FYI: Inkscape 0.47 is out!

Inkscape is great. I haven't used Corel since the late 90s, so I don't know how they compare, but you can do a lot in Inkscape, and produce highly professional art. For those that have used Inkscape, I would say that the new release is nice, but that the bulk of the benefits in the new version are unseen. The Spiro-curves feature is nice though. I'm still getting into the meat of the new tools though. Snap-to is a little too sensitive if you ask me, so you have to toggle it off and on a lot.

Larienna, I'm not sure who told you that it wouldn't be acceptable for real game production. I think it would be just as usable as Corel for whatever level of work. Obviously, as vector-based graphics where rendering is all solids and basic gradients, there is going to be a definite vector-looking style to anything you do in it, so generally the artwork is going to look fairly comic-y [think Jon Kovalic looking stuff]. If that is appropriate for your game's theme and style then you can certainly do final products in it. If you are looking for more photorealistic art, then unless you are a total wizard with Inkscape, you're less likely to get those types of results without a lot of work, and may be better served by Photoshop or GIMP or other software of that variety. With that said, I've seen inkscape art that looks almost photographic and is pretty impressive [http://inkscape.org/screenshots/index.php?lang=en (look at the fourth image on this page)] but can't even imagine how to start producing this level of art in inkscape myself.

Basically, though, the ability to use something like this in professional-looking final products I think is more dependent upon the user, and less on the software. In any case, as free open-source software, I'd recommend it highly to anyone. There is no downside to giving it a try if you like to do your own art, and there are some decent online tutorials to help get started. The learning curve with the software's basics isn't too steep so you can start producing at least prototype-level stuff very quickly.

the board game extension is now istalled by default on 0.48 if I remember correctly.

I don't remember exacly where you must copy the files, it is well documented on the net, but you only need to copy the file in a specific folder and it works.

The extension for the board games can be found here:

http://www.lysator.liu.se/~perni/iboardgameexts/

If you look in the zip file, there is a readme.html file that describe how to install it. It reads like this:

"To install these extensions you need to copy all .inx and all .py files into the extensions folder (directory) of your Inkscape installation. In Linux this will typically be /usr/share/inkscape/extensions, or ~/.inkscape/extensions. In Windows it will be something like C:\Program Files\Inkscape\extensions(?). After (re)starting Inkscape you should now have Boardgames submenu in the Effects menu. "

I do not have inkscape on the computer I am using right now, so I cannot double-check the information.

But you did get the correct answer (if a bit cryptic) from me in the BGG guild, same day as you asked:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/6066606#6066606

I think almost all users are using the extensions in Windows, and I have tested several times in XP and/or Vista. Readme file badle requires some updates though.

Hope you're finally can get started doing some cards now. :)

I finally got it working, thank you pelle for a great software.
have just started using it and i must say that the hexmapping extension is pure gold to me.

In a couple of weeks i hope to have learned to make the most out of the other extensions aswell, keep up the good work !