Create vector graphics with LibreOffice Draw
Artistry
© Lead Image ©HannuVitanen, 123RF.com
The LibreOffice suite is best known for its word processing and spreadsheet applications. However, LibreOffice also comes with Draw – an excellent vector drawing program.
Many users turn to LibreOffice every day for word processing, presentations, spreadsheets, and small-scale database implementations. In the rush for office documents, the excellent drawing and painting program known as LibreOffice Draw often goes unnoticed. If you've wondered about using Draw, read on for a look at how to get started.
In this article I refer to version 4.2.7.2 of LibreOffice, as included out of the box with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS and other recent distros. If you're using an older version, the instructions might vary, but you can always update to the latest version through your Linux distro's package management system.
Getting Started
LibreOffice Draw starts with a blank page in portrait orientation in standard format dimensions. The left column named Pages displays a scaled-down version of the current page; to the right, you see the drawing window. As the column layout suggests, the software is perfect for managing many pages with different drawings in a Draw file. To enable an individual page, click on it (Figure 1). Format | Page sets the page format.
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