How to Create a Cartoon Dinosaur with Inkscape -

Inkscape is a great vector creating program that's free. Creating this dinosaur will help you learn how to use the software.

Edit Steps

1. 
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   Click on the rectangular icon and create a rectangle.


2. 
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   Set the Rx and the Ry to about 50.

   
   
   
   Set the Rx and the Ry to about 50. More or less depending on what you like. This will round the corners of your shape.


3. 
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   Click on the edit path by node icon. Move the nodes further apart in the top left hand corner to create a more rounded corner. Keep in mind that you are creating the dino's nose.


4. 
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   Add a gradient. Click on the gradient icon and take it from right to left. You want the front of the nose to be lighter.


5. 
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   Build the eye.

   
   
   
   Build the eye. To do this, you need to create five different size circles. Be sure to hold down the CTRL key while creating the circles. This will make sure they are circles, not ellipses.


6. Create another 2 circles, slightly darker than the color you are using for the dino (green in this case).


7. For both of these circles, change the object to path (Object >> Object to Path) and distort them until they look how you want them to be. Here is how it should look (more or less) so far.
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   
   
   


8. Start creating the teeth. Do this by creating a circle, turning it into a path and distort them to have a dull point. Create a main tooth and then duplicate it. To make it look somewhat realistic, vary the size of the teeth. Make 2 or 3 of them.


9. Reproduce one of the teeth. Change the color to the color of your dino, move and rotate it so that it will be a spike at the top of his head. Alternatively, you can create the spike without duplicating the tooth.


10. Build your dino's eyebrows. Create another rectangle. This will be the eyebrow. For the Rx and Ry, use 20 instead of 50. Turn it into a path.
    
    
    
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      Lower the top left corner of the rectangle.

      
      
      
      Lower the top left corner of the rectangle. Once you have it the shape you want it, duplicate it. (CTRL D)
    
    
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      Reduce the size of the new rectangle (it's a highlight) and select a lighter color for it.

      
      
      
      Reduce the size of the new rectangle (it's a highlight) and select a lighter color for it. Push up on the bottom center of it.
      
      
      
      • The head is now complete.
      
      
      
      
    
    
    
    


11. Start work on the body. Create a circle. Make sure it is the same color as the primary head color. Have it be about half the size of the head. This is a cartoon, after all.


12. Convert the object (the circle) into a path. Then give your dino's body a teardrop(ish) shape. Once you have the shape you want, duplicate it.


13. 
    
    
    

    
    

    

    
    Select a lighter color for the belly of the dinosaur.

    
    
    
    Select a lighter color for the belly of the dinosaur. You might want to stretch it out and move it so that it looks right.


14. Create a gradient so that it adds some depth to your dino's torso.


15. Create, or duplicate, the spikes that you made for your dino's head. Shrink them down a bit and add them to the back of the dinosaur.


16. Use another circle to create the leg. Give it the same gradient that the face has. Convert it to a path and shape it the way you want it.


17. 
    
    
    

    
    

    

    
    Create the toenails.

    
    
    
    Create the toenails. Pick a color that you like for them. Make them a similar shape to the legs, and add them.


18. 
    
    
    

    
    

    

    
    Create the arm.

    
    
    
    Create the arm. The arm is the most complicated part of the whole dinosaur. Basically, you need to create it in segments: Shoulder and upper arm, forearm, hand, fingers, fingernails. You do this by creating the circles, converting to paths, and changing the shapes.


19. 
    
    
    

    
    

    

    
    Put the arm together, put it in place and resize appropriately.

    
    
    
    Put the arm together, put it in place and resize appropriately.


20. Duplicate the arm and darken it because it will be right arm.


21. 
    
    
    

    
    

    

    
    Enjoy your dinosaur!!.

    
    
    
    Enjoy your dinosaur!!

Edit Tips

• It's helpful to put each component on its own layer to facilitate moving things around.


• Some helpful keyboard shortcuts for Inkscape are:
  
  
  
  • CTRL + G - Group
  
  
  • CTRL + D - Duplicate
  
  
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    Raise and lower layers
  
  
  
  

Edit Related wikiHows

• How to Install Inkscape


• How to Trace an Image Using Inkscape


• How to Create Shapes in Inkscape


• How to Create 3D Text With Inkscape


• How to Draw a Hackergotchi with Inkscape


• How to Draw a Hackergotchi with Inkscape


• How to Create a Realistic Candle in Inkscape

Edit Sources and Citations

• Vector.tutsplus.com

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