Importing Files

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Inkscape is capable of importing many types of vector and bitmap graphics files. It can also import text. Some types are handled internally by GDK (ani, bmp, gif, ico, icns, jpeg, pcx, png, pnm, ras, tga, tiff, wbmp, xbm, xpm). Other types require additional programs, listed under the relevant entries as listed. One special feature allows importing images from the Open Clip Art Library, a free source of clip art. This is discussed at the end of this section.

Two methods exist for importing files into an already open document. The first is to use your window manager to drag a file and drop it onto an open Inkscape window. The second is to use the File → icon Import... (Ctrl+I) dialog. These work for both bitmap and SVG files.

	Embedding versus Linking
New in v0.48: When bitmap files are imported, a dialog will open up asking if you wish to embed or link the file. Embedding a file will cause the SVG file to be larger (sometimes significantly) but the SVG file will be stand alone as a copy of the bitmap is encoded inside the file. If you link to the bitmap, you will need to move the SVG file and bitmap file together. If at a later time you change your mind, you can use the Embed Images or the Extract Image extensions to embed or extract images. See the section called “Images” in Chapter 22, Extensions. Note that prior to v0.48, by default, bitmap images are linked.

Embedding versus Linking

New in v0.48:

When bitmap files are imported, a dialog will open up asking if you wish to embed or link the file. Embedding a file will cause the SVG file to be larger (sometimes significantly) but the SVG file will be stand alone as a copy of the bitmap is encoded inside the file. If you link to the bitmap, you will need to move the SVG file and bitmap file together. If at a later time you change your mind, you can use the Embed Images or the Extract Image extensions to embed or extract images. See the section called “Images” in Chapter 22, Extensions. Note that prior to v0.48, by default, bitmap images are linked.

	Bitmap Editing
You can edit linked bitmap images with an external program by doing a Right Mouse Click on the image and selecting the Edit Externally... option. The external program specified in the Bitmap section of the Inkscape Preferences dialog will open with the image loaded. Inkscape will update the image if any changes are saved (updates will happen any time the linked bitmap file changes, not just when the editing was initiated from Inkscape). Note, you cannot edit an embedded image file with an external program.

Bitmap Editing

You can edit linked bitmap images with an external program by doing a Right Mouse Click on the image and selecting the Edit Externally... option. The external program specified in the Bitmap section of the Inkscape Preferences dialog will open with the image loaded. Inkscape will update the image if any changes are saved (updates will happen any time the linked bitmap file changes, not just when the editing was initiated from Inkscape). Note, you cannot edit an embedded image file with an external program.

	SVG Bitmap Support
The SVG standard only requires renderers to support PNG, JPEG, and SVG formats. The other formats that Inkscape supports internally due to GDK (ani, bmp, ico, pcx, pnm, ras, tga, tiff, wbmp, xbm, xpm) render fine in Inkscape. Other renderers, however, will most likely not support external files of these types referenced from within an SVG file. When you select the embed option, Inkscape will convert the file first to a PNG. Your safest bet is to either embed them or use another program such as Gimp to convert these formats to JPEG or PNG.

SVG Bitmap Support

The SVG standard only requires renderers to support PNG, JPEG, and SVG formats. The other formats that Inkscape supports internally due to GDK (ani, bmp, ico, pcx, pnm, ras, tga, tiff, wbmp, xbm, xpm) render fine in Inkscape. Other renderers, however, will most likely not support external files of these types referenced from within an SVG file. When you select the embed option, Inkscape will convert the file first to a PNG. Your safest bet is to either embed them or use another program such as Gimp to convert these formats to JPEG or PNG.

UniConvertor

	UniConvertor
A number of import types (CDR, PLT, SK1, and WMF) use the program UniConverter. As of UniConvertor version 1.1.4 text is not imported. It is planned that UniConvertor version 1.1.5 will handle text. Windows. UniConvertor 1.1.3 is included in v0.47, 1.1.5 in v0.48. Macintosh. UniConvertor is not included with Inkscape. Installation is not trivial. Fedora Users. The executable `uniconv` was renamed to `uniconvertor` to avoid a naming conflict. This is accounted for in v0.48. For v0.47, you can add a “symbolic link” from `/usr/bin/uniconv` to `/usr/bin/uniconvertor` (if you don't already have a binary with that name) or you can edit files such as `cdr_input.inx` and `cdr2svg.sh` in the `share/inkscape/extensions` directory.

A number of import types (CDR, PLT, SK1, and WMF) use the program UniConverter. As of UniConvertor version 1.1.4 text is not imported. It is planned that UniConvertor version 1.1.5 will handle text.

Windows. UniConvertor 1.1.3 is included in v0.47, 1.1.5 in v0.48.

Macintosh. UniConvertor is not included with Inkscape. Installation is not trivial.

