How to Make a Vector Ladybug With Inkscape
Bring up your Fill and Stroke toolbox., Click on the ellipse tool and create an oval., Hold down the Shift key and then click on brown., Press Ctrl + D to create a copy of your oval., Go to the Fill and Stroke toolbox, be sure the Fill tab is...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Bring up your Fill and Stroke toolbox.
You will be using it a lot, so it is convenient to have it handy.
Click on Object >> Fill and Stroke... -
Step 2: Click on the ellipse tool and create an oval.
While still selected, click on the orange color.
This is the body of the ladybug. , This will be the outline of your ladybug. , Click on the white to change the fill to white. , This will give you an orange and white gradient. ,, Then pull the top handle (2) up so that you are elongating the gradient. ,,, The Ctrl key helps to make that possible. ,,,, To do that, do the following:
Left click off of the ladybug to deselect it.
Click on the polygon tool.
Be sure the star is selected on the toolbar that comes up.
Draw a star.
It doesn't matter where you draw it because it will be moved.
You will use the topmost 'point' as the cutout for the ladybug.
Move it into place.
It goes at the very bottom of the wings and the very center.
If it isn't straight, click again on the star to change the direction of the arrows and straighten it. , Click on Path >> Difference. ,,,,,, To do this:
Deselect everything, then click on the pencil tool.
Left-click and then release at the apex of the triangle.
Hold down CTRL and draw a line straight up.
Left-click again to finish the divider. , Hold down Shift and click on the correct color.
If you are unsure if you have the right color, or that your line isn't too long or too short, zoom in until you can see the end of the line you created.
As you can see in this screenshot, some adjustments are needed to be made. , Deselect everything and then click on the ellipse tool.
Draw a small oval.
Keep in mind that there will be four of them on each side and size appropriately.
Select the Fill and Stroke colors.
The fill is darker than the red, but still red and the stroke is black. , You will be rotating it slightly. ,, Repeat this two more times for a total of four spots. ,,,, To do this:
Deselect everything and then click on the rectangle button.
Make a small rectangle and change the fill to white.
Go to the Fill and Stroke toolbox and select the X for no stroke.
Select the arrow key and then click on the rectangle again, so you can rotate the rectangle.
Put it in the appropriate place.
Click on Path >> Object to Path.
Click on the node editor and adjust the rectangle.
Push up the top and the bottom to give it a roundish appearance.
Click on the Tweak Object icon.
The settings need to be:
Width: 3 Force: 20 Push parts of path in any direction.
Change shine until it is more rounded.
There is no 'set' look or right way to do it.
You are trying for a random appearance.
Click on the gradient icon and then adjust the gradient to give it the shine appearance. , Do this by selecting the ellipse icon, click on black, hold down Ctrl, and make a circle. , The only exception is not to use the Tweak object tool. , Group them together by selecting first one, then the other.
Go to Object >> Group. ,, Press the Ctrl key and then move it to the right.
This will keep it level with the other eye. , Here is what your eyes should look like. ,, Go to the first bend and press and release the mouse button again.
Do that one more time, then right-click to finish the Bezier. , Be sure to use the Ctrl key to keep it even with its opposing leg.
Your ladybug is complete! -
Step 3: Hold down the Shift key and then click on brown.
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Step 4: Press Ctrl + D to create a copy of your oval.
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Step 5: Go to the Fill and Stroke toolbox
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Step 6: be sure the Fill tab is selected
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Step 7: and click on the Radial Gradient fill.
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Step 8: Click on the gradient icon so that you get the 'handles' showing to edit it.
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Step 9: Move the center of the gradient (1) up towards the 'top' of the ladybug.
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Step 10: Click on the selection arrow
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Step 11: then press Ctrl + D to copy the oval.
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Step 12: Click on the layer again to change the direction of the arrows
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Step 13: because you want to rotate the oval.
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Step 14: Hold down CTRL and rotate it 90 degrees.
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Step 15: Change the fill of the wings to red.
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Step 16: Hold down the Shift key and change the stroke (outline) to a darker red.
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Step 17: Hold down the Ctrl key and then raise the red so that it completely covers the top of the orange
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Step 18: as shown in the screenshot.
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Step 19: Remove the triangle between the wings.
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Step 20: With the star still selected
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Step 21: hold down the Shift key and select the oval.
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Step 22: Select the wings
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Step 23: then press Ctrl + D to create a copy of the wings.
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Step 24: Change the fill to white
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Step 25: go to the Fill and Stroke toolbar
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Step 26: and click on radial gradient.
