: I want to draw straight lines but can't figure how to give them a stroke I am new to Inkscape. I want to draw simple straight lines horizontally & vertically but cannot figure out how

@Odierno310

Select the pen tool (Shift+F6)
Anywhere on the canvas do this:


Left Click (start of line)
Move mouse (to location of end of line)
Left Click (to add a node)
Right Click (to end path)


If you cannot see a line you might have the stroke color set to white. There is color palette along the bottom of the window - Shift+Left Click to select a stroke color. If you do not see color you may be in Outline Mode if so switch to normal (View - Display Mode).

If you want the line to be straight horizontal or vertical:


Press and hold Ctrl
Left Click (start of line)
Move mouse (to location of end of line)
Left Click (to add a node)
Right Click (to end path)
Release Ctrl

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@Smith574

In Inkscape, a line doesn't really have a concept of a fill vs stroke. The line itself is the stroke. Changing its stroke color changes the whole line, because the whole thins is just stroke. Changing it's fill does nothing.

It sounds like what you are trying to do is draw a line and create the outside edges of it like a border. To do this, you need to convert the stroke to a path (Path > Stroke to Path). This will change your stroke so that it's actually a shape (so if you drew one single stroke, it would become a long rectangle).

Now you cam use the Fill and Strokes tool (Shift + Ctrl + P) to change the stroke and fill to different colors. Be sure to look at the stroke Width on the Stroke Style tab as the default width might be very wide compared to the line.

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