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I. Background Information. Before you can begin using
Compass and Inkscape together, there are a few things you need to do.
A. Latest Version Of Compass. To take advantage of the SVG export
features, you must have the latest version of Compass. You can download the
latest version here:
http://www.fountainware.com/compass/download.htm
B. Getting Inkscape. To use Inkscape, you will need to install a copy
on your computer. You can download a copy here:
Download Inkscape. I would
recommend that you use Inkscape 0.47 or better. Inkscape 0.46 has bugs when
copying and pasting objects. Inkscape 0.47 is due to be released in September of
2009. If you can't get Inkscape 0.47 or better, I would recommend that you get
the latest development snapshot. They may not be as stable as a final released
version, but it won't have the paste bug which will cause problems with some of
the mapping tasks.
C. Learning Inkscape. This tutorial will teach you to use many aspects
of Inkscape but it is still useful to have a general idea of the
capabilities of the program. There are also many features of Inkscape that are
not covered in this tutorial. They may turn out to be very useful creating and
beautifying you maps. For this reason, it is useful to read through the
on-line Documentation.
Also, lots of interesting and useful tricks can be found here:
Tutorials.
D. Learning Cave Mapping With Inkscape. It takes time to learn to use
any program, particularly when trying to do something as complicated as cave
mapping. If you are just starting out, you probably want to begin by making
small practice maps of say 10 shots or less. Pick something that you don't care
about and don't try to make a perfect finished map. This will allow you to
practice and make mistakes without pulling your hair out. This way you can
start over if you make mistakes and gradually learn the tools and tricks. |