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Step 27: Click on the gradient icon so that you get the 'handles' showing to edit it (again).
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Step 28: Hold down the Ctrl key and move the gradient up towards the top of the wings.
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Step 29: Dim down the white by going to the Fill and Stroke toolbox
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Step 30: and sliding the opacity slider to about 75.
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Step 31: Divide the wings in half.
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Step 32: Change the color to match the outline of the wings.
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Step 33: Start adding the ladybug dots that we are so familiar with.
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Step 34: Select the arrow key and then click again on the oval
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Step 35: so that the directional arrows are changed.
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Step 36: Once placed
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Step 37: press Ctrl + D to make a copy.
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Step 38: Move the copy into place.
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Step 39: Select all four of the dots by holding down the Shift key while clicking on each one.
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Step 40: Press Ctrl + D and move them over to the other side.
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Step 41: Go to Object >> Flip Horizontal (or press H) and the dots will be oriented correctly.
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Step 42: Add a shine to the ladybug wings.
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Step 43: Make the eyes.
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Step 44: Repeat the process used to create the shine for the wings
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Step 45: on the eye.
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Step 46: Click on the arrow tool and select the shine and the eye.
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Step 47: Position the eyeball where you want it and then select Object >> Lower to Bottom.
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Step 48: Press Ctrl + D to duplicate it.
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Step 49: Lower it to the bottom as well.
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Step 50: For the legs
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Step 51: click on the Bezier tool
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Step 52: and be sure that Create regular Bezier path and Triangle In are selected for it.
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Step 53: Click and release where you want the first leg to be started at.
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Step 54: Copy and move the legs as needed.
Detailed Guide
You will be using it a lot, so it is convenient to have it handy.
Click on Object >> Fill and Stroke...
While still selected, click on the orange color.
This is the body of the ladybug. , This will be the outline of your ladybug. , Click on the white to change the fill to white. , This will give you an orange and white gradient. ,, Then pull the top handle (2) up so that you are elongating the gradient. ,,, The Ctrl key helps to make that possible. ,,,, To do that, do the following:
Left click off of the ladybug to deselect it.
Click on the polygon tool.
Be sure the star is selected on the toolbar that comes up.
Draw a star.
It doesn't matter where you draw it because it will be moved.
You will use the topmost 'point' as the cutout for the ladybug.
Move it into place.
It goes at the very bottom of the wings and the very center.
If it isn't straight, click again on the star to change the direction of the arrows and straighten it. , Click on Path >> Difference. ,,,,,, To do this:
Deselect everything, then click on the pencil tool.
Left-click and then release at the apex of the triangle.
Hold down CTRL and draw a line straight up.
Left-click again to finish the divider. , Hold down Shift and click on the correct color.
If you are unsure if you have the right color, or that your line isn't too long or too short, zoom in until you can see the end of the line you created.
As you can see in this screenshot, some adjustments are needed to be made. , Deselect everything and then click on the ellipse tool.
Draw a small oval.
Keep in mind that there will be four of them on each side and size appropriately.
Select the Fill and Stroke colors.
The fill is darker than the red, but still red and the stroke is black. , You will be rotating it slightly. ,, Repeat this two more times for a total of four spots. ,,,, To do this:
Deselect everything and then click on the rectangle button.
Make a small rectangle and change the fill to white.
Go to the Fill and Stroke toolbox and select the X for no stroke.
Select the arrow key and then click on the rectangle again, so you can rotate the rectangle.
Put it in the appropriate place.
Click on Path >> Object to Path.
Click on the node editor and adjust the rectangle.
Push up the top and the bottom to give it a roundish appearance.
Click on the Tweak Object icon.
The settings need to be:
Width: 3 Force: 20 Push parts of path in any direction.
Change shine until it is more rounded.
There is no 'set' look or right way to do it.
You are trying for a random appearance.
Click on the gradient icon and then adjust the gradient to give it the shine appearance. , Do this by selecting the ellipse icon, click on black, hold down Ctrl, and make a circle. , The only exception is not to use the Tweak object tool. , Group them together by selecting first one, then the other.
Go to Object >> Group. ,, Press the Ctrl key and then move it to the right.
This will keep it level with the other eye. , Here is what your eyes should look like. ,, Go to the first bend and press and release the mouse button again.
Do that one more time, then right-click to finish the Bezier. , Be sure to use the Ctrl key to keep it even with its opposing leg.
Your ladybug is complete!
About the Author
Carol Bell
Carol Bell has dedicated 10 years to mastering education and learning. As a content creator, Carol focuses on providing actionable tips and step-by-step guides.
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