After downloading and installing Inscape (available in 9 languages), I realized how generously awesome it is to have exposure to such great software for a cost a low as FREE!

The slogan for this application is: Inkscape.Draw Freely., and I couldn't agree more.

Besides, with such alternatives that cost more than FREE (Illustrator, CorelDraw), there is nothing to lose trying this open source software out.

But enough about my raving on open source graphic software. Let's move on to the real deal.

Inkscape uses the GTK+ Runtime Environment, and provides tutorials and examples on installation, requiring about 230MB of space (you need 10 times more HDD space for Illustrator).

Other than rendering images, performance is staggering and the user interface is extremely smooth and simple. All the icons are positioned 'out of the way' but easily accessible, and their images really explain exactly their function (As long as you know the paintbrush tool is not for saving files, you'll be fine).

All the high end functionality you'd expect in a graphics application is available on Inkscape - layers, objects, paths, filters, you name it.

Inscape even shows the allocated memory usage while using the application, which is totally something I wouldn't expect in an on-the-shelf product.

My first run using this application was amazing. It was like Microsoft Paint and CorelDraw having a 3 dimensional baby on steroids. 

My very first drawing involved playing with simple 3-D shapes and changing their colors.

Check out the YouTube video that I made below, after using the tool for about 1 hour. (just kidding).