Walkthough on how to import, convert, node edit, and save in Inkscape w/pics

[firemalt 10]

To do a node edit, and to delete a portion of an image, first you have to convert the image. So, let's start by importing an image in Inkscape. Open Inkscape, and the hold down the "ctrl" button while you push the "i" button. This will open your import box. Find the image you want, highlight it, and then open it. Should look something like this:

To vectorize this image, push and hold down the "shift" button, the "alt" button, and the "b" button. This will bring up the "trace bitmap" menu, and should look like this:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink2.jpg[/img]

I typically just use the "brightness cutoff" setting. Once you play with the "threshold" range, click the "update" button to see if the image is at the thickness you desire, and then click "OK".

Now you should have 2 images on top of each other. The original, and the new vectorized image. You must delete the original image prior to saving the file as a eps. So click the image once somewhere that is white within the highlighted area. Then drag the original image off to the side and delete.

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink3.jpg[/img]

Once the original image is deleted, now it's time to either save as an eps, or do some node editing. To node edit, click on the image once, to highlight it. and then click once on the node edit icon on the left menu(second icon from the top). Once you click on the node edit icon, your image should look like this:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink4.jpg[/img]

From here, move your cursor to the desired area that you want to edit/delete. You can delete one node at a time by placing your cursor over the node(it should turn red), and then click the "delete" button on your keyboard. Or you can click & hold you left mouse button and drag it over an area to delete several nodes at once:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink5.jpg[/img]

Once you have the area you want deleted boxed, release your left mouse button, and all the nodes should change to another color:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink6.jpg[/img]

Click the delete button on your keyboard, and the area is whipped clean. To get out of the node edit mode, simply click on the first icon(arrow) on the left menu:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink7.jpg[/img]

From here, you're ready to save the file. Go to the "File" at the top of the screen, scroll down to "save as", click once. Type in the name of your file, choose the location you want to save it to, make sure the drop down menu at the bottom says that it's saving it as an eps, and click on "save".

You're done... congrats!!!! 

[haumana 1,220]

Mahalo! I've always wanted to know the node edit stuff. I would always do my clean-up in raster form, then converting to vector with Inkscape.

This is the bomb!

Ken - you need to make this a sticky!!

[firemalt 10]

Ken or John... can we make this a sticky?

[kenimes 42]

Done

[rpmranger 0]

Can Someone please help me with the copy bitmap feature. I can't seem to get it to do what I want, I can't get a solid to stay solid. For example in the picture I added I just want to be able to trace and cut out the orange part but when I trace bitmap it won't keep the orange part solid, it draws 2 sets of lines (so when I go into signcut to cut it cuts 4 lines instead of just the basic outline I want.. If that makes sense.. Basically I am getting a thinner area than I wanted cutout because of the tracing lines and It has double weeding lines.

I see In the pictures of the explanation above in trace bitmap- you kept the black area a solid black thats all I am trying to do with my pictures I just cant seem to do what was done above. Mine all come out with the double outline and no solid area.

Below is pictures of what I am trying to do. I just want a cutout of the Orange Part.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/rpmranger/Picture2.png[/img]http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb183/rpmranger/Picture3.png[/img]

[rpmranger 0]

Okay, after playing around with it for a while. I got it to do What I wanted and give me a solid cutout. My problem was with the "threshold adjustment" I never tried adjusting it up only down. After adjusting it up I got a solid background trace.

What does threshold mean  anyway? Is there an explanation of the adjustments somewhere? What is the difference between the 2 adjustments.. should I adjust them both the same?

ahh, this stuff is confusing lol

[firemalt 10]

That part was in step 3...

I typically just use the "brightness cutoff" setting. Once you play with the "threshold" range, click the "update" button to see if the image is at the thickness you desire, and then click "OK".

The "brightness cutoff" gives you a solid line, whereas the "edge detection" does what you were experiencing.

[SandyM114 0]

WOW ! Thank you!

[Q 0]

Ok i have a question lets say i have a circle and i want to cut it in half after i change it into the nodes wit the little dots how do i go about splitting it in half with out the circle turning into a blob. I have yet to figure this out can anyone post a how to on this.

[firemalt 10]

Ok i have a question lets say i have a circle and i want to cut it in half after i change it into the nodes wit the little dots how do i go about splitting it in half with out the circle turning into a blob. I have yet to figure this out can anyone post a how to on this.

open inkscape, select your design tool(we'll draw a circle for this example), draw a circle at the size you desire. make sure the circle is selected, then go up to "path", and click on "objrct to path". now select your node editing tool and go to town. by deleting 1 node, and moving 2 others around, you should end up with a half circle.

Good luck... hope this helps! 

