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Home/Categories/Design & Creative/sK1 Project
icon of sK1 Project

sK1 Project

Open source alternative to Adobe Illustrator, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite and Affinity Designer

Build print-ready vector graphics on Linux with a GPL-3.0 editor tuned for CMYK color, ICC profiles, and PDF/PostScript output.

326 starsPythonGPL-3.0Updated this year
Visit websiteGitHub repo
image of sK1 Project
Contents
  1. 01Who sK1 Project is for
  2. 02The problem it solves
  3. 03How it solves it
  4. 04Strengths and trade-offs
  5. 05Install and self-host
  6. 06Tech stack
  7. 07FAQ
  8. 08Similar open-source tools
TL;DR

sK1 Project is a cross-platform vector graphics editor for Linux and Windows users who need open-source drawing and prepress-oriented design tools. It replaces proprietary vector editors for teams that want inspectable desktop graphics software. GPL-3.0 licensed.GPL-3.0 · Python · 326 stars · Updated this year

who it's for

Who sK1 Project is for#

Linux users needing vector design

sK1 Project fits users who want open-source vector graphics software on Linux.

Skip if:

You need cloud collaboration and vendor-supported design-system workflows.

Technical users testing graphics tooling

The source build path helps developers and packagers evaluate the graphics stack directly.

Skip if:

You need a browser-based design tool.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Vector design tools can be expensive or tied to vendor platforms, especially for users on Linux. Designers, print shops, and technical users need local graphics software that can handle vector editing without subscription pricing.

Desktop graphics tools also depend on file compatibility, packaging, and system libraries. Users should understand the setup requirements before treating a source build as a simple one-click design app.

how sK1 Project solves it

How it solves it#

Vector graphics editor

sK1 2.0 is positioned as a cross-platform vector graphics editor.

Linux and Windows targets

The README badges and project context identify Linux and Windows as supported platforms.

Python build and install path

The README documents setup.py install, uninstall, and package build commands.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • Open desktop graphics optionsK1 Project is strongest for users who need a local vector editor outside proprietary design suites.
  • Source-visible packagingThe build instructions help technical users inspect dependencies and packaging options.

Trade-offs

  • -Setup can be technicalThe README lists system dependencies and subprojects. Nontechnical designers may prefer packaged releases over source installation.
install · self-host

Install and self-host#

bash
Set up sK1 on a self-hosted Linux workstation by installing the build dependencies first, then running the project build locally:

sudo apt-get install git gettext curl libcairo2-dev liblcms2-dev libmagickwand-dev libpango1.0-dev python-dev python-cairo-dev
python setup.py build
python setup.py install
tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
Python
frequently asked

FAQ#

What is sK1 Project?

sK1 Project is a cross-platform vector graphics editor, with repository materials focused on sK1 2.0.

Can sK1 be installed from source?

Yes. The README documents Python setup.py commands for installation and package building.

What license does sK1 use?

GitHub metadata reports GPL-3.0 licensing for sK1.

also worth a look

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Godot Engine

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Repository

Stars
326
Forks
55
License
GPL-3.0
Last commit
243 days ago
Last verified
Jun 12, 2026
Repo
sk1-project/sk1-wx ↗

Additional details

Language
Python
Open issues
135
Contributors
17
First release
2015

Categories

Design & CreativeDeveloper Tools

Tags

Graphic DesignDeveloper ToolsOpen CoreSelf Hosted