How to use the command 'inkview' (with examples)

Inkview is a graphical SVG previewer associated with Inkscape, a well-known vector graphics editor. It’s an efficient tool for those who want to quickly glimpse SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files without opening them in a full-fledged editor. Furthermore, Inkview also serves as a slideshow viewer, enabling easy navigation through a collection of SVG files. For more information, you can visit the Inkscape Wiki .

Use case 1: Preview a single SVG file

Code:

inkview path/to/file.svg

Motivation:

Imagine you are a graphic designer who has been working with multiple SVG files. You want to quickly verify the final version of a particular SVG file without launching a heavy graphic editing tool. Inkview is perfect for this scenario because it allows you to see the image almost instantaneously with minimal resource usage.

Explanation:

• inkview: This is the command to initiate the Inkview application. It tells the system to open the program responsible for previewing SVG files.
• path/to/file.svg: This is the file path argument that specifies which SVG file you want to preview. It indicates the exact location of the SVG file in the file system. Replace path/to/file.svg with the actual path where your SVG resides.

Example Output:

Upon executing the command, a window will open displaying the SVG image. You will see the graphic rendered precisely as intended, allowing you to quickly assess its visual content. The user interface is lightweight, offering fast loading times and seamless viewing.

Use case 2: Preview multiple SVGs and navigate between them

Code:

inkview path/to/file1.svg path/to/file2.svg

Motivation:

Consider you are a developer or a designer who needs to review a series of SVG icons or graphics for a project. It would be cumbersome to open each file individually. Using Inkview, you can launch a simple slideshow to rapidly switch back and forth through several graphics, comparing and analyzing them.

Explanation:

• inkview: Again, this is the command that initiates the Inkview tool.
• path/to/file1.svg path/to/file2.svg: These are file path arguments indicating the SVG files you wish to preview. Multiple file paths can be included, separated by spaces, allowing you to open several SVG files simultaneously. Here, you can replace file1.svg, file2.svg, etc., with the actual names and locations of your SVG files.

Example Output:

When you execute the command, a window will open, displaying the first SVG file. You can then use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate through the SVG files sequentially. This functionality is particularly useful for presentations or quick reviews of a graphics collection. The transition from one file to the next is smooth, maintaining focus on the content of the images.

Conclusion:

Inkview is an incredibly useful tool for users who work extensively with SVG files and need a quick way to preview or present them without the overhead of more complex graphics software. By supporting both single and multiple file previews, it caters to various scenarios, enhancing productivity and efficiency in design and presentation workflows.