Jonathan HuffmanDec 4, 2023
Pete Prodoehl ๐Ÿ•

I've been using Inkscape for over 10 years. If I had been using Illustrator for 10 years I would have paid Adobe over $2,500 in "rental" fees for a subscription that stops as soon as I stop paying.

Instead I started paying $5 a month to Inkscape to help make sure we can all use it for free for as long as we want.

#inkscape #openSource

Dec 4, 2023 at 8:27pmWeb
Show threadPete Prodoehl ๐Ÿ•Dec 4, 2023

That $2,500 could have been over $4,000 or more though, depending on if you paid yearly or month-to-month.

Also, Adobe is raising prices right now, so 2024 will be more expensive.

If you absolutely make your living using Illustrator, it may make (financial) sense, but if you only occasionally need to use it, or use it for hobby/fun stuff spend your money on Inkscape instead.

Show threadLPSDec 4, 2023
@rasterweb What a great point, I hope more people think in this way. It would go so far to maintain these excellent projects!
Show threadAlan BucknamDec 4, 2023
@rasterweb I use it for my job every day and *hate* that Adobe switched to a subscription model. I was happy to pay once, and then upgrade fees, because I didnโ€™t always want or need the upgrade every year. My net spend was less year over year than it is now. But of course thatโ€™s why Adobe does it this way.
Show threadPete Prodoehl ๐Ÿ•Dec 4, 2023

@bucknam Yup. I had bought Photoshop and used it for 10 years doing one upgrade in that time when I had the cash.

I finally had to dump it when they stopped updating it for new versions of the operating system and it stopped working. (Switched to Affinity Photo.)

Show thread ManuDec 4, 2023

@rasterweb I really tried but inkscape sucks and it's not good enough for professional use unfortunately

 if you're a freelancer, or make your company pay for it

Show threadPete Prodoehl ๐Ÿ•Dec 4, 2023

@Manu It's all a matter of perspective. My small company (just me) has used Inkscape to design and sell products for years. I also use it at the day job for all of our laser cutter design work.

I'm not about to pirate Adobe Creative Cloud. (Also, I don't even know how you can since it phones home and forces you to log in.) I'll choose open source when I can.

Show threadalciDec 5, 2023
@Manu @rasterweb how does it suck ? How could it be better ? That would be interesting to know, if you could take some time to elaborate.
Show thread ManuDec 5, 2023
@alci @rasterweb first thing first, I'd start from the ui. It's very messy and tools/functions are difficult to locate. Then of course the cmyk mode should be added and colour management should be more professional, along with file formats... actually so many functions and tools are missing compared to Ai.
I understand it's an opensource tool and it's actually pretty good if you're a beginner and/or you work on your own, but it could be improved.
I found this article that compares the two programs:
https://illustratorhow.com/inkscape-vs-adobe-illustrator/#:~:text=Besides%20the%20drawing%20and%20shaping,you%20change%20font%20or%20size.
Inkscape vs Adobe Illustrator: Detail Comparison (2023)

Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator? Not sure which one is better for you? Find out their differences and what they are best for in this detailed review.

IllustratorHow
Show threadITwrxDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb I've often said "if people would donate/spend half what they spend on proprietary software on a FOSS alternative, the FOSS alternative would be twice as good." ...Or something like that. :)
Show threadIn3D.caDec 6, 2023
@ITwrx @rasterweb https://fosstodon.org/@abivia/109541062081651205
Abivia (@[email protected])

If everyone took 10% of what they paid for high end proprietary software and donated that to open source alternatives, it would be a very short time before the open source alternative was as or more capable than their proprietary counterparts.

Fosstodon
Show threadPete Prodoehl ๐Ÿ•Dec 6, 2023
@in3dca @ITwrx Beautiful.
Show threadCrazy-to-Bike :Firefish:Dec 4, 2023
@rasterweb

Great ๐Ÿ‘

If only everyone would get the idea of it ๐Ÿคท๐Ÿคฆ
Show threadChiaraDec 4, 2023
@rasterweb Iโ€™ve found Inkscape much easier to use than Illustrator.
Show threadIncident Creator โŽDec 4, 2023
@rasterweb And in 10 years time you'll still be able to open your files.
Show threadMaybeMyMonkeysDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb you are not obligated to support Adobeโ€™s revenue model
Show threadED-209Dec 5, 2023
@rasterweb I wish I could walk the walk on this... maybe I'll give Darktable another shot.
Show threadPete Prodoehl ๐Ÿ•Dec 5, 2023
@ed209 Hey, do what you can. I still use plenty of non-open source software but I definitely celebrate and try to support the open source tools that make my life better.
Show threadED-209Dec 5, 2023
@rasterweb I agree, but I would like to vote with my wallet on this, plus I dislike being stuck with at least one Windows or macOS computer.
Show threadRob ZDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb Inkscape is awesome! Been using it for years along with GIMP.
Show threadStudio 8502 Dec 5, 2023
@rasterweb Bravo. I paid $30 for Affinity Designer, once, and I'm good with that. But Inkscape is nice, too. I just hate how GTK+ apps look on macOS. It distracts me.
Show threadStephenESCDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb
Huhโ€ฆ
Show threadClive ThompsonDec 5, 2023

@rasterweb

iโ€™m the same way with gimp, and I should start donating to it too, good reminder

Show threadBrian GrinterDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb does in import files from Illustrator?
Should look at switching
Show threadMegatronicThronBanksDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb Inkscape is amazing, and oldschool software design - you can just start using it, not fight with a bazillion submenus (GIMP, I'm looking at you...)
Show threadas234Dec 5, 2023

@rasterweb
Thanks, that's the kind of thought I have been having too.

Now I don't use inkscape so much, maybe twice a year, but it's great it's there, so I might as well donate a little (I haven't, I admit.)

My conundrum: There are so many great projects I benefit from, to varying degrees. I couldn't afford donating the same amount that a similar commercial software would have cost me, although I'm in a regular job.

Show threadWylieCoyoteUK Dec 5, 2023
@rasterweb
I am semi-retired now, but I produce a 40 page local community magazine and support a couple of websites for a charity and my daughter's business.
Main Tools:
Scribus, GIMP, Libreoffice, Bluefish.
I also run on Linux, and have done for years.
Show threadJohn Faithfull ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ๐ŸงกโœŠ๐ŸปโœŠ๐ŸฟDec 5, 2023
@rasterweb Ditto!
Show threadโ‚Kraftyโ‚ #NoKingsDec 6, 2023
@rasterweb Adobe is high on my list of reasons to #AbolishCopyright
Show threadJoachim (he/him, white)Dec 6, 2023

@rasterweb

Thank you!