Release of Inkscape 1.3

Inkscape is an open-source vector design application that offers a robust set of tools for both freehand and traced drawing.

The program features a layered system and includes toolsets for grouping, transforming, and simplifying paths. It supports text editing and allows exporting files in various standard formats, including PNG, SVG, EPS, PDF, and DXF.

Despite being initially released in 2003, its development has accelerated in recent years, gaining popularity among professional artists. This led to the significant milestone release of Inkscape 1.0 in 2020.

In addition to graphic design, Inkscape is used for creating vector shapes for motion graphics and 3D modeling. Among the new features in Inkscape 1.3 is the Shape Builder tool, which simplifies the process of creating complex vector shapes by performing Boolean operations on simpler 2D shapes.

The update also includes a new Pattern Editor dialog, which streamlines the process of creating repeating patterns, and improves pattern editing directly on the canvas.

Among the workflow improvements, Inkscape 1.3 introduces a new "Document Assets" dialog that lists all the assets used in the document, as well as the ability to group fonts into Collections.

Several elements of the user interface have been revamped: in the "Layers & Objects" panel, opacity and blending mode controls have been added, and the selection and editing tools for Live Path Effects (LPE) are now consolidated into one dialog.

Canvas rendering has become multi-threaded, providing "2-4 times faster" performance for zooming, panning, and transforming objects on PCs with multi-core processors. Additionally, a new experimental OpenGL render option has been introduced. While not a full-fledged GPU render, it helps reduce the processor load, especially when working with HDPI displays.
Furthermore, there is a long list of smaller changes, including a reworked PDF import dialog, improved editing of stroke and margin fields when creating graphics for printing, and much more.

Inkscape 1.3 is available under the GPL license for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows, Linux, and macOS.