Installing Inkscape and using XQuartz. Inkscape does not run directly on the Mac OS X operating system. It uses a go-between called XQuartz. Nothing to be concerned about, but there are a few things you should be aware of. To install Inkscape on Mac OS X, follow the instructions given here: Inkscape Extensions for Bobbin Lace. Jul 25, 2021 Install the App. Press Command+Space and type Terminal and press enter/return key. And press enter/return key. If you are prompted to enter your Mac's user password, enter it (when you type it, you wont see it on your screen/terminal.app but it would accept the input; this is to ensure no one can see your password on your screen while you type it. X11/XQuartz is the bridge/translator for Mac users. When you open Inkscape for the first time you'll notice that it looks like a Windows app. The biggest problem I've had with it is getting used to the window menu rather than using the top bar like an OS X app, so I inadvertently click into X11 frequently. In the dock, right click on XQuartz, hover over Applications and click on Terminal. This will configure XQuartz to run the application we want. MacPorts version 2.6.4 is available in various formats for download and installation (note, if you are upgrading to a new major release of macOS, see the migration info page). This is the most concise description of the project: XQuartz. Only those who have deliberately installed it will have XQuartz on their system, they will want to remove it because they don't know what its for or how to use it. Oct 10, 2015 10:40 AM. View answer in context. There's more to the conversation.
That should be the right version of Inkscape, and the current version of Xquartz is XQuartz-2.7.3. One thing to check is to see if there might be an older copy of either Inkscape, Xquartz, or X11 on your computer; please look in both your applications folder and in your applications/utilities folder.
Tip 375 Run X11 (XQuartz) Apps Full-Screen If you regularly use any apps that require X11 (now known within OS X as XQuartz),38 such as the Inkscape vector graphics - Selection from Mac Kung Fu, 2nd Edition Book. In this video, I will be showing you guys how to install Inkscape in Mac because some people do not install xQuartz and have trouble opening Inkscape.LIKE, C.
The XQuartz project is an open-source effort to develop a version of the X.Org X Window System that runs on macOS. Together with supporting libraries and applications, it forms the X11.app that Apple shipped with OS X versions 10.5 through 10.7.
Quick Download
Download | Version | Released | Info |
---|---|---|---|
XQuartz-2.8.1.dmg | 2.8.1 | 2021-04-25 | For macOS 10.9 or later |
XQuartz-2.7.11.dmg | 2.7.11 | 2016-10-29 | For OS X 10.6.3 or later |
X11-2.6.3.dmg | 2.6.3 | 2011-07-20 | For OS X 10.5.x (final Leopard release) |
Important Info for 10.5 Users
OS X Software Updates have included some of the work done by the XQuartz project, but for various reasons, Apple cannot ship the latest and greatest version offered by the XQuartz site. Since the XQuartz X11 package clobbers Apple's X11.app, their software update will clobber the XQuartz X11 package. Because of this, you may experience conflicts after doing a Software Update from Apple. Please re-install the latest XQuartz X11 release for Leopard after installing a system software update to OS X 10.5.x Leopard.
License Info
An XQuartz installation consists of many individual pieces of software which have various licenses. The X.Org software components' licenses are discussed on theX.Org Foundation Licenses page.The quartz-wm window manager included with the XQuartz distribution uses the Apple Public Source License Version 2.
The current version of Inkscape can be installed on computers running macOSversion 10.11 or newer.
If you are on macOS 10.7 - 10.10, you need to install the older Inkscape 0.92.2(from 2017) using the separate instructions below.Inkscape is also available for Mac users who prefer to work with the Homebrewand MacPorts environments.
Installing Inkscape on macOS 10.11 and newer¶
Xquartz Download For Mac
This is the recommended method for most Mac users to install Inkscape. Itinstalls the current version of Inkscape and requires that your computer isrunning macOS version 10.11 or newer.
Using a web browser, go to theInkscape downloads page.
Click the box labelled macOS (10.11-10.15) todownload the Inkscape disk image (DMG) file.
Once the download has finished, open your
Downloads
folder in theFinder.You can open this folder by selectingGo ‣ Downloads from themenu bar in the Finder. Double-click the Inkscape DMG file to open it.Click and drag the Inkscape icon to the Applications icon asinstructed in this window. This will install Inkscape on your Mac.
Open Inkscape by double-clicking its icon in the Applicationsfolder.You can open the Applications folder by selectingGo ‣ Applications from the menu bar in the Finder.
Installing Inkscape on OS X 10.7 - 10.10¶
If you have an older Mac running OS X version 10.7 - 10.10, you can stillinstall an older version of Inkscape, v 0.92. As part of this process, you willfirst install a helper program called XQuartz and then Inkscape 0.92itself.
Download Xquartz For Windows
Step 1: Install XQuartz¶
Using a web browser, go to the XQuartz websiteand click the XQuartz DMG icon to download it.
Once the download has finished, open your
Downloads
folder in theFinder.You can open this folder by selecting Go ‣ Downloads from the menu bar in the Finder. Double-click the XQuartz.dmg file to open it.A new window will appear. Double-click the XQuartz.pkg icon to launch theXQuartz installer. Follow the steps and instructions in installer to finish installing XQuartz.
Restart, shut down, or log out of your Mac before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Install Inkscape¶
Using a web browser, go to theInkscape 0.92.2 downloads page.
Click the box labelled Mac OS X 10.7 Installer (xquartz) todownload the DMG file, which contains the installer.
Once the download has finished, open your
Downloads
folder in the Finder.Once again, you can open this folder by selectingGo ‣ Downloads from themenu bar in the Finder. Double-click the Inkscape DMG file to open it.Click and drag the Inkscape icon to the Applications icon asinstructed in this window. This will install Inkscape on your Mac.
What Is Xquartz For Mac Download
Step 3: Setting Up Inkscape¶
Open Inkscape by double-clicking its icon in the Applicationsfolder.You can open the Applications folder by selectingGo ‣ Applications from the menu bar in the Finder.
Click OK in this window, which appears the first time Inkscape isopened. Wait for Inkscape to open. This might take a few minutes, sinceInkscape is scanning all the font files in your system. The next time youopen Inkscape, it will not take nearly as long to show up.
Once Inkscape does open, its interface will appear inside XQuartz. WhenInkscape is running, you will see the name 'Inkscape' in the title bar ofyour window, but the menu bar will show the name 'XQuartz' .
With Inkscape open, select the XQuartz preferences by selectingXQuartz ‣ Preferences… from the menu bar.
Click the Input tab, and configure its settings as shown here.
Click the Pasteboard tab, and configure its settings as shown here.
Close Preferences. You are now ready to use Inkscape.
Note that when using Inkscape version 0.92 with XQuartz, its keyboard shortcutsuse the control key, rather than the usual command key.
Homebrew and MacPorts¶
In addition to the preceding 'standard' methods of installing Inkscape, you canalso build Inkscape on your Mac using Homebrew or MacPorts. These methods areintended for users who prefer these environments; most users should use therecommended methods above. You will need to be familiar with the macOS terminaland you may need to install Xcode and its command line developertools in order to use these methods. Depending on the type of Inkscape build,you may also need XQuartz.
Using Homebrew¶
- Install Homebrew, using the instructions at the main Homebrew site.
- See the Homebrew instructions for Inkscape 0.92.2 for the specificHomebrew formula to use.
Using MacPorts¶
How To Use Xquartz Mac
- Install MacPorts. Read the guideon how to do so, since there are different methods and requirementsdepending on your operating system version.
- See the MacPorts instructions for Inkscape 0.92.2 forthe specific MacPorts installation commands to use.