[Rob28x 0]

Worked like a charm, excellent instructions 

[Cre8tiveCutter 7]

wow, what a great lesson! thanx for this firemalt, I need all the help i can get! LOL

Renee

[cutter22 0]

Thanks for posting so much information...

However I have a problem. In the trace bitmap screen my image does not display.  What could be wrong?

Thanks for the help!

Jacki

[tlzimmerman 11]

Are you pressing update?  The image will not show in the preview window unless you press update.

If you are pressing update, and get nothing, it means you do not have the raster image selected, you can click on the image to select with the trace bitmap image open (should show the scaling marks around it if it is selected) and then click update, and you should be good to go!

[firemalt 10]

You also have to had the image selected prior to opening the trace bitmap screen.

[Kelly54487 2]

To do a node edit, and to delete a portion of an image, first you have to convert the image. So, let's start by importing an image in Inkscape. Open Inkscape, and the hold down the "ctrl" button while you push the "i" button. This will open your import box. Find the image you want, highlight it, and then open it. Should look something like this:

To vectorize this image, push and hold down the "shift" button, the "alt" button, and the "b" button. This will bring up the "trace bitmap" menu, and should look like this:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink2.jpg[/img]

I typically just use the "brightness cutoff" setting. Once you play with the "threshold" range, click the "update" button to see if the image is at the thickness you desire, and then click "OK".

Now you should have 2 images on top of each other. The original, and the new vectorized image. You must delete the original image prior to saving the file as a eps. So click the image once somewhere that is white within the highlighted area. Then drag the original image off to the side and delete.

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink3.jpg[/img]

Once the original image is deleted, now it's time to either save as an eps, or do some node editing. To node edit, click on the image once, to highlight it. and then click once on the node edit icon on the left menu(second icon from the top). Once you click on the node edit icon, your image should look like this:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink4.jpg[/img]

From here, move your cursor to the desired area that you want to edit/delete. You can delete one node at a time by placing your cursor over the node(it should turn red), and then click the "delete" button on your keyboard. Or you can click & hold you left mouse button and drag it over an area to delete several nodes at once:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink5.jpg[/img]

Once you have the area you want deleted boxed, release your left mouse button, and all the nodes should change to another color:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink6.jpg[/img]

Click the delete button on your keyboard, and the area is whipped clean. To get out of the node edit mode, simply click on the first icon(arrow) on the left menu:

http://www.texascustomdecals.com/images/ink7.jpg[/img]

From here, you're ready to save the file. Go to the "File" at the top of the screen, scroll down to "save as", click once. Type in the name of your file, choose the location you want to save it to, make sure the drop down menu at the bottom says that it's saving it as an eps, and click on "save".

You're done... congrats!!!! 

[Kelly54487 2]

Hi I'm new at this. Please take it easy on me. I know this is an old post but I hope those of you that know this program can help us new ones. I followed all the instructions on this and it works great. My question is once I saved it into eps format. How do I get it to work with Sign blazer? How do I gt my image on my screen using blazer?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated!

Kelly

[Guest round2racing]

Kelly, once you are in signblazer, and you have setup your workspace size,

Go to FILE

Select IMPORT

Select the folder you put the .eps file in

You should see all the .eps files in that folder on the screen.

If you don't, make sure the "NO PREVIEWS" button is not selected on the right side.

Your EPS pic may or may not be upside down, but it will be there.

Once you double click it, it will put it in you workspace so you can place and resize.

[airstuff 0]

Not sure if my problem is the image or cutter (MH-871) setup but the cutter cuts some areas twice and others properly - only once - to create the cut-out. Here is what I did:

1. Create stencil/image in Inkscape

.....Since bezier curves are already a "path" nothing needs to be done. Right? Squares and Circles need the "object to path" command. Right?

2. Turn off "fill" and that leaves me with just "stroke" - the parts I want cut out.

3. Select entire image and do "object to path"

4. Group image

5. Save as eps

6. Import to SBE

7. Send to cutter -> and it cuts some lines once (like I want) and others it goes over twice... like as if it was cutting out a square - cuts once along the outer edge and then the inner edge of the square's lines.

Any thoughts? Is it the image or the cutter setup?

Thank you.

[airstuff 0]

Some progress... If I reverse from the way I did it before and I turn OFF the "stroke" and turn ON the "fill"... it doesn't cut the line twice any more. BUT when I use the bezier curve to design with... it cuts those lines twice now. There is something about "lines" that makes it cut twice... ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[j.brazell 0]

how do you import an image into inkscape in png format and then export the same image  in eps format to flexi

[j.brazell 0]

how do you setup a cutter/plotter  or can you

[tlzimmerman 11]

importing a png should be the same as importing a jpg, all same steps involved.

While some people have coded their own parts to be able to cut from inkscape, currently without heavy modification you cannot cut directly from inkscape.