Tutorial Pesto

One of the features I like in Inkscape is duplication: to create an exact copy of the selected object. And by exact copy I mean exact copy: same shape, same colour on the same place.

How to duplicate?

Select an object, then right click, and choose duplicate. Or select the object and push Ctrl+D.
Appearantly nothing happens, because the copy is exactly above the original. You will only see it if you move it away, or recolor it.

Why is it a good thing?

I usually demonstrate this with a flower:
Draw one petal of the flower. Colour it, shape it how you want it.
If you are satisfied with that one petal, duplicate it once, rotate and move it.
Now you have 2 petals. Select both of them, and duplicate them.
Move and rotate these two new petals, so now you have four.
Select all four, duplicate, rotate and move, so you have 8 petals. It is this easy!
As you see, duplicate is saving you work and time. It is a good habit, get used to it!


While designing something in Inkscape, it is good to stop and duplicate at some point. Continue work on the copy, keep the original! This way you preserve every variations, you can use them later, sparing a lot of headache, or fuel your creative work flow.
This is what you can make by duplicating, resizing and coloring the same flower you just created