What is Inkscape?

Inkscape is a vector graphics editor. The Inkscape Wiki has a thorough FAQ to help you better understand the program's applications and capabilities.

In the Maker Lab, we primarily use Inkscape to edit and create black and white vector graphics. We then produce a sticker or acrylic cutout from the vector graphic with a laser cutter (.svg) or vinyl cutter (.dxf). 

For example, we might do a Google search for: bird vector.

Although the laser cutter and vinyl cutter are reproducing an image, they are only able to reproduce certain types of images, and in certain ways. The equipment reproduces a vector image by cutting it out. In the example above, that might be the outline of a bird or the outline of an eyelid and pupil. A laser cutter reproduces a bitmap (.jpg, .gif, .png) image or filled shapes by etching/rastering. Like a printer, this involves the laser traveling from left to right, line by line, until the bitmap is reproduced. 

Inkscape is for more than vinyl decals and seasonal acrylic pieces though!

Often, the image we are editing began as a vector image created by an artist like a graphic designer. There are many other vector graphics editors (see this Wikipedia article comparing popular editors). The images below are a few examples of vector designs. They might be business cards, a company logo, a storefront sign, or an illustrated character. When a graphic designer creates a vector image, the image contains all the information needed to scale it up to billboard size, where it will maintain the intended lines and proportions.

So Inkscape is not only useful for laser cutting and vinyl cutting -- it's also useful for your web comic writing, logo creation, and business needs.