Karbon (previously known as Karbon14, Kontour, and KIllustrator) is an open source vector drawing and editing application with an user interface that is easy to use, highly customizable and extensible.
By supporting advanced layers images, Karbon is good software to explore the world of vector graphics as well as for artists wanting to create breathtaking vector art.
Karbon has support for connections between shapes as well as support for text on path. It can load, display and manipulate complex SVG images.
Key Features
- Loading support for ODG, SVG, WPG, WMF, EPS/PS, XFig image.
- Writing support for ODG, SVG, PNG, PDF, WMF, JPEG, Krita documents.
- Customizable user interface with freely placable toolbars and dockers.
- Layer docker for easy handling of complex documents including preview thumbnails, support for grouping shapes via drag and drop, controlling visibility of shapes or locking.
- Advanced path editing tool with great on-canvas editing capabilities.
- Various drawing tools for creating path shapes including a draw path tool, a pencil tool as well as a calligraphy drawing tool.
- Gradient and pattern tools for easy on-canvas editing of gradient and pattern styles.
- Top notch snapping facilities for guided drawing and editing (e.g. snapping to grid, guide lines, path nodes, bounding boxes, orthogonal positions, intersections of path shapes or extensions of lines and paths).
- Includes many predefined shapes including basic shapes like stars, circle/ellipse, rectangle, image.
- Artistic text shape with support for following path outlines (i.e. text on path).
- Complex path operations and effects like Boolean set operations, path flattening, rounding and refining as well as whirl/pinch effects.
- Extensible by writing plugins for new tools, shapes and dockers.
Website: www.calligra.org/karbon
Support:
Developer: KDE
License: GNU Lesser General Public License
Karbon is written in C and C++. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Vector Graphics Editors | |
|---|---|
| Inkscape | Vector-based drawing program |
| Graphite | 2D vector and raster editor |
| SVG-edit | Complete vector graphics editor in the browser (in JavaScript) |
| Xfig | Draw and manipulate objects interactively |
| GodSVG | Editor for Scalable Vector Graphics files |
| LibreOffice Draw | Vector graphics editor and diagramming tool |
| LateXDraw | Vector drawing program for LaTeX using PSTricks |
| sK1 | High quality illustration program |
| Karbon | Vector drawing and editing application |
| Ipe | Extensible drawing editor |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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