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I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

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Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#31

Post by zelphirkalt »

henshao wrote: post #30

This seems like the right thread to ask. I love the idea of tools like these to be able to easily and programmatically draw diagrams, but eventually it gets thrown into a powerpoint, where then it is locked behind some tool and arcane DSL that only I know. So when my boss who doesn't care about the tools inevitable wants to move the arrow up an inch or make the box green instead of blue, I have to go back to do it. M…

If the boss wants to "move arrows up" then it is possible, that the boss should have been involved in the design process, or keep feedback for later to be worked in, but not in the middle of a presentation.

And please ... Don't do software modelling in powerpoints. It is quite painful to watch that happening. It lowers interest in contributing of people, who would have used a proper tool for such a job and would have been 3x faster that way.

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#32

Post by zelphirkalt »

Andrew_nenakhov wrote: post #10

I love inkskape, but I wish it took some interface tips from modern graphical software like Sketch. Inkscape's interface hasn't changed much in the last 15 years or more, and since then a LOT has changed in the UX world. Tools like Sketch and Figma introduced so many tiny interface and usability improvements, that when combined with each other they raise productivity be a factor of 10 or more for tasks like drawing a…

The many random sidebars in Inkscape are a bit questionable, but I prefer its UI over many modern ones. The UI just works for me for the cases, where I use Inkscape.

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#33

Post by uneekname »

jofer wrote: post #5

Inkscape is great for technical figures, especially cartoons like the examples shown here. At least in my field, purely conceptual futures are called "cartoons" to distinguish from "figures" which are based on observational data. A former advisor of mine had a quote that I'll happily steal here: "A cartoon is the highest form of scientific communication". Distilling a concept down to a very simple illustration is an…

I saw in your profile that you’re a geologist, and as a geology major about to finish my undergrad I’m particularly interested in how you’ve used Inkscape to create scientific cartoons.

I’ve been using Inkscape to complete assignments for my classes, and it’s been an uphill (yet rewarding!) battle. It seems that my professors and peers each have a different program of choice, so I decided to forge my own way with OSS.

My contact info can be found in my profile if you prefer.

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#35

Post by lqr »

Andrew_nenakhov wrote: post #20
Mordisquitos wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a counterpoint, I recently had to use Inkscape for a few non-trivial tasks after not having used it for years, and I was pleasantly surprised that all the tools and functionalities were still in the same place as they were all those years ago. I was extremely glad that I did not have to struggle with and decipher a newfangled UX but could instead just do what I wanted in a quick and easy fashion without having to…

If you know Inkscape, you'll feel right at home with Sketch. The extra functionality I'm talking is usually unlocked with additional hotkeys and visual helpers that appear by themselves when dragging things around. I'm not exaggerating about 10x productivity boost, it is really that big.

Looked it up, it seems more targeted to page layout applications. Is it really that much better for something like a drawing in a math textbook?

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#36

Post by karthink »

blip54321 wrote: post #21

This looks awesome. I'd pay $50 to have this workflow fully integrated and working with my editor (emacs; I'd also take VSCode or something else that's not vim). apt-get install a few things, and it works. That's conveying value-add, not suggesting someone should do it for that amount (which is to say I'd gladly pay, but I can't imagine it's worth doing for that amount, or that there's a reasonably way to find and co…

Emacs integration for the OP's style of inkscape usage[1]

My fork with personalizations[2]

Org-mode integration for Krita[3] and Xournal[4]

[1] https://github.com/foxfriday/ink [2] https://github.com/karthink/ink [3] https://github.com/lepisma/org-krita [4] https://gitlab.com/vherrmann/org-xournalpp

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#37

Post by bzxcvbn »

amelius wrote: post #29
bzxcvbn wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it works, it works.

Until it doesn't and you have to redo your entire drawing in another tool ... It is always better to choose a tool where you're least likely to run into a dead-end street.

If you know in advance that you're not going to need a more powerful, more complicated/expensive/... tool, then it's okay and even recommended to use the "lesser" tool. If I need to screw in a few screws, am I better off buying a small screwdriver or a professional 18V screwdriver/drill combo with 24 add-ons? Who knows, it depends on my projects and my skills, but it's entirely possible that buying the $5 screwdriver is the appropriate thing to do.

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#38

Post by bzxcvbn »

Waterluvian wrote: post #14

Can someone recommend me an Ubuntu friendly application that’s one step up from MS Paint? I find Inkscape and GIMP far too heavy and tedious for my needs: I work remote and just want to doodle on a screenshot.

If you're actually using Windows (you mention MS paint), there's built-in functionality to doodle on screenshots. It's built on the same tech as e.g. onenote so it's surprisingly good. Just press win+shift+s. For an existing photo/screenshot, just open it with the default image viewer and click modify.

And the "pro-tip", if I may: when you take a screenshot, it gets copied in your clipboard. Try pasting it somewhere. It works in an astouding number of places.

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#39

Post by cturtle »

Waterluvian wrote: post #14

Can someone recommend me an Ubuntu friendly application that’s one step up from MS Paint? I find Inkscape and GIMP far too heavy and tedious for my needs: I work remote and just want to doodle on a screenshot.

Try flameshot. It’s a screenshot tool that has a builtin mini editor with arrows, lines, drawing, etc. very basic but still useful for marking up a screenshot.

Re: I draw figures for my mathematical lecture notes using Inkscape (2019)

#40

Post by _emacsomancer_ »

Waterluvian wrote: post #14

Can someone recommend me an Ubuntu friendly application that’s one step up from MS Paint? I find Inkscape and GIMP far too heavy and tedious for my needs: I work remote and just want to doodle on a screenshot.

As mentioned below, there's Krita, which is very drawing oriented. Maybe also Xournal++ - I use it for drawing on/annotating documents on video calls.
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