Sketch Knowledge

Kip Landergren

(Updated: )

My Sketch knowledge base explaining key concepts like layers, components, and vector content.

Contents

Overview

Sketch is software for designing digital content like interfaces, glyphs, and icons.

Core Idea

Provide a vector-capable editor with:

Key Concepts

Note: for a functionality-based overview, refer to the Sketch Reference Manual.

Layer

A layer represents the contents of the XY-plane for a specific Z coordinate. All designs you create with Sketch will be comprised of layers stacked one on top of another. Sketch provides various layer types (like Shapes or Artboards) to act as building blocks for your designs.

Components

Reusable entities that are either groups of layers themselves (Symbols) or properties applicable to layers (Text Styles and Layer Styles).

Vector Content

A method of creating shapes by defining points and paths, allowing for infinitely scalable, high resolution content. Fonts are often vector-based content.

Bitmap Content

A method of creating shapes by associating color information with specific pixels. Images are often bitmap-based content.

Sketch Document / Sketch Library

This is the .sketch file that stores your design. A Sketch Library is a special version of a Sketch Document that allows for referencing components, colors, and other content from other Sketch Documents.

Sketch Terminology

Sketch Document
the .sketch file containing your work
Sketch Library
a specialized Sketch Document able to be referenced by other Sketch Documents, providing access to its components and colors
artboard
layer that crops a canvas to a specific dimension; may not contain other artboards
bounding box
the perimeter of the layer with 8 selection handles
canvas
drawing area
component
a reusable entity; may be specialized into a symbol, text style, or layer style
fill
shape style property that comprises the interior content; may be solid or gradient
grid
the lines of an x, y coordinate system; may be specialized into a Square Grid or Layout Grid
guide
canvas tool to display a fixed line, typically at a measured distance
layer
the contents of a single x, y plane on the z axis; may be specialized into types: shape, symbol, image, artboard, and others.
layer style
a reusable set of layer-specific properties
page
mechanism to group work within a Sketch document
plugin
3rd party software to automate or enhance some aspect of Sketch
resizing constraints
rules that dictate how a layer behaves when its parent is resized
ruler
canvas tool to display distance
shape
a vector layer
smart distribute
means of arranging multiple layers by their horizontal or vertical gaps
smart guide
a Sketch-suggested location for a layer
snapping
the act of a layer moving to a predetermined point instead of what is indicated by the user’s mouse
style
a set of properties that contribute to the look of a layer
symbol
a single, reusable, layer comprised of a flattened layer hierarchy; exists as a single master instance with multiple instance copies created wherever used
text style
a reusable set of text-specific properties
tidy
means of arranging layers into a grid
tint
the mixture of a color with white
vector
a layer comprised of points connected by paths