What it does
Ipe creates PDF figures with LaTeX text and precise geometric snapping. Stylesheets and plug-ins extend its tools for publication diagrams and presentations.
For a geometric figure, context snapping places objects at vertices, boundaries or intersections. Angular snapping constrains directions around a chosen origin and axis. These modes interact: enabling angular snapping disables vertex, intersection and grid snapping, while boundary snapping can still operate along the constrained direction.
Enter mathematical labels as LaTeX to reuse the paper's notation and macros. Saving a PDF runs the text conversion and keeps Ipe's object information in an embedded stream.
Preserve the editable figure
Ipe opens its own PDFs, not arbitrary PDF drawings. Editing that PDF in another application can remove the information Ipe needs. Keep the original PDF or Ipe XML file before making a downstream copy.
For a web image, iperender converts the figure to SVG or PNG. SVG conversion is one-way, rather than Ipe's native save format. The editor is free software under GPL version 3 or later.
Strengths
- LaTeX labels can match the surrounding publication
- Snapping supports constructions based on existing geometry
Watch out for
- Ordinary PDF editing can remove Ipe's embedded object information
- SVG is an export route rather than the native working format
Best for
- Geometric and mathematical publication figures
Sources
- Ipe overview, downloads and copyright (Oct 27, 2026)
- Ipe snapping guide (Oct 27, 2026)
- About Ipe files (Oct 27, 2026)