Developer(s)sK1 Team
Stable release
2.0RC4[1] / 27 May 2019 (2019-05-27)
Repository
Written inPython, C, wxWidgets
Operating systemLinux, Windows
PlatformIA-32 and x64
TypeVector graphics editor
LicenseGPL-3.0-or-later
Websitesk1project.net/sk1/
UniConvertor
Developer(s)sK1 Team
Stable release
2.0RC4[2] / 27 May 2019 (2019-05-27)
Repository
Written inPython, C
Operating systemLinux, Windows, macOS
PlatformIA-32 and x64
TypeVector graphics translator
LicenseAGPL-3.0-or-later
Websitesk1project.net/uc2/

sK1 is an open-source, cross-platform illustration program that seeks to be a substitute for professional proprietary software like CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator. Unique project features are CorelDRAW formats importers, tabbed multiple document interface, Cairo-based engine, and color management.

History

A small team led by Igor Novikov started the project in 2003, based on the existing open source vector graphics editor Skencil. sK1 is a fork of the Skencil 0.6.x series which used Tk widgets for the user interface (this version had been dropped by the main Skencil developers who were working on a branch of the program based on GTK+).

In 2007 the sK1 team reverse-engineered the CorelDRAW (CDR) format.[3] The results and the first working snapshot of the CDR importer were presented at the Libre Graphics Meeting 2007 conference taking place in May 2007 in Montreal (Canada).[4] Later on the team parsed the structure of other Corel formats with the help of CDR Explorer.[5] Export into CDR and CMX file formats was presented at the Libre Graphics Meeting 2019 conference taking place in May 2019 in Saarbrücken (Germany).

Target audience

Since the project was started by a small team of Ukrainian professionals in prepress, it was unambiguously focused on full support for PostScript, PDF, CMYK color model and color management at the expense of developing some advanced functions for illustrators. Informally the project is positioned as a free open source alternative to the commercial CorelDRAW.

Functionality

Compared to Inkscape, sK1 has a limited feature set, adequate for simple sketching, while its user interface remains clean. Drawable objects include circles and ellipses, rectangles, text, Bezier curves, and straight lines. Those can be transformed in typical manners and aligned in multiple ways.[6]

Supported formats

Import
  • CorelDRAW v7-X4 (CDR/CDT/CCX/CDRX/CMX)
  • Adobe Illustrator up to version 9 (based on PostScript)
  • Postscript (PS) and Encapsulated Postscript (EPS)
  • Computer Graphics Metafile (CGM)
  • Windows Metafile (WMF)
  • XFIG
  • Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG)
  • Skencil/Sketch/sK1 (SK, SK1, SK2)
  • Acorn Draw (AFF)
  • PLT - HPGL cutting plotter files
  • CorelDRAW palettes (CPL and XML)
  • Adobe Swatch Exchange palettes (ASE)
  • Adobe Photoshop palettes (ACO)
  • Xara Designer palettes (JCW)
  • GIMP/Inkscape palettes (GPL)
  • LibreOffice palettes (SOC)
  • Scribus palettes (XML)
  • sK1 palettes (SKP)
  • Adobe Photoshop files (PSD)
  • GIMP files (XCF)
  • Images BMP, PNG, JPG, JPEG2000, TIFF, GIF, PCX, PPM, WEBP, XBM, XPM
Export
  • AI - Adobe Illustrator 5.0 (based on PostScript)
  • PDF - Portable Document Format
  • PS - PostScript
  • SVG - Scalable Vector Graphics
  • SK/SK1/SK2 - Skencil/Sketch/sK1
  • CGM - Computer Graphics Metafile
  • WMF - Windows Metafile
  • PLT - HPGL cutting plotter files
  • CorelDRAW palettes (CPL and XML)
  • Adobe Swatch Exchange palettes (ASE)
  • Adobe Photoshop palettes (ACO)
  • Xara Designer palettes (JCW)
  • GIMP/Inkscape palettes (GPL)
  • LibreOffice palettes (SOC)
  • Scribus palettes (XML)
  • sK1 palettes (SKP)
  • PNG - Portable Network Graphics

Side projects

Skencil 1.0 alpha on Ubuntu 10.04
Skencil (revitalization)

On 19 November 2006, On 19 November 2006, Bernhard Reiter and Bernhard Herzog asked Ihor Novikov to join Skencil development, stalled since 2005.[7][8]

On 31 October 2010, Skencil 1.0 alpha was released, as a result of revitalization work done by Ihor Novikov.[9][10][11]

On 4 November 2016, Skencil 1.0 rc1 was released, and the last code changes committed on 7 February 2020.[12]

UniConvertor
an application for conversion of files from one vector format into another one. In fact it is a part of sK1, rewritten as a standalone code and being developed by the same team. UniConvertor is also used by Inkscape for opening CorelDRAW, WMF and Sketch/Skencil files.[13][14][15]
Color Palette Collection
a set of free palettes provided in different native file formats for sK1, Inkscape, GIMP, Scribus, LibreOffice, CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, Xara Designer etc. For sK1 2.0 the palette collection is available as a web service.[16]
CDR Explorer
a program that simplifies the reverse-engineering of CorelDRAW formats.
LinCutter
an application for interactive work with cutting machines (PLT format).[17]

