today, but I only see -pre3 in the link - https://inkscape.org/en/download/ . <FailBit> heh <FailBit> 08:01:15 su_v | anyone seeing a download link for the 0.91pre4 package on the download page? <su_v> rindolf: reply on the mailing list ... <su_v> the files are uploaded, but apparently not linked to the download page <su_v> (you can find them in bryce's InkSpace <su_v> ) <rindolf> su_v: what is bryce? <su_v> s/what/who <rindolf> su_v: ah. <su_v> (see who wrote the message on the ml) <rindolf> su_v: OK. <su_v> rindolf: better to let him known on the ML that the download page hasn't been updated yet with a new section for pre4 <rindolf> su_v: OK, so I should send this E-mail? <FailBit> bryce is probably still sleeping <su_v> I guess <FailBit> so yeah, email

Regards,

    Shlomi Fish

--

Shlomi Fish http://www.shlomifish.org/ Stop Using MSIE - http://www.shlomifish.org/no-ie/

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. — Ecclesiastes 1:11

Please reply to list if it's a mailing list post - http://shlom.in/reply .

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On Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 05:32:25AM -0700, Brynn wrote:

Regarding

...

One of the major remaining tasks we have is to write up release announcements. The drafts are being developed here:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php?title=AnnouncePlanning091

Assuming the draft shown there is the current working draft, I would suggest "Everyday people" might come across in a negative way. At least, it makes me feel a little offended. I think there could be a better way to indicate that people use Inkscape for all kinds of reasons or purposes, beyond professional ones.

Good point. Perhaps more emphasis on the types of *drawings* would be better than the people.

And I think more emphasis could be given to non-professional uses, because in reality....or at least in my experience, Inkscape is used more by non-professionals than by professionals.

I didn't change that wiki draft, because I haven't been in contact with that group, and don't want to offend anyone; and also, because I have no positive concept of marketing, and won't be able to write my thoughts properly (to sound like marketing).

Easy suggested changes: "Other people", "People", "Non-professionals" (to replace "Everyday people").

As Tav alluded to, we've generally drafted two separate announcements - a formal one that we intend to work more like a news release and be disseminated far and wide on a large variety of news sites. And a second informal one to be sent to blogs and more community oriented places, more conversational in tone.

For the latter, informal press release, I definitely agree we should focus to more everyday type users. The formal one may have longer legs if we more emphasize the professional uses of the program - that is to say, more news sites may pick it up and distribute it to more people if it sounds like a professional scale tool.

But again, we may be better off focusing on the professionalism of the *drawing* more than the professionalism/non-professionalism of the person doing the drawing.

More involved suggestions: Here are some of the non-professional uses that I've come across, in my participation in forums:

• someone making a new icon for their business
• someone making a layout for their business card, or letterhead, or etc.
• someone drawing a banner for their Facebook, or a website, or even for a

brick and mortar business

• people making drawings for use with digital home/craft cutter machines, or

vinyl cutting or laser etching, or wood routing (CNC), or even using Inkscape drawing for a digital metal cutting machine

• someone making illustrations for a book they wrote, or pamphlet or flyer

for their business

• someone making a holiday card or party invitation or poster
• someone making decals for their motorcycle
• someone making decals for their model cars, trucks, etc.
• people making designs to be printed on fabric (t-shirts, sweatshirts,

hats, etc.)

• people trying to develop their artistic and design skills
• having fun

Right, so half of those I would call "professional uses" even if the artist isn't doing it professionally. This is a good brainstorming list. We could pick out 3 to 5 items to make mention of in the release, perhaps even include examples of those they can see if they click-thru the links to our website?

So those are not just "everyday people". They are business owners, or leaders of organizations, or teachers, or parents. (and actually, teachers ARE professionals, even though not professional artists)

Maybe instead of the sentence starting with "Everyday people", it could be something like: Many non-professionals use Inkscape for things like: " and then list a few of those things?

Or, "Inkscape is used for professional-quality drawing, like: ..."

Just a couple of thoughts :-)

Keep 'em coming brynn!

Bryce

Thanks for listening, brynn

---

From: "Bryce Harrington" <bryce@...961...> Sent: Monday, January 19, 2015 1:42 AM To: inkscape-announce@lists.sourceforge.net Cc: inkscape-devel@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: [Inkscape-devel] inkscape-0.91pre4 source tarball

...

Download it at:

https://inkscape.org/en/download/

Tagged on the release branch as:

INKSCAPE_0_91_PRE4

This likely is the last pre-release before our official release. There are a few more remaining changes that Josh and I are aware of, but nothing to cause undue delay. Hopefully the release will be finalized within the coming week.

Please make sure any bugs you find are properly recorded in the bug tracker[1]. If you find particularly serious issues, please also make sure the issue (and any work-arounds) are detailed in our Release Notes[2], and hopefully we can tackle them in future point releases.

Packagers, if you haven't already I recommend using this release as an opportunity to try out the new package upload system on the main website. Make sure to set your uploads as Mirrored, so we can start utilizing the new mirroring service. Please see Martin's tutorial posted on Dec 31st, and contact him directly if you need permissions or help uploading.

One of the major remaining tasks we have is to write up release announcements. The drafts are being developed here:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php?title=AnnouncePlanning091

It needs formal and informal announcements written. To see what we need to make it look like, see:

http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php?title=AnnouncePlanning046

In particular we'll need to identify a few volunteers to send the notices out. I can take care of a portion of the notifications but there's quite more to do than I'll have time for, and so would appreciate any help.

Bryce

1: https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/ 2: http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Release_notes/0.91#Known_issues

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