Free alternatives to Illustrator

[Bullit]

What options exist to edit an Illustrator file? I have read about Inksape, what is the general opinion on it? Better alternatives?

[Draise]

I use Inkscape all the time. Works for me. It has an awesome Raster to Vector converter included. Does all that you need. May not be as optimized as AI, but it certainly is workable.

Gravit.io is another I have heard about it.. but I have not used it like a workhorse as I have with Inkscape.

[Rork]

Illustrator files are a bit of a hit or miss in other programs, due to it's closed format.
It also seems that a lot of (3d) programs cannot read beyond the Illustrator 8 format.

But Inkscape is quite good at opening files for what it's worth.

You can also rename the file to .pdf, and open it in Acrobat Reader. (only if the file was saved with pdf compatibility turned on)
I also found this one: http://aiviewer.com/

If you 'just' need the file without the need for further editing, ask for .eps?

There's also (not free) CorelDraw and Affinity Designer for Windows (beta).

rob

[Bullit]

Thanks everyone for the input.

[tarkovsky]

Also Xara is a good open source option. One feature, that I often use in Illustrator and wouldn't miss, is the abillity to freely draw and place artboards.

[Bullit]

Can you be more specific tarkovsky?

[tarkovsky]

Can you be more specific tarkovsky?

Well it depends whether you use the software to actually produce prints or only as a vector tool?

I'm often involved in projects, where there is a structure that needs print/signage. In illu, I can draw the structure and place artboards appropriately, export and send to print.



Did this, where all the "polygons" are from a UV map, imported into illustrator, and without cutting up the UV map, I just drew artboards around each triangle and exported:

http://www.holsthenckel.dk/index.php?/a ... gymnasium/

Not every day I make huge glass birds , but could be simpler block type structures as well.

t

[Bullit]

For me is more of a vector tool, also for repetitive 3D textures for example if i want to draw road surface markings.

Nice work there.