Inkscape is an
open source vector graphics editor, similar to
Adobe Illustrator. It is native to
Linux, but
Windows and
MacOSX ports are available.
Its
user interface is slightly laborious at times, but overall, is well designed. It supports
gradients,
curves,
PNG export,
star objects with many properties including
randomisation - allowing the creation of spirographic patterns.
It uses the
SVG format, and is working towards eventually supporting it
entirely.
An interesting thing is that some of the
documentation, the
about dialog, etc are SVGs that were created with Inkscape.
The Windows version runs a bit sluggishly on my 700mhz
Pentium, with 320mb of RAM. I haven't tested the native Linux version however.
Inkscape was founded by developers of
Sodipodi due to differences, and is now up to version 0.39.
The
URL is www.inkscape.org