Awards

  • In 2007 the project was awarded the second place in the Trophées du Libre open source project contest in the "Multimedia and games" category.[18]
  • In 2008 the project was awarded the third place in the contest Hackontest, organized by the Swiss Open Systems User Groupd /ch/open and sponsored by Google.
  • In 2009 the project was awarded the second place in the contest "The best free project of Russia", conducted by Linux Format magazine. Among the group projects.[19]
  • In 2009 the UniConvertor project was awarded the first place in the Trophées du Libre open source project contest in the "Multimedia" category.

sK1 versions

VersionDateOSDescription
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.9.09 May 2009LinuxFirst public release
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.9.110 November 2010LinuxRelease "Made in Brazil"
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.9.25 December 2014LinuxBackport release with branch 2.0 changes
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.9.319 February 2015LinuxBugfix release
Older version, yet still maintained: 2.0RC16 May 2016Linux, WindowsFirst public release for branch 2.0 based on wxWidgets
Older version, yet still maintained: 2.0RC220 October 2016Linux, WindowsCompleted vector graphics editor, but there is not import/export functionality
Older version, yet still maintained: 2.0RC313 April 2018Linux, WindowsBitmap graphics import (more than 100 file formats), import filters for GPL, SOC, JCW, CPL, ASE, XML palettes, SVG, PDF, WMF.
Current stable version: 2.0RC427 May 2019Linux, WindowsImport filters for CGM, FIG, CDR(CDRX), CMX, CCX, SVGZ. Export functionality for CGM, CMX, CDR.
Latest preview version of a future release: 2.0RC5---Linux, WindowsUnder active development.
Future release: 2.0---Linux, WindowsFuture final release
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

UniConvertor versions

VersionDateOSDescription
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.015 November 2007LinuxFirst public release
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.021 December 2007Linux, Windows, MacOS XWin32 and MacOS X support
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.11 February 2008Linux, WindowsCorelDRAW X4 file format support
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.224 March 2008Linux, WindowsBugfix release
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.325 July 2008Linux, WindowsPDF and PostScript support
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.45 June 2009Linux, WindowsPLT import/export
Older version, yet still maintained: 1.1.526 June 2010Linux, WindowsDXF, DST, PES, EXP, PCS import. MSI installer. GUI frontend.
Older version, yet still maintained: 1.1.625 February 2014Linux, WindowsBugfix release
Current stable version: 2.0RC427 May 2019Linux, WindowsFirst public release for branch 2.0; export for CDR and CMX, import/export for GPL, SOC, ASE, CPL, JCW, ACO, SKP
Latest preview version of a future release: 2.0RC5---Linux, Windows, macOSUnder active development
Future release: 2.0---Linux, Windows, macOSFuture final release
Legend:
Old version
Older version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release

See also

References

  1. ↑ "sK1 and UniConvertor 2.0RC4 release". Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  2. ↑ "sK1 and UniConvertor 2.0RC4 release". Retrieved 2019-05-27.
  3. ↑ "sK1 illustration program - The history of sK1". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  4. ↑ "Libre Graphics Meeting 2007 - Friday May 4". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  5. ↑ "CDR explorer". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  6. ↑ Kreußel, Peter. "Quickly Sketched » Linux Magazine". Linux Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  7. ↑ Reiter, Bernhard (19 November 2006). "[Skencil-users] Join forces for skencil1/sK1? (was: sK1)". Retrieved 2023-11-03. I have chatted a bit with Bernhard (Herzog) and my idea was: Why not join forces on a tcl/tk based Skencil1/sK1 development? Bernhard's initial reaction was quite positive.
  8. ↑ "Join forces for skencil1/sK1?". sK1 Project. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  9. ↑ "Skencil 1.0alpha: project revitalization". sK1 Project. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  10. ↑ "Skencil - vector graphics editor". sK1 Project. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
  11. ↑ "Skencil / News".
  12. ↑ sK1 Project (2023-08-27), sk1project/skencil, retrieved 2023-11-03{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ↑ "Can I open/import *.cdr (Corel Draw Vector drawing file) files in Inkscape?". Retrieved 2010-12-01.
  14. ↑ "UniConvertor at GitHub". GitHub. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  15. ↑ "UniConvertor - universal vector graphics translator". Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  16. ↑ "Free Color Palette Collection". sK1 Project. Retrieved 2022-04-28.
  17. ↑ Project, sK1 (2021-11-01), sk1project/lincutter, retrieved 2022-04-28{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ "The 2007 edition winners". Les Trophées du Libre. Archived from the original on 2009-09-02. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
  19. ↑ "Russia's Best OSS Software" (PDF). LINUX WORLD NEWS. March 2010. p. 12. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
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