Fedora Users. The executable uniconv was renamed to uniconvertor to avoid a naming conflict. This is accounted for in v0.48. For v0.47, you can add a “symbolic link” from /usr/bin/uniconv to /usr/bin/uniconvertor (if you don't already have a binary with that name) or you can edit files such as cdr_input.inx and cdr2svg.sh in the share/inkscape/extensions directory.

	In Case of Failure
	If importing fails to work, check the file `extension-errors.log` located on Linux at `~/.config/inkscape/` and on Windows at `%userprofile%\Application Data\Inkscape\`. Any missing programs (dependencies) will be listed.

File types supported (a * indicates the author has not tested the file import):

Updated for v0.48:
.ai (Adobe Illustrator) Opens version 9.0 and later files (based on PDF). See PDF entry below. In v0.47, older versions (based on PostScript) can be opened by selecting the PostScript or EPS file type from the drop-down menu. On Linux, you can use the file command to check the version. In v0.48, older versions can be opened via UniConverter if you explicitly select Adobe Illustrator 8.0 and below (*.ai) in the file-type menu.
.ai.svg (Adobe Illustrator SVG) Strips the input of everything in Adobe Illustrator Name Spaces, leaving the file as pure SVG.
.ani (Animation Cursor)
.bmp (Windows Bitmap)
.cdr, .ccx, .cdt, .cmx (CorelDRAW) Requires UniConverter. File versions 7 to X4 supported by UniConverter 1.1.1 and later.
.cgm (Computer Graphics Metafile)* Requires UniConverter.
.cur (Windows cursor)
.dia (Dia) Requires Dia to be installed.
.dxf (AutoCAD) Imported via internal script. The import is geared for AutoCAD release 13 and newer files (use QCad to update older files). Note that the imported objects may be very small, use 4 to zoom in on them.
.eps (Encapsulated PostScript) Requires Ghostscript with the utility ps2pdf in your “PATH”. The EPS file is converted to PDF first and then imported. Versions prior to v0.47 require pstoedit. The same options as for PDF import are available.
.fig (XFig) Requires xfig (fig2dev) to be installed.
.ggr (Gimp gradient) Requires Gimp. Imported Gradients will appear in the Gradients menu. Works only for linear Gradients.
.gif (GIF: Graphic Interchange Format)
.icns (Apple Icon Image icon icon)
.ico (Windows icon)
.jpg, .jpe, .jpeg, jp2, .jpc, .jpx, .j2k, .jpf (JPEG and JPEG2000: Joint Photographic Experts Group)
.pbm, .pgm, .pnm, .ppm (PNM, Portable Anymap)
.pcx (PC Paintbrush Bitmap Format)
.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format) Supported natively through the poppler library. Also supports .ai (Adobe Illustrator) version 9.0 and later files. A dialog will appear in which you can specify which page of a multipage file should be imported as well as a clip region. Gradient meshes are converted to groups of small tiles. Text is imported with manual kerning. To make editing easier, manual kerning can be removed via the Text → Remove Manual Kerns command. One can select if Inkscape should attempt to replace font names with the most similarly named fonts installed on your system and if images should be embedded. A preview is shown in v0.48.
Import PDF dialog.
Importing PDF files can be done from the command line.
.plt (HPGL File for desktop cutters) Requires UniConverter, version 1.1.4 or later.
.png (PNG: Portable Network Graphic)
.ps (PostScript) Requires Ghostscript with the utility ps2pdf in your “PATH”. The EPS file is converted to PDF first and then imported. Versions prior to v0.47 require pstoedit. The same options as for PDF import are available.
.ras (Sun Raster)*
.sk (Sketch/Skencil) Requires Skencil to be installed. Special shape information (e.g., rectangles) is not preserved.
.sk1 (sK1, fork of Sketch) Requires UniConverter.
.svg (SVG)
.svgz (SVG Compressed)
.tga, .targa (Truevision Advanced Raster Graphics Adapter) Common in video games.
.tif, tiff (TIFF: Tagged Image Format)
.txt (Text), Requires Perl SVG.pm module. Text is imported as a group of regular text objects, one for each line.
.wbmp (Wireless Application Protocol Bitmap Format)
.wmf (Windows Meta File) Requires UniConverter.
.wpg (WordPerfect Graphics)*
.xaml (Microsoft Application eXtensible Markup Language).*
.xbm (X-BitMap).
.xpm (X-Pixmap)

Open Clip Art Library

The command File → icon Import From Open Clip Art Library opens a search dialog that connects to the Open Clip Art Library website, a source of free clip art. The dialog allows searching for drawings that match descriptive words. Previews of files are shown in a window on the right side of the dialog.

Import From Open Clip Art Library dialog. An example of searching for a butterfly is shown.

You may have to set the server name (openclipart.org) in the Import/Export section of the Inkscape Preferences dialog. In the future, export to the library will also be supported